Part 30 (1/2)

CHAPTER XXI

THE ATTACK ON THE WRECK

The appearance of d.i.c.k with the shot-gun disturbed Jack Lesher quite as much as it did Dan Baxter, and the mate stopped rowing instantly.

”Hi! don't you fire at us!” he cried.

”Then come back here,” said d.i.c.k.

”Haven't I a right to visit the wreck?”

”I am not sure that you have. Anyway, you must wait until Captain Blossom returns.”

”It seems to me that you are carrying matters with a high hand, young fellow.”

”Oh, d.i.c.k, be careful!” whispered Dora. ”They may become desperate.”

”Don't worry, Dora,” he whispered in return. Unless I miss my guess, one is as big a coward as the other.”

”I hope ye aint goin' too far, d.i.c.k,” said old Jerry, in a low tone.

”Don't you intend to stand by me, Jerry?”

”To be sure I do; but the mate is the mate, ye know.”

There was an uncertain pause all around.

”There is no harm in my visiting the wreck,” growled Jack Lesher presently.

”Perhaps not, but you had better wait until Captain Blossom gets back.”

”I only want to get some things that belong to me.”

”And I want to get my extra clothes,” said Baxter. ”These are in rags, as you can see.”

”Then wait until after breakfast and we'll all go over,” said d.i.c.k, but he had scarcely spoken when he felt sorry for the words.

”Oh, d.i.c.k, don't trust yourself with them!” cautioned Dora.

”We want to hurry, for I want to go back to where I left the sailors before night,” answered Lesher.

”Then we'll have breakfast at once.”

Rather reluctantly the mate turned back to the sh.o.r.e and he and Baxter left the boat. Then the girls prepared breakfast with all haste.

Lesher ate but little, but eagerly tossed off the gla.s.s of liquor d.i.c.k allowed him.

”Give me one more,” he pleaded, but d.i.c.k was firm, and the mate stalked away muttering under his breath.

Before d.i.c.k entered the rowboat he called Jerry aside, and handed the old sailor a pistol.