Part 45 (1/2)

”Yes, but he kept in the background, for fear, I suppose, of being shot.”

With caution one after another left the mouth of the cave to look in the direction of the house. No one outside of their own party was visible.

Suddenly a glare lit up the scene, growing brighter each instant.

”By the great boots!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Captain Blossom. ”They have set the house on fire!”

”That shows how crazy they are,” declared d.i.c.k. ”In their rage they are liable to do anything. Ten to one they get to fighting between themselves before this is over.”

The house, being built of semi-green logs, burnt slowly. As it was consumed, they heard some of the sailors singing and yelling, and heard several pistol shots and a scream of pain.

”Some of them are coming now!” announced Sam, half an hour later.

”Everybody get back out of sight,” cried Captain Blossom.

There was a wild scramble, and in the rush Tom tripped and fell. His foot struck a stone, which went rolling down to the mutineers' feet.

”Hi! hi! there they are!” came in a rough, thick voice.

”Where?” roared back the voice of Jack Lesher.

”Up there, among the rocks and bushes.”

”Let's go after 'em!”

”Shoot 'em down, boys! They deserve it for burning up the s.h.i.+p!”

Up the rocks came the hard-drunken sailors, accompanied by Lesher, and with Dan Baxter in their rear.

”Back! back! All of you, stand back!” cried Captain Blossom. ”Come a step nearer at your peril. We are all armed and ready to fire!”

At these words the sailors halted for a moment.

”Say, cap'n, why did you set the s.h.i.+p afire?” asked an unsteady voice.

”We had nothing to do with that,” answered Captain Blossom. ”We were all over on this island when the blaze started.”

”It's a lie!” came in the voice of Lesher.

”Of course it's a lie,” added Dan Baxter. ”They did their best to burn every one of us up.

”It is the truth,” cried d.i.c.k. ”Now stand back, or we shall fire on you.”

”Come on!” yelled Lesher, and fired a pistol at those near the mouth of the cave.

”If ever I get the chance to have you tried, every one of you shall be hung for mutiny and murder!” cried Captain Blossom, and then fired in return.

The bullet hit Dan Baxter in the arm, and he fell back with a shriek of pain.

”I am killed! I am killed!” he moaned, and ran down toward the beach.