The Rover Boys Series - Stratemeyer Edward

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to be in prison," he said. "I'll clap him in the brig and feed him on bread and water for three days and see how he likes that."

      "He ought not to be left at large," said Dora, with a shudder. "He may try to murder some body next."

      "We'll watch him after this," said the captain.

      He kept his word about putting Baxter in the ship's jail. But through Lesher the bully got much better fare than bread and water. Strange as it may seem, a warm friendship sprang up between the bully and the first mate.

      "I aint got nothing against you, Baxter," said Jack Lesher. "When we get to Australia perhaps we can work together, eh?" and he closed one eye suggestively. Baxter had told him of his rich relative, and the mate thought there might be a chance to get money from Baxter. "He'd rather give me money than have me tell his relation what sort of a duck he is," said Lesher to himself.

      After this incident the time passed pleasantly enough for over a week. When Baxter came from the brig he went to work without a word. Whenever he passed the Rovers or the girls he acted as if he did not know they were there, and they ignored him just as thoroughly. But the boys watched every move the bully made.

      As mentioned before, Jack Lesher was a drinking man, and as the weather grew warmer the mate increased his potions until there was scarcely a day when he was thoroughly sober. Captain Blossom remonstrated with him, but this did little good.

      "I'm attending to my duties," said Lesher. "And if I do that you can't expect more from me."

      "I thought I hired a man that was sober," said Captain Blossom. "I won't place my vessel in charge of a man who gets drunk."

      Yet he was not willing to do the mate's work, or put that work onto others, so Jack Lesher had to take his turn on deck, no matter in what condition.

      "I must say I don't like that first mate at all," said Tom to Sam. "He is very friendly with Baxter."

      "I have noticed that," replied the youngest Rover. "Such a friendship doesn't count in the mate's favor."

      "Last night he was thoroughly drunk, and wasn't fit to command."

      "Well, that is Captain Blossom's lookout. The captain can't be on deck all of the time."

      Two nights after this talk Jack Lesher was again in command of the ship, Captain Blossom having retired after an unusually hard day.

      It was hot and dark, and the air betokened a storm. The man at the wheel was following a course set by the captain, and the sailors whose watch was on deck lay around taking it as easy as they could.

      The mate had been drinking but little in the afternoon, but before coming on deck he took several draughts of rum. He was in a particularly bad humor and ready to find fault; with any body or anything.

      Some of the sails had been reefed, and these he ordered shaken out, although there was a stiff breeze blowing. Then he approached the man at the wheel and asked for the course.

      "Southwest by south," was the answer.

      "That aint right," growled the mate. "It should be south by west."

      "The captain gave it to me southwest by south," answered the man.

      "Don't talk back to me!" roared Jack Lesher. "I know the course as well as the captain. Make it south by west, or I'll flog you for disobeying orders."

      "Aye, aye, sir," answered the man at the wheel, and the course was changed, for the sailor stood greatly in fear of the mate. Then the mate sent below for another drink of rum.

      CHAPTER XII

       ANOTHER ACCIDENT AT SEA

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      It was four hours later, and Captain Blossom was just preparing to come on deck, when there came a fearful shock which threw the Golden Wave back and over on her side.

      "We have struck! We are on the rocks!" came a shrill cry from the deck, and immediately, there was an uproar.

      The Rover boys were thrown to the floor from their berths, and it was several seconds before they could realize what had happened.

      "We have struck something, that is sure!" gasped Sam.

      As quickly as they could they donned their clothing and made their way to the large state room occupied by the girls.

      "Oh, what a shock!" came from Nellie.

      "Are you safe?" asked Tom.

      "I am, but poor Grace struck her head on the wall, and is unconscious."

      Without ceremony Tom picked up the unconscious girl, wrapped her in a blanket, and, aided by Sam, carried her to the deck, the others following. A minute later Grace revived.

      On deck they found all in confusion. The bowsprit of the Golden Wave was gone, and also the main topmast, while a mass of the rigging littered the forecastle. It was also announced that the rudder was broken and the vessel was pounding helplessly on the rocks, with a big hole in the bow directly below the waterline.

      "Who changed the course?" demanded Captain Blossom. "We should be fifty miles away from these rocks."

      "The first mate made me change the course," said the man who had been at the wheel. "I told him you had said southwest by south, and he made it south by west."

      "He don't know what he's talking about!" howled Jack Lesher. The shock had partly sobered him. "He was steering due south, and I told him to make it southwest by south."

      But little more could be said on the point, for it was feared that the schooner would go down at any moment.

      "We must man the boats," said the captain. "Bring up the provisions and the kegs of water, and be quick about it."

      "Are we near land?" asked Dick.

      "There should be some islands four or five miles south of this spot," answered Captain Blossom.

      Now that there was danger of going down some of the sailors seemed to grow crazy. Half a dozen tumbled into one of the boats and be gan to lower it of their own accord.

      "Stand back there!" shouted the captain. "The girls must go first."

      "Not much!" shouted one of the sailors. "It's everybody for himself now!" And in a moment more the small boat had left the ship's side and disappeared in the darkness.

      There were three other boats and the remaining sailors, along with the first mate and Dan Baxter, wanted to crowd into these. But Captain Blossom said he would shoot the first man who tried to row away without his orders. Then some provisions were put into the boats, and the captain divided the whole company among the three boats.

      "Let us stay together, captain," pleaded Dick. "We can row."

      "And what of the girls, Rover?"

      "Let us go with the Rover boys," pleaded Dora, and Nellie and Grace said the same. Old Jerry also stood by his friends.

      While this talk was going on there was a rush for two of the boats, and before Captain Blossom could do anything his men were off, taking Jack Lesher and Dan Baxter with them.

      "You can go down with the ship!" cried Dan Baxter mockingly. An instant later the darkness hid the speaker from view.

      "They have left us," cried Captain Blossom. "But, thank fortune, the best and largest boat is also left."

      Some provisions had been tumbled into this boat, and a cask of water followed. Then the girls were placed on board, the Rover boys followed, and the captain and old Jerry came behind, to cut away. Down went the small boat into the mighty waves, and each of the boys caught up an oar.

      "Pull!" roared Captain Blossom. "Pull for your lives!" And they did pull, two boys on one side, and Sam and old Jerry on the other. The girls huddled in the stern, expecting every moment to see the little

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