Part 43 (1/2)

”We have found one thing that bothered us,” said d.i.c.k. ”Perhaps you can explain it. In a locker we found a picture of Harold Bird and also a picture of his father.”

”I know nothing of them. I did not know Mr. Bird at all.”

”I will have Harold show you his father's photograph. Perhaps you'll recognize him.”

The picture was shown and James Morrison uttered a cry of astonishment.

”I know that man, but his name was not Bird. It was Bangs. He worked on the yacht for awhile--queer sort of stick--and he left rather suddenly.”

”It was Mr. Bird. He went crazy over some personal trouble, and Harold has been looking all over for him. He was last heard of in Mexico.

But this clears up the mystery of the photographs,” d.i.c.k added.

And now let me add a few words more and then bring to a close this tale of ”The Rover Boys in Southern Waters.”

As soon as they arrived at Mobile the Rover boys sent telegrams to their folks at home and also to the ladies and girls at the Bird plantation, telling of the safety of the entire party.

Sack Todd, Gasper Pold, Sid Jeffers, and the two sailors were locked up. n.o.body attempted to have Dan Baxter arrested, nor did the former bully of Putnam Hall try to run away.

”I have made up my mind to take my medicine and I am going to do it,”

he said, almost stubbornly.

”What a change in him!” was Tom's comment. ”The fellows at Putnam Hall won't believe it when we tell them.”

”Here is the whole thing in a nutsh.e.l.l,” said Sam. ”Dan has found out that there is absolutely no happiness or satisfaction in being dishonest. Even when he had money he didn't enjoy it--he told me so himself. He said there was many a day when he would have preferred being with the old crowd, even without a cent in his pocket.”

As soon as he could Harold Bird set off for Mexico. A week later he sent d.i.c.k Rover a telegram stating that he had found his father and was taking him home. It may be added here that, cleared of the suspicion that had hung over his name, Mr. Bird speedily recovered from his insanity, and became the prosperous planter he had been in years gone by.

When Sack Todd, Gasper Pold, and Sid Jeffers were brought to trial Dan Baxter was a witness against each one. For the shooting of the old hunter Pold received a life sentence in prison, and for their various misdeeds Todd and the mate of the _Dogstar_ received ten and twenty years respectively. Solly Jackson was also a witness against Todd and Pold and was not prosecuted.

”What are you going to do about Dan Baxter?” asked Songbird of d.i.c.k, one day.

”I am going to do nothing,” answered d.i.c.k, firmly. ”If you want to prosecute him you can do so.”

”He expects to be placed on trial.”

”Well, he'll have to find somebody else to prosecute him.”

”I shan't do anything, d.i.c.k. Why, he isn't the same chap he used to be. He's as meek as any fellow I ever met.”

In the end n.o.body prosecuted Dan Baxter, and he was allowed to go his own way. The Rovers talked the matter over and one day they sent for the former bully and asked him how much money he had on hand.

”I've got exactly two dollars and a quarter,” was the answer. ”I am looking for work, but I haven't found anything yet,” and Baxter's face grew red and he hung his head.

”We have made up a purse for you, Dan,” said d.i.c.k, kindly. ”Those folks who owned the yacht gave us ten thousand dollars for bringing her in safely. I have had a talk with our crowd, and we are going to stake you for a fresh start.”

So speaking, d.i.c.k handed out a new pocketbook. But Dan Baxter put his hands behind him.

”Thank you very, very much,” he said, huskily, ”but I don't want you to--to give me a cent--not a cent, understand? If you want to make me a loan, well and good. But I shan't take it if it's a gift.”