Arthur M. Winfield

“ And he swung his club in the air defiantly.
"Out of my way, or I will fire on you!" answered Arnold Baxter, and started to draw his pistol.
"Oh, don't!" screamed Dora, and covered her face with her hands.
"We want no shooting here—" began Randy Fairwell, and then stopped short in wonder.
For reaching down, Tom had suddenly given the end of the plank a wabble. Before they could save themselves, the Baxters, father and son, pitched with a loud splash into the lake.
"Good for you!" cried Sam. "If only they don't try to shoot when they come up." ”

“ The Swallow heaved and pitched, and fearful that Sam would be lost overboard, Tom told him he had better go below again.
"You can do nothing up here," he said. "If anything turns up, I'll call you."
"But you must be careful," pleaded Sam. "If I were you, I'd tie myself to the wheel," and this is what Tom did.
Slowly the night wore away, and with the coming of morning the storm abated somewhat, although the waves still lashed angrily around the Swallow. With the first streak of dawn all were on deck, watching anxiously for some sign of the lumber raft or of Dick. ”

“ Since time seemed no object they ate slowly, in the meantime reviewing the situation from every possible standpoint, but without arriving at any satisfactory conclusion.
They had allowed their watches to run down, so there was no telling what time it was. But at last a faint streak of sunshine, coming through a seam in the deck, told that it must be near noon. Yet no one came near them, and all was as silent, close at hand, as a tomb, although in the distance they heard an occasional steam whistle or other sound common to a great city. ”

“ It was a sailing vessel of fair size, carrying a single mast.
"That's not the Peacock!" ejaculated Sam.
"You're right!" cried Tom. "She's a stranger. Hurrah! Perhaps Dick has followed us up, after all!"
"Anyway, we ought to find friends on that ship, Tom. Let us get to her as soon as possible."
"I'm willing. But I must rest a bit, I'm so dead tired."
"I wish we could get those on the strange ship to make the Baxters and Captain Langless prisoners."
"Perhaps we can. But it will be a good deal to get out of the clutches of the enemy, even if we can't do any more." ”

“ Dick was impatient to be after the Peacock.
"The folks on the schooner may take it into their heads to sail away, if they caught sight of the steam tug," he said. "And if they give us the slip I won't know where to look for them."
"I guess I'll be safe if left alone," said Larry. "I have water and the fire, and my pistol. You go ahead, and come back for me when it is convenient. Only don't leave the island without me."
"Leave without you? Not much!" answered Dick.
"You forget the treasure," put in Peterson, with a laugh. "We are not going to let that slip." ”

“ The raft had disappeared completely, and all around them was a dreary waste of water, with a cloudy sky overhead.
Feeling that he must do something, Aleck Pop prepared a breakfast of broiled fish and hot coffee, but, when summoned to the repast, both of the Rovers shook their heads.
"I couldn't eat a mouthful," sighed Sam. "It would choke me."
"We must find Dick first, Aleck," said Tom. "Go ahead yourself and have breakfast. Don't mind us." ”

“ But, on the way to the lakes Dora disappeared and Mr. Crabtree turned up in her place and he has been with me ever since."
"He wants to marry you, doesn't he?"
"Yes, he has always wished that, as you know."
"I wouldn't do it. He is after your money, and that is all. He is a fraud, and everybody knows it."
Mrs. Stanhope passed her hand over her brow. Tom's blunt words did much to counteract Josiah Crabtree's strange influence over her.
"Your words impress me deeply," she faltered. "Dora talks that way, too. But—but—Mr. Crabtree, when he is with me, makes me think so differently." ”

“ But just as Sam was almost fainting for the want of food, the door to the cabin passageway was flung open, and Captain Langless appeared with a lantern, followed by Arnold Baxter, who carried a tray containing a plate of bread and two bowls of beef stew.
"Hungry, I'll wager," said the captain laconically. All the pleasantness he had previously exhibited had vanished.
"You ought to be ashamed of yourselves to let us starve so long," replied Tom, who never hesitated to speak his mind. ”

“ He had scarcely spoken when the report of a pistol rang out and a bullet cut through the air over his head.
"Let that be a warning to you to leave us alone!" cried Captain Langless.
Then the schooner increased her speed, the flare from the Bengal light died out, and soon the Peacock was lost to view in the darkness. ”

“ This talk completely nonplused the boys, and they held a whispered consultation.
"I don't believe him," said Sam.
"No more do I. But what shall we do about it?"
"I'm sure I don't know."
"You can come on board and look around, if you wish," called out the owner of the schooner. "I want you to satisfy yourself that you are mistaken."
"Shall we go?" whispered Tom. "It may be a trap?"
"He seems honest enough."
"Supposing I go and you stay in the rowboat? Then, if anything happens, you can call on Aleck and Peterson for help." ”

“ He was gone the best part of quarter of an hour, and came back covered with dust and dirt.
"The old spot is pretty well choked up with rubbish," he said. "But there isn't a sign of an other snake around, nor of any wild beasts. Come," and he motioned Sam and Tom to follow him.
"I don't think it fair that you should leave us helpless," said Tom. "At least untie our hands and let us each get a good stick."
"So you can fight us, eh?" cried Arnold Baxter. "We are not such fools."
"You have your pistols," put in Sam. "And what could we do on a lonely island and without a boat?" ”

“ We can make it worth your while, if you will help us and help bring the Baxters to justice. Do you know that Arnold Baxter is an escaped convict, who got out of a New York prison on a forged pardon?"
"No, I know very little of the man."
"He is a bad one, and his son is little better. Standing in with them is a serious business. I don't know much about you, but you don't look like a man who is bad by choice."
At this the captain of the Peacock let out a light laugh. "You talk as if you were a man of deep experience instead of a mere boy." ”

“ There was a sail, true enough, far out on the lake. All watched it with interest and saw it gradually grow larger. Evidently the craft was heading directly for the island.
"She is coming this way, dad!" almost shouted Dan.
"It looks so to me," replied Arnold Baxter, with increasing interest. "And she isn't the Peacock, either."
"No, she's a strange ship—a sloop, by her rig."
The Baxters watched the coming sail eagerly, and it must be confessed that the Rover boys were equally interested.
"If the folks on that boat are honest, they will surely help us against the Baxters," murmured Sam. ”

“ With extreme caution, for the deck was as wet and slippery as it was unsteady, Tom made his way to the tiny cabin of the yacht. Here he found Sam lighting the ship's lanterns, four in number.
"I thought you'd be wanting them," said the youngest Rover. "Is it letting up, do you think?"
"No; if anything, it is growing worse."
"Don't you want me to help on deck? I hate to stay down here alone."
"You can do nothing, Sam. Dick and I are tending the wheel, and there is nothing else to be done." ”

“ He thinks the world of his oldest son."
"Good for you, dad! You've got a long head on your shoulders. And when are you going to let Dick Rover know he is in our power?"
"Not until we have him on the Peacock, if I can prevent it. If he knew here, he might kick up a big row."
"Pooh! we could easily shut him up!" sniffed Dan.
Now Dick was in their custody he was impatient to browbeat the youth and taunt him with his helplessness. But Arnold Baxter would not listen to it, so the graceless son had to bide his time. ”

“ There was a bar, true enough.
"If we had something that we could slip into that crack, we might move the bar," observed Dick.
"I slipped on a sheet of tin a while ago," said Tom. "Perhaps I can find that."
His hunt was successful, and soon they had the tin in the crack under the bar. The latter gave way with ease, and then they pulled the door open. Beyond was the passageway leading to the cabin.
"Now what's the next movement?" whispered Sam.
"Let us try to arm ourselves first of all," answered Dick. "Then, if we are cornered again, we may be able to make some kind of favorable terms." ”

“ They had scarcely landed when Captain Langless appeared, coming along a pathway but a few yards from where Dick and the lumberman were in hiding.
At once a wordy war ensued between the Baxters and the owner of the schooner. What it was about Dick and Peterson could not make out, although they realized that it concerned Tom and Sam.
"Your men are a set of doughheads," cried Arnold Baxter. "They are to be trusted with nothing." ”

“ She feels her position keenly, but she won't break her vow."
Such a statement would have aroused any ordinary woman, but Mrs. Stanhope appeared to be completely in Josiah Crabtree's power, and all she did now was to draw a long sigh and then wipe away a tear which stole down her pallid face.
"I do not think it right that I should marry without Dora being present."
"Pooh! If the girl wishes to remain away, let her do so. She will soon come to her senses and be glad of the way matters have turned."
"You do not know Dora. She is very—very headstrong at times." ”

“ He looked around him anxiously. All that met his eyes was the broad expanse of water, with here and there a solitary stick of lumber. He gazed about for Luke Peterson, but the lumberman was not in sight. ”

“ The Peacock was the first to feel the going down of the wind, and slowly, but surely, the Swallow crept closer to the schooner.
But at last both vessels came to a standstill, about quarter of a mile apart.
"Now what's to do?" questioned Sam dismally.
"I reckon we can whistle for a breeze," returned his brother.
"Whistling won't do us any good. I've been wondering if we could not do some rowing in the small boat."
"Hurrah! just the thing!"
There was a small rowboat stored away on board the Swallow, and this was now brought forth, along with two pairs of oars. ”

“ There was nothing in the hold by which to reach the hatchway, but, growing weary of waiting, Tom dragged a box hither and asked Dick and Sam to stand upon it. Then he climbed on their shoulders, to find his head directly against the beams of the deck. He pushed with all of his strength on the hatch, to find it battened down on the outside.
"Stumped!" he cried laconically, and leaped to the floor of the hold. "We are prisoners and no mistake." ”

“ As Luke Peterson was now doing fairly well, all of the others ran on deck, and soon the Swallow was in pursuit of the schooner. At first but little could be seen of the Peacock, but when the sun came up they saw her plainly, heading toward the northwest.
"We must keep her in sight," said Tom.
"Yes, but supposing the Baxters are on board, how can we capture them?" came from Sam. "We are but three, or four at the most, counting Peterson, while that craft must carry a crew of five or six."
"We can hail some other boat to help us. The main thing is not to lose track of the rascals." ”

“ The mass was the better half of a monstrous lumber raft, which was rapidly going to pieces in the storm.
The raft, or rather what was left of it, hit the Swallow a glancing blow, otherwise the sailing craft must have been stove in and sunk.
The shock caught Dick with one hand off the wheel, and, before he could catch hold again, the youth found himself flung heels into the air and over the Swallow's stern.
Down and down he went into the lake waters, until he thought he would never come up. ”

“ So long as Crabtree was in front poor Tom did not anticipate any treachery, consequently he was taken completely by surprise when the Baxters fell upon him from behind and bore him to the ground.
"Don't!" he cried, and tried to rise. But Dan Baxter struck him a heavy blow with a club, and then pointed the pistol at his head, and he had to submit.
When he was a prisoner Josiah Crabtree came back, his face beaming sarcastically. "The tables are turned once more, Thomas," he said. "We are masters of the situation. How do you like the prospect?" ”

“ Returning to the mouth of the cave Tom took up his position at one side and Sam on the other. Talking of things in general at first, they gradually put the sailor in good humor, and then turned on the subject of snakes.
"That was a bad snake we killed," said Tom. "I sincerely hope there are no more around the cave."
"Snakes are ugly things," said the sailor, shaking his head vigorously. ”

“ They were about to start on the return when Tom suddenly plucked his brother by the sleeve.
"Somebody is coming," he whispered. "Let us hide."
They had scarcely time to get behind some brushwood when the Baxters came into view, moving very slowly and gazing sharply around them.
"I don't see a thing, dad," came from Dan Baxter in disgusted tones. "I don't believe they came this way."
"They certainly didn't go back to that old boat," replied Arnold Baxter. "Let us take a walk along the beach."
"I am tired to death. Let us rest first." ”

“ The turn of affairs bewildered him, and he did not come fully to his senses until his head struck one of the timbers of the raft.
He clutched the timber as a drowning man clutches the proverbial straw, and tried to draw himself to the surface of the lake, only to discover, to his horror, that there were timbers to both sides of him, cutting off his further progress upward.
"Must I be drowned like a rat in a trap!" ”

“ It was easy to see that Captain Langless was "feeling his way," as the saying is, and Dick felt that he must go slow or he might spoil everything. Criminals are of all shades and degrees, and look at affairs in a different light from honest men. It is said that some would rather be dishonest than honest, and Dick did not yet know how the owner of the Peacock stood on that point.
"Perhaps you had better tell us first what Arnold Baxter has offered you," said the elder Rover, as he looked the owner of the schooner squarely in the eyes. ”