The Rover Boys on Land and Sea: The Crusoes of Seven Islands Page 21

  CHAPTER XX

  THE MATE TRIES TO TAKE COMMAND

  The fight had taken place around a bend of the shore, so that it wasnot observed by old Jerry and the girls. But when Dick got back tocamp 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 keephis 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 inthe hammock. They had nearly finished when Dan Baxter came shufflingalong.

  "Do you want some supper?" asked Dick. "If you do, come on."

  "I don't want anything more to-night," growled the bully, and satdown beside Jack Lesher.

  It was rather an uncomfortable evening. The thoughts of each of theparty were busy. At the first opportunity Dick called old Jerry toone 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 giveshim 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. Baxterwas 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 sohe could not sleep, and he walked out to bathe them and put on somesalve Nellie had generously turned over to him. He found Jack Lesherstirring.

  "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 thatbottle?"

  "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-neckedsince they landed here."

  "What do you mean?"

  "They gave me to understand yesterday that they were going to runthings to suit themselves. They are not going to let us interfere inanything."

  "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 GoldenWave, 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 headwas still far from clear.

  "I told them that you were second in command--Captain Blossom beingfirst--but they wouldn't listen. They said they were on land, andyou didn't count."

  "Don't I count!" cried Jack Lesher, his blood-shot eyes taking on anugly look. "I'll show 'em!"

  Just then old Jerry came from the house. Jack Lesher staggered towardhim.

  "Ahoy there!" he called out.

  "What do you want, Mr. Lesher?" questioned old Jerry, and touchedhis 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," hewent on to Jack Lesher.

  "Yes, I'm awake, Rover. And I want to know where the liquor has beenplaced."

  "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 privatecamp, 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'sface.

  "I told you what they intended to do," whispered Dan Baxter inLesher's ear. "They have the upper hand and mean to keep it. Butdon'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'nBlossom's absence I am in command, just as much as if we were on thedeck of the wreck over there. You were only passengers, but JerryTolman was a sailor, and he's under my command. I told him to bringme some liquor, and he has got to do it. If he won't obey, it'smutiny, just you remember that!" And he shook his finger warninglyin old Jerry's face.

  "I told ye I don't know where the liquor is," answered old Jerrydoggedly.

  "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 oldJerry hasn't got to obey you. When the _Golden Wave_ was abandoned thatended your authority. We have simply made Captain Blossom our leaderbecause he acted fair and square. But we don't have to obey him ifwe 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 thewreck, and if they behave themselves they can build a camp rightnext to this one. But you must remember that we discovered the wreckfirst, 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. Afterthis 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 allthe liquor into the ocean."

  By this time the girls had appeared on the scene, and the talk cameto an end, Dick turning in to help get breakfast. Jack Lesher walkeddown to the beach, followed by Dan Baxter.

  "You see, it is just as I told you," said Baxter. "They are going toride 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 apistol, 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, heappeared 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.
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