"I've got an idea," said Marny. "Just before we came away old man
Shular went down in the hold with a light to look for some certain
brand of liquor we were carrying. He was more than half drunk, and
he most likely dropped his lantern and set something on fire."
At the end of an hour and a half the flames had died down to the
water's edge. A few small bits of wreckage continued to burn, and
also a grove of trees and brushwood on the island. But before morning
every bit of the fire was out, and only a heavy smoke showed where
the _Golden Wave_ had once rested.
No one had thought of retiring again, and sunrise found them all worn
out, and anxious to know what was going to happen next.
"You can rest assured that some of them will be over here sooner or
later," said Dick. "Now they have no place to shelter them, and no
provisions, they will want us to help them out."
"What will you do, Dick?" asked Dora.
"That depends on Captain Blossom, Dora. Personally I want nothing to
do with any of them."
"But some may be badly burnt, and they may need medicine and bandages,"
came from Nellie.
"We can send them whatever we can spare," said Tom. "But I object
strongly to letting anybody come here."
It was decided to remain on guard during the day, and all were
cautioned to keep within call of the house. The bay was scanned for
the sight of a rowboat, but none put in an appearance.
"I'll wager that those who did escape are sorry they quarreled with
us," said Sam.
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