When Baxter and Lesher came to breakfast both were sullen. The mate
had wanted more liquor, but Captain Blossom had refused to give him
more than a single glass.
"You had better return to the others at once," said the captain.
"Tell them they can come over here, and then we will make arrangements
as to how all hands shall live until some ship comes to take us away."
The Rovers suspected that Dan Baxter wished to remain behind, leaving
the mate to go after the others. But Lesher would not go alone, and
off they started at noon, each carrying a good supply of food with
him, and also a pistol and some ammunition.
"I wish they weren't coming back," murmured Dora.
"I wish the same, Dora," said Dick. "But it can't be helped and we
must make the best of it."
There was a general air of relief when the two had departed. Later
on each told his or her story once more, and a general conversation
ensued regarding the future.
"Lesher is not the man I thought he would, be," said Captain Blossom.
"If he insists on getting drunk he will surely cause us a good deal
of trouble, and if I try to keep the liquor from him he will get
ugly. More than that, he has several sailors with him who are old
friends, and they like their liquor just as much as he does."
It was seen that the flag of distress was down, as already mentioned,
and after Baxter and Lesher had departed, Tom and Dick set off to
put the flag up once more.
Pages:
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160