"
"It was a narrow escape," said Dick. "You can thank a kind Providence
that your life was spared."
"You must have leaned on the rail awfully hard," put in Nellie.
"Leaned on the rail?" repeated Tom. "It wasn't my fault that I went
overboard. It was Dan Baxter's."
"Dan Baxter!" came from several.
"Exactly. He tackled me in the dark, and we had it hot and heavy for
a minute. Then he crowded me on the rail, and it gave way. He jumped
back and let me go overboard."
"The rascal! I'll settle with him!" cried Dick. "I'll teach him to
keep his distance after this!"
He knew Baxter was still forward, and ran in that direction. The
bully saw him coming and tried to hide in the forecastle, but Dick
was too quick for him and hauled him back on the deck.
"Take that for shoving my brother overboard, you scoundrel!" he
exclaimed, and hit Baxter a staggering blow straight between the eyes.
"Stop!" roared the bully, and struck out in return. But Dick dodged
the blow, and then hit Baxter in the chin and on the nose. The elder
Rover boy was excited, and hit with all of his force, and the bully
measured his length on the deck.
"Good fer you!" cried old Jerry, who stood looking on. "That's the
way to serve him, the sarpint!"
Slowly Baxter arose to his knees, and then his feet, where he stood
glaring at Dick.
"Don't you hit me again!" he muttered.
"But I will," retorted Dick, and struck out once more.
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