Part 32 (1/2)

”That's an idea! Now what of the two sailors?”

”I think Guirk and the other fellow will do what the first mate tells them to--especially if he promises them good wages for the job.”

”And what of Baxter? Remember, he used to go to school with the Rovers.”

”I don't know what to make of him. Sometimes I think he is all right, and then again I don't feel like trusting him.”

”That's my way of it, too. We don't want anybody we can't trust in this.”

”Oh, he'll have to do as we say.”

”h.e.l.lo, what's up there?” shouted Sid Jeffers, from the bench where he was sitting, finis.h.i.+ng some liquor before him.

”We want to talk certain things over,” said Gasper Pold. ”Come here.”

In a cautious manner Sack Todd and Gasper Pold ”sounded” the first mate of the ill-fated _Dogstar_. They said, if they could get control of the steam yacht, it might mean big money to all concerned.

”But what will you do with those Rover boys and the Dutch lad?” asked Jeffers.

”Oh, we can either cast them adrift somewhere or else put them off on a deserted sh.o.r.e,” answered Sack Todd. ”Then I can turn this steam yacht over to a friend of mine--an utter stranger to them--and he can get the salvage on the craft for us and we can divide up.”

This plan to make money appealed strongly to the first mate, and he finally agreed to aid the others in gaining possession of the craft.

Then the two sailors were instructed by Jeffers and they agreed to do as ordered, leaving the consequences on the mate's shoulders.

Finally Dan Baxter was consulted.

”I don't care what you do, so long as we can get away from the officers of the law,” said the bully. ”But don't kill anybody--I won't stand for that,” he added, showing that his hard heart had at least one soft spot in it.

CHAPTER XXIII

THE ENEMY TRIES TO TAKE POSSESSION

”Say, boy, come down in the cabin; I want to talk to you.”

It was Sack Todd who spoke and he addressed Hans, who had left the pilot house to look over the stern, to see if the rowboat was still safe.

”Vot you vonts of me?” asked Hans, in surprise.

”I want to ask you a few questions,” returned Todd, smoothly.

Hans was a trifle suspicious, and yet he saw no direct reason for refusing to comply with Sack Todd's request. He followed the ex-counterfeiter across the deck and down the companionway.

”I want to ask your opinion of this letter,” said Sack Todd, as he laid a written sheet on the table. ”We can't understand it at all.

I know you are a pretty smart boy and maybe you can help us.”

Flattered by the compliment paid him, the German youth took up the letter and scanned it by the light of the swinging lamp. As he did so, Sack Todd closed the cabin door and motioned to Gasper Pold and Dan Baxter, who stood behind an angle of the wall.

Almost before he could realize it, poor Hans was a prisoner. His arms were held tightly by someone, while someone else thrust a gag into his mouth and fastened it by means of a cloth running to the back of his neck.

”Sthop! ton't choke me!” he gasped, and that was all he was allowed to utter. Then his arms were fastened, and his feet secured.