"The rascals!" muttered Captain Blossom, when they were out of hearing.
"Lesher and Baxter have poisoned the minds of the crew against me,
and have bought over the men with liquor."
"It's a mighty good thing ye put them stores in the cave," came from
old Jerry. "If ye hadn't we'd be a-wantin' a good many things in a
few days."
"That is true," answered Dick. "Dora told me they must have another
barrel of flour by day after to-morrow."
"How many at the cave?"
"Two."
"Well, it certainly was a good job done," said the captain. "But it
makes me boil to think they want to keep me off my own ship. On the
ocean that would be mutiny, and I could hang every mother's son of
them from the yardarm for it."
"Lesher must have told 'em some putty strong stories," said old Jerry.
"Otherwise the men wouldn't be so dead set ag'in ye, cap'n."
"No doubt he made out the strongest possible case."
"I wonder if they will stick to the wreck all the time," said Dick.
"They'll find it mighty hot when the sun shines."
"Oh, they'll most likely take some of the things ashore, and set up
a camp nearby, Rover."
"We'll have to watch them closely."
"I agree with you. Now we have two kinds of enemies--beasts and men,"
and the captain laughed bitterly.
The others were gathered on the shore awaiting their return, and they
listened attentively to what was told them.
"Oh, Lesher wanted to be leader, you could see that right off,"
declared Tom.
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