Part 35 (1/2)
”Yes, there is one in the cabin,” answered Sid Jeffers. ”What do you want of it?”
”We might put some dope in the drinking water. That will fix 'em.”
”What, you wouldn't poison them!” cried Dan Baxter, and gave a little s.h.i.+ver.
”Oh, we'll only put them to sleep,” answered Gasper Pold, but with a look on his face that Baxter did not like.
The men went to the cabin and the former bully of Putnam Hall followed.
Here the medicine cabinet was found filled with various liquids and powders and Gasper Pold looked them over with care.
”I worked in a drug store when I was a young man,” he explained. ”And I took a good bit of interest in dopes and poisons.”
Dan Baxter heard him say this, and to the credit of the bully it made him shudder. He was no friend to the Rovers, yet he did not wish to see them lose their lives. He paused for a moment, then turned and ran on deck.
n.o.body was in sight, for the sailors from the _Dogstar_ were asleep below. He ran for a bucket, filled it with water and took it to the hatchway, which he opened feverishly.
”Hullo there!” he whispered.
”Baxter, is it you?” queried d.i.c.k, coming to the ladder.
”Yes. Take this bucket of water, quick. It's clean and good. Don't drink what the others bring you.”
”But, Baxter--” began Tom.
”I can't stay. Be careful of what they give you to eat and drink, that's all.” And the next moment the bucket was pa.s.sed to d.i.c.k, the hatch closed down, and Baxter fairly ran back to where he had left the men.
”What can this mean?” asked d.i.c.k, staring at his companions.
”d.i.c.k, be careful,” warned Sam. ”It may be some plot of Baxter's.”
”Maype ve ton't besser trink dot vater,” suggested Hans. ”I ton't vont to vake up teat in der morning, ain't it!”
”Can the water be poisoned?” asked Tom.
They poured some in a gla.s.s and held it close to the light. It looked good and d.i.c.k tasted it cautiously.
”Baxter said to beware of what the others gave us to eat and to drink,” said Sam. ”Evidently something is in the air.”
All sniffed of the water and tasted it, yet each was afraid to take a regular drink. While they were deliberating they heard the hatch being raised again. Then Sack Todd and Gasper Pold appeared once more.
CHAPTER XXV
ONE PLOT AND ANOTHER
”We've got the water for you,” said Sack Todd. ”We don't know as you deserve it, but we don't want to be mean.”
As he spoke he and Gasper Pold held down a jug containing not more than two quarts.
”Not a very big supply,” grumbled Tom. ”We'll want a good deal more down here. This is a regular sweatbox.”