Part 36 (2/2)
”What, d.i.c.k?” asked Sam.
”I'd like to make all of the gang prisoners.”
”Exactly!” exclaimed Tom, in a low voice. ”But can it be done?”
”I don't know. For the present let us play 'possum and find out.”
”Vot kind of a game vos dot possum?” asked Hans innocently. ”I ton't d.i.n.k we got dime to play some games,” he added, seriously.
”d.i.c.k means to lay low,” explained Sam.
”Vot, lay under der peds?”
”No, keep quiet and watch out.”
”Oh! All right, I done me dot kvick enough,” said Hans, and fell back on the berth and shut his eyes.
”You fellows keep quiet while I investigate,” said the eldest Rover.
”It is so late some of the crowd may have gone to sleep. If so, we may have a chance to capture the others first.”
So it was arranged, and making certain that his pistol was still in his pocket, d.i.c.k slid from the berth, tiptoed his way to the stateroom door, and, opening it slowly and cautiously, peered out.
One look into the cabin of the _Mermaid_ told him the apartment was empty. There were two more staterooms, connected, as were those the boys were occupying. With a heart that beat rather violently, d.i.c.k stepped to the door of one of these staterooms. From within came a deep and regular snoring.
”Somebody is asleep in there,” he mused. ”Who can it be?”
With great care he peered into the room. On the berth rested one of the sailors from the _Dogstar_ and on the floor rested the other, both evidently much the worse for liquor.
The door to the second stateroom was wide open and d.i.c.k caught sight of a form on the berth in there. It was Dan Baxter. The bully was not asleep but was tossing about, as if in either mental or physical distress. As d.i.c.k looked at him he suddenly started up, turned around, and stared.
”d.i.c.k Rover!” he screamed. ”Are you alive, or is it a--a ghost?”
CHAPTER XXVI
TURNING THE TABLES
”Be quiet, Baxter,” said d.i.c.k, softly but firmly. ”Don't you dare to make another sound.”
”I--I thought you were--were--asleep,” faltered the former bully of Putnam Hall. ”That you--”
”That he had drank the poisoned water, eh?”
”Ye--es.”
”We did not. We took your advice and left it alone.”
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