“You don’t mean you are going to turn him out,” said the bully, in alarm.
“If he stays here he must behave himself.”
“You forget that he was the first mate of the schooner, Dick Rover.”
“We are not on the schooner now.”
“No, but you are getting your living—or the largest part of it—from the schooner.”
“What do you mean, Baxter?”
“I mean that it’s the same as if you were on the schooner. And that being so, Mr. Lesher is the second in command here.”
At this statement the girls looked alarmed, and even old Jerry’s face showed his uneasiness. But Dick’s face was full of contempt.
“Do you mean to say that thing “—pointing to the drunken mate—” that thing can command any of us? If you do, let me say right now that you are mistaken.”
“We’ll see about that later.”
“This is our camp, and it is not for you, the mate, or anybody else to come here and dictate to us. If you try that, we’ll send you off in double-quick order.”
There was a pause, and Dick and old Jerry began to unload the things they had brought from the wreck. They had found a large cake of ice. But the coming of Baxter and Jack Lesher had taken away the pleasure of making lemonade and orange ice, and the lump was placed in some water to cool it for drinking purposes.
As soon as Grace could get the chance she told Dick of the way Dan Baxter had treated Dora. At once Dick’s face took on a stern look that boded the bully no good.
“I’ll have a talk with him and come to an understanding,” said the eldest Rover, and strode out of the house and to where Baxter was walking up the beach, picking up fancy-colored sea-shells.
“Look here, Baxter, I want to have an understanding with you,” he said, catching the bully by the arm.
“What do you want now?”
“I want you to promise to leave Dora Stanhope alone in the future.”
“How I treat her is none of your business,” blustered the bully.
“But it is my business, Baxter.”
“See here, Dick Rover, I won’t be bossed by you!” howled the tall youth. “You mind your own business.”
“If you touch her again, there will be trouble.”
“What will you do?”
“I’ll give you the worst thrashing you ever had in your life.”
“Two can play at that game.”
“There will be only one in this game.”
“Do you want to fight me?”
“I am perfectly willing,” responded Dick recklessly. His anger was deep at that moment.
“All right then, come on!” howled Baxter savagely, and, squaring off, he aimed a blow at Dick’s face.
The attack was so sudden that Dick could scarcely prepare for it, and though he dodged, Baxter’s fist landed glancingly on his cheek.
“There you are, and here’s another!” cried the bully, and his other fist shot out, catching Dick on the shoulder.
But now the oldest Rover was on his guard, and in a twinkle he let drive, taking Dan Baxter in the eye. It was a staggering blow, and made the bully gasp with pain. Then Dick followed it up by a crashing blow on the chin, which sent the bully reeling into the low water on the beach.
“Don’t—don’t run me into the ocean!” he spluttered, and, watching his chance, ran out of the water and up the beach.
But Dick was now thoroughly aroused, and he made after Baxter. When he got close enough, he put out his foot and sent the bully sprawling. Baxter came down on some rough sea-shells, cutting his face and hands in several places.
“Oh! oh!” he howled. “Stop it!”
“I will not stop it, Dan Baxter, until you promise to let Dora Stanhope and the other girls alone in the future. They want nothing to do with you, and you must keep your distance.”
“I—I didn’t hurt anybody.”
“Do you promise to let them alone?”
Without replying, the bully staggered to his feet. The blood was running from his nose and from a cut on his chin, and both of his hands were also bleeding.
“Do you want to kill me, Dick Rover?”
“I want you to behave yourself. Come, now, are you going to promise?”
“What if I don’t?”
“Then I’ll give you the thrashing I promised.”
“All right, I’m cornered, and can’t help myself.”
“Will you let the girls alone in the future?”
“Yes. If they don’t want to be friends, I’m sure I can get along without them,” answered Baxter sulkily.
“Very well; now see that you keep your promise. If you don’t, I’ll run you out of camp and never let you come near us again.”
With these words Dick turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Baxter to wash his cuts and bruises in the ocean and otherwise care for them as best he could.
CHAPTER XX
THE MATE TRIES TO TAKE COMMAND
The fight had taken place around a bend of the shore, so that it was not observed by old Jerry and the girls. But when Dick got back to camp Dora at once noticed that something unusual had happened.
“What is wrong, Dick?” she asked.
“Oh, nothing much, Dora. I merely made Dan Baxter promise to keep his distance in the future.”
“Did you have a fight?”
“It didn’t amount to much. He had to give in pretty quickly.”
“Oh, Dick!” She caught his arm.
“I won’t have him annoying you, or the others, Dora.”
“You are so good!” she whispered.
Supper was ready, and they sat down, leaving Jack Lesher still in the hammock. They had nearly finished when Dan Baxter came shuffling along.
“Do you want some supper?” asked Dick. “If you do, come on.”
“I don’t want anything more to-night,” growled the bully, and sat down beside Jack Lesher.
It was rather an uncomfortable evening. The thoughts of each of the party were busy. At the first opportunity Dick called old Jerry to one side.
“Jerry, we must watch those two fellows closely,” he said.
“Right ye are, Dick.”
“I am afraid Lesher will be ugly when he wakes up.”
“More’n likely, lad—he always was on board ship. The drink gives him an awful temper.”
“I am, going to put the liquor where he can’t get it.”
“He’ll make ye give it to him.”
“Will he? Just you wait and see,” replied Dick firmly.
It was decided to let Lesher rest in the hammock all night. Baxter was given a cot in the living room of the house. Soon all had retired, and the camp was quiet for the night.
Dan Baxter was the first to stir in the morning. His cuts smarted so he could not sleep, and he walked out to bathe them and put on some salve Nellie had generously turned over to him. He found Jack Lesher stirring.
“Hullo!” grumbled the mate, sitting up and yawning. “Where am I?”
“Don’t you know we struck camp?” answered Baxter.
“Oh, yes, I remember now. Got some good liquor, too. Where is that bottle?”
“You emptied it, Lesher.”
“Did I? Too bad! I’ll have to find another. Where are the girls?”
“Asleep in the house, and so are Dick Rover and old Jerry Tolman.”
“What of Cap’n Blossom and them other Rover boys?”
“They are not expected back for several days.”
“Humph! Say, I feel bad, I do. I must have something to brace me up.”
“You’d better not disturb them, Lesher. They are mighty stiff-necked since they landed here.”
“What do you mean?”
“They gave me to understand yesterday that t
hey were going to run things to suit themselves. They are not going to let us interfere in anything.”
“I like that!” The mate yawned again, rose, and stretched himself. “Baxter, do you know where they keep the liquor?”
“No.”
“I’m bound to have what I want. Didn’t it all come from the Golden Wave, and aint I the first mate of that craft?”
“To be sure you are, Lesher.”
“They can’t make me take a back seat,” went on the mate. His head was still far from clear.
“I told them that you were second in command—Captain Blossom being first—but they wouldn’t listen. They said they were on land, and you didn’t count.”
“Don’t I count!” cried Jack Lesher, his blood-shot eyes taking on an ugly look. “I’ll show ‘em!”
Just then old Jerry came from the house. Jack Lesher staggered toward him.
“Ahoy there!” he called out.
“What do you want, Mr. Lesher?” questioned old Jerry, and touched his forelock.
“Bring me some liquor, and be quick about it.”
“I haven’t any liquor.”
“What’s that?”
“I said I haven’t any liquor.”
“Aint there any more liquor ashore?”
“If there is, I don’t know where it is.”
“Then find out, and be quick about it, or I’ll give you the rope’s-end!” roared the unreasonable mate.
The loud talking aroused Dick, and he soon came out.
“What’s the matter here?” he asked. “Oh, so you have woke up,” he went on to Jack Lesher.
“Yes, I’m awake, Rover. And I want to know where the liquor has been placed.”
“It’s been placed where you won’t get hold of it, Mr. Lesher.”
“What! This to me!” yelled the mate, in fury. “To me, the first mate!”
“A first mate doesn’t count for anything here. This is a private camp, and if you don’t behave yourself we’ll pitch you out of it.”
“You—you—” Jack Lesher could not go on, and shook his fist in Dick’s face.
“I told you what they intended to do,” whispered Dan Baxter in Lesher’s ear. “They have the upper hand and mean to keep it. But don’t forget that we have nine sailors in our camp to back us up,” he went on suggestively.
“Don’t grow abusive, Mr. Lesher,” said Dick as calmly as he could. “Just think the matter over. It may save a good deal of trouble.”
“I don’t have to think it over!” bellowed the mate. “During Cap’n Blossom’s absence I am in command, just as much as if we were on the deck of the wreck over there. You were only passengers, but Jerry Tolman was a sailor, and he’s under my command. I told him to bring me some liquor, and he has got to do it. If he won’t obey, it’s mutiny, just you remember that!” And he shook his finger warningly in old Jerry’s face.
“I told ye I don’t know where the liquor is,” answered old Jerry doggedly.
“And he tells the truth,” said Dick. “I put it away myself.”
“Then I command you to bring it to me.”
“I told you before your commands don’t hold water here. Even old Jerry hasn’t got to obey you. When the Golden Wave was abandoned that ended your authority. We have simply made Captain Blossom our leader because he acted fair and square. But we don’t have to obey him if we don’t want to.”
“What of the nine sailors who are with me?”
“We’ll be pleased to give them their full share of what is on the wreck, and if they behave themselves they can build a camp right next to this one. But you must remember that we discovered the wreck first, and that Captain Blossom was the only man left on board.”
“We’ll see what the men have to say about this,” growled Lesher. “Then you aint going to give me no liquor?”
“You can have one glass with your breakfast, and that is all. After this you can have the regulation ship’s grog, with the other sailors. But getting drunk has got to be stopped, even if we have to dump all the liquor into the ocean.”
By this time the girls had appeared on the scene, and the talk came to an end, Dick turning in to help get breakfast. Jack Lesher walked down to the beach, followed by Dan Baxter.
“You see, it is just as I told you,” said Baxter. “They are going to ride right over us.”
“They wouldn’t ride over us if I had those other sailors here,” growled the mate.
“Or if we were armed,” went on the bully. “I tried to get hold of a pistol, but Dick Rover watches me like a cat watches a mouse.”
“If we could get to the wreck we might arm ourselves,” said Lesher. “Here is a boat; let us row over.”
“I’m willing,” answered the bully.
They walked to the boat, shoved it into the water, and leaped in. Just as Lesher picked up the oars Dick saw what they were doing.
“Stop!” he cried.
“What do you want?” growled the mate.
“Where are you going?”
“Over to the wreck.”
“What for?”
“That is our business,” put in Dan Baxter.
“You shan’t go over there until Captain Blossom comes back.”
“We’ll go when we please,” said Lesher, and started to row away.
“Come back, I say!” cried Dick, and, rushing into the house, he appeared with a shot-gun.
“What are you going to do, Dick Rover?” questioned Baxter in alarm.
“I am going to make you come back,” was the oldest Rover’s very quiet, but determined, answer.
CHAPTER XXI
THE ATTACK ON THE WRECK
The appearance of Dick with the shot-gun disturbed Jack Lesher quite as much as it did Dan Baxter, and the mate stopped rowing instantly.
“Hi! don’t you fire at us!” he cried.
“Then come back here,” said Dick.
“Haven’t I a right to visit the wreck?”
“I am not sure that you have. Anyway, you must wait until Captain Blossom returns.”
“It seems to me that you are carrying matters with a high hand, young fellow.”
“Oh, Dick, be careful!” whispered Dora. “They may become desperate.”
“Don’t worry, Dora,” he whispered in return. Unless I miss my guess, one is as big a coward as the other.”
“I hope ye aint goin’ too far, Dick,” said old Jerry, in a low tone.
“Don’t you intend to stand by me, Jerry?”
“To be sure I do; but the mate is the mate, ye know.”
There was an uncertain pause all around.
“There is no harm in my visiting the wreck,” growled Jack Lesher presently.
“Perhaps not, but you had better wait until Captain Blossom gets back.”
“I only want to get some things that belong to me.”
“And I want to get my extra clothes,” said Baxter. “These are in rags, as you can see.”
“Then wait until after breakfast and we’ll all go over,” said Dick, but he had scarcely spoken when he felt sorry for the words.
“Oh, Dick, don’t trust yourself with them!” cautioned Dora.
“We want to hurry, for I want to go back to where I left the sailors before night,” answered Lesher.
“Then we’ll have breakfast at once.”
Rather reluctantly the mate turned back to the shore and he and Baxter left the boat. Then the girls prepared breakfast with all haste. Lesher ate but little, but eagerly tossed off the glass of liquor Dick allowed him.
“Give me one more,” he pleaded, but Dick was firm, and the mate stalked away muttering under his breath.
Before Dick entered the rowboat he called Jerry aside, and handed the old sailor a pistol.
“We had better go a
rmed,” he said. “Keep your eyes open, for they may try to play us a foul trick. And don’t let Lesher talk you into obeying him. He has no authority whatever over you.”
“All right, Dick, I’ll stand by ye always from this minit on,” said Jerry, and the compact was sealed by a handshake.
The girls came down to see them off, and Dora warned Dick again to be on guard. It was decided that Lesher and old Jerry should do the rowing. Baxter sat in the bow of the boat, and Dick in the stern.
The trip to the wreck was accomplished in almost utter silence. Everybody was busy with his thoughts. As they drew near Dick showed the mate where a ladder hung from the side, and as they drew close to this Baxter was the first to mount to the deck.
As Dick had surmised, Lesher’s first hunt was for liquor, and he drank several glasses at a gulp. Then he began to roam around the wreck, noting the damage that had been done and the amount of stores still on board.
“Might float her, if the tide got extra high,” he said. “Eleven men in our crowd and five in your own ought to be able to do something, surely.”
“The captain says the ship is too deep in the sand,” answered Dick briefly.
“Blossom don’t know everything,” growled the mate.
Both he and Baxter soon found some comfortable clothing, and put it on. Then they made up a bundle of things they said the other sailors needed.
When arming themselves, the Rovers and Captain Blossom had placed all of the remaining firearms in a stateroom and locked the door.
“What did you do with all of the guns and pistols?” asked Lesher presently, after looking in vain for them.
“They are packed away in a stateroom. Captain Blossom thought it wouldn’t do to leave them lying loose. Some savages might come to the islands and steal them, and then we’d be in a bad hole.”
“We’ve got to have some guns and pistols, Rover.”
“Well, you can see the captain about that.”
“I shan’t wait. Which stateroom are they in?”
Dick would not tell the mate, and Lesher went around trying the various doors. Coming to one that was locked he burst it open with his shoulder.
Dick scarcely knew what to do, and while he was trying to make up his mind Jack Lesher secured a pistol and a rifle, and also a pistol for Dan Baxter. He would have taken more fire-arms, but Dick stopped him.
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