Part 23 (1/2)

”Say, of der vos a lion--” began Hans, drawing back.

”Oh, Tom is fooling,” interrupted d.i.c.k. ”They don't carry a menagerie on a vessel like this. Why, this is a gentleman's pleasure yacht.”

”Well then, bring on the gentleman,” responded the irrepressible Tom.

”I shouldn't like anything better than to be introduced to him.”

They had almost pa.s.sed to the last step of the companionway when Sam called a sudden halt.

”Boys, perhaps, after all, we had better keep out of that cabin,” he said.

”Why, Sam?”

”This may be a pest s.h.i.+p. The whole crew may have died of yellow fever, or something like that!”

At this announcement all looked at each other with added alarm showing in their faces. A pest s.h.i.+p! The idea filled them with horror.

”If it's that--and we've caught the fever--” began Tom.

”Oh, I vish I vos home, oder at school!” groaned Hans, beginning to shake from head to foot. ”Of ve catch der yellow fefer ve peen all teat in a veek!”

For several seconds there was silence, then d.i.c.k walked down the last step of the companionway and threw the door below open with a bang.

”I am going to find out what this means,” muttered the eldest Rover.

”If we are to catch the fever, maybe we've got it already.” And he walked into the cabin, and one after another the others followed.

All was in as good order as on deck. On the table lay several books and magazines, one opened and turned face downward as if just placed there.

”Somebody has been reading,” murmured Sam. ”What did he stop for?”

He picked up the magazine and read the heading of one of the articles, ”Famous Suicides of Modern History.” ”Ugh! what delightful literature to read. Just the thing for the young ladies' department of a public library!”

d.i.c.k had moved forward to one of the staterooms. With caution he opened the door and peeped in. The apartment was empty, but the berth looked as if it had recently been used.

”Hullo, somebody has been camping out in here,” he called. ”The bed is mussed up and here's a suit of clothes hanging on the wall.”

”And a pair of slippers on the floor,” added Sam, over his shoulder.

Gradually the boys grew bolder, and traveled from one stateroom to another and then to the dining room and the cook's galley. Not a person was to be found anywhere. In the galley some cooking had been done and several pans and pots were dirty, but that was all.

”Water!” cried Tom, coming to a cooler. He got the cup and took a long drink, and the others followed.

”And something to eat,” added Sam, with satisfaction. ”Owner or no owner, I am going to have a square meal just as soon as this inspection is over.”

”I d.i.n.k I sthart now,” commented Hans, reaching for a box of crackers.

He helped himself and pa.s.sed them around, and soon all were munching.

From the cook's galley they visited the engine room. The machinery appeared to be in perfect order, the bunkers were half-full of coal, and the firebox was still somewhat warm. But the place was totally deserted.