Part 44 (1/2)

With equal care they moved around to the other side of the wreck, over a ma.s.s of burnt brushwood.

”Hark!” said Tom.

They listened, and, from a distance, made out a faint groan.

”That is somebody, and in great pain,” said d.i.c.k. ”Come on,” and he led the way.

Around a pile of rocks they found a sailor. He was propped up against a tree, and was suffering from some burns on his legs and feet.

”Bostwick!” said old Jerry.

”Oh! oh! Help me!” groaned Bostwick piteously. ”Give me a drink of water!”

”Where are the others?” asked d.i.c.k.

”Gone! They left me to take care of myself. Oh, the wretches! Please help me; won't you, for the love of Heaven!”

”Yes, we will help you,” answered Tom.

”You are certain they have all gone?” went on d.i.c.k, as he got out some oil and bandages, while Tom ran for water.

”Yes, yes!”

”Where did they go?”

”They went--oh, my legs and feet! How they smart! They went to the--the--house! Lesher said you must have set the s.h.i.+p on fire, and Baxter said the same. They--oh, what a pain! Please be careful!”

Bostwick gulped down the water Tom gave him. ”That is good.”

”What did they say, Bostwick?” asked d.i.c.k, as he continued to work over the hurt man.

”They said they were going to pay you back. They all went armed; that is, all but me and Shular. Shular was burnt up. They said they were going to shoot you down on sight, and then run the house to suit themselves. I said--oh, the pain. I--I--how weak I am!”

And with those words the burnt sailor fell back in a dead faint.

CHAPTER x.x.x

THE DEFENSE OF THE CAVE--SAVED!

”He has fainted, poor fellow!” said d.i.c.k, as he bent over the unconscious form of Bostwick.

”We ought to git back to the house at once!” put in old Jerry. ”We must warn the cap'n and the others of what Lesher and his crowd intend to do.”

”That is true, but we can't leave this poor chap here. He might die for the want of care,” came from Tom.

”We'll take him along,” said d.i.c.k. ”Come, lift him up.”

As carefully as they could they lifted the unconscious form up and bore it to where the rowboat was lying. Soon all were on board, and while Tom did his best to revive Bostwick, d.i.c.k and old Jerry bent their back to the oars, pulling as they had seldom pulled before.