Part 34 (1/2)

”Oh, we'll treat you fairly enough,” put in Gasper Pold. ”We'll give you all you want to eat and drink and put you off at some safe place along the coast.”

”Come, do you submit?” demanded the mate of the _Dogstar_.

”What do you say, d.i.c.k?” whispered Tom, so faintly that the others could not hear.

”I don't want to give in to them.”

”Neither do I. But it looks pretty shaky, doesn't it?”

”Yes, they have us cornered.”

”We are armed, and if there is to be any shooting we can do our share of it,” resumed Sack Todd. ”But there is no need to go to such an extreme. Better submit quietly and let that end it. We wish you no harm, but we are bound to have our way.”

”Let Sam and Hans come down and we'll talk it over,” said d.i.c.k, struck by a sudden idea.

”You had better come up, and then you can talk it over in the cabin,”

said Sack Todd, and whispered something to his companion the Rovers could not hear.

”Not yet,” said d.i.c.k, firmly.

”All right, suit yourself. But if you won't come up, you can stay there. Throw over the hatch, fellows.”

There was a hatch to fit over the opening to the engine room and without further words this was thrown into place and secured from the deck.

”d.i.c.k, we are prisoners!” cried Tom.

”It certainly looks like it,” answered the eldest Rover, soberly.

”There is another door,--but it is locked from the other side, I think.”

They listened and heard the men and Baxter walk away from the hatchway.

Then all became quiet, for Tom had stopped the engine.

For over half an hour the two Rover boys remained in the engine room of the _Mermaid_ doing little but walk around. With the hatch closed it was very hot down there, and d.i.c.k, who had his coat on, was glad to discard that garment. They could get little or no fresh air, and both wondered how long they could stand the confinement.

”I wouldn't care so much, if only I knew Sam and Hans were safe,”

remarked d.i.c.k. ”But for all we know, they may have been killed.”

”Oh, I don't think that,” answered his brother. ”I don't think Dan Baxter is quite so wicked.”

Presently there came a noise above and the hatch was raised. The next instant Sam came tumbling down the iron ladder, followed by Hans.

”Now you fellows can talk it over as long as you like,” said Gasper Pold. ”When you come to terms let us know by blowing the steam whistle.”

And then the hatch was put down and fastened as before.

”Sam, are you all right?” asked d.i.c.k and Tom, in a breath.

”Oh, yes, after a fas.h.i.+on,” answered the youngest Rover. ”But they handled me pretty roughly.”