CHAPTER XXVIII
HATCHWAY AND DOOR
The news that the men were trying to break out of the engine roomwas true. Gasper Pold and Sid Jeffers had gotten a long piece of ironpipe and with this they were hammering at the hatch. One of thefastenings was already off and the others much weakened.
"Stop!" cried Dick, rushing up. "Stop, or we'll open fire on you!"
"We are bound to get out and you can't stop us!" yelled back GasperPold, and started to mount the iron ladder with a long wrench. Thisinstrument he placed under a corner of the hatch and began to prythe wooden barrier upward.
"Not so fast!" sang out Tom, and rushing up he sprawled over thehatch and caught the end of the wrench. "One good wrench deservesanother!" he muttered, his love of fun coming to the surface even insuch a pitch of excitement, and with that he gave the wrench a wrenchthat brought it from Pold's grip and allowed the hatch to fall intoplace.
"All aboard!" sang out Tom, and Dick, Sam, and Hans leaped on top ofthe hatch. "Nothing like holding 'em down!"
"Let us up!" roared Sid Jeffers, and a moment later a pistol shotrang out and a bullet came crashing through the hatch, but its forcewas so spent it merely bounced against Han's trouser leg.
"I vos hit! I vos hit!" shrieked the German youth, dancing around."I vos a teat boy alretty!"
"Hans, are you really hit?" asked Dick, in alarm.
"Yah, but--I guess it ton't vos much," added Hans sheepishly, as herealized that no damage had been done.
"Here, hold it down with this," cried Dan Baxter and came forwardwith two capstan bars. These were placed across the hatch and thefour boys took their stations at the ends of the bars. Thus theymanaged to get out of firing range of those below.
"This is certainly growing interesting," was Dick's comment, as therewas a moment's suspension of hostilities. "I hardly know what to donext."
"If you don't let us up we'll blow up the ship!" yelled Gasper Pold.He was in a terrible fury.
"If you blow up the ship, you'll go up with her," answered Sam.
"Gracious, vill da do dot?" asked Hans, in alarm.
"No, they'll not be so foolish," answered Tom. "They value theirworthless hides too much."
"You've nearly killed Sack Todd and we'll have you arrested for it,"went on Gasper Pold.
"You'll be nearly killed if you don't look out," answered Dick. "Weare in possession and we mean to keep in possession."
"You can't run the boat without the engine."
"Yes, we can, for the sails are ready for use. We won't have to run,though. By morning we expect to sight some other vessel and thenwe'll get help."
"What have you done with those two sailors?" asked Sid Jeffers.
"Put them where they can't do any harm."
"Where is Baxter?" asked Pold.
"That is for you to find out."
"I am here," said the former bully of Putnam Hall.
"Helping that crowd?"
"Yes. I don't want anything more to do with you, or with Sack Toddeither."
"The young skunk!" muttered the mate of the _Dogstar_. "I told youI didn't like his looks."
"Say, Dick Rover, let us talk this matter over," said Gasper Pold,calming down a little. "If you'll be reasonable I am sure we can cometo terms that will be satisfactory all around."
"I don't think so."
"This craft is worth a lot of money, so the mate of the _Dogstar_says, and there is no reason why all of us shouldn't make a neat pileout of her."
"Do you want us to go in partnership with you?" asked Tom, in disgust.
"That's it, and if you will, we'll say nothing about your hurtingSack Todd."
"Is he bad?" asked Sam.
"He is bad enough. We want to get out so that he can have properattention and medicine."
"Better give him some of that doctored water," suggested Tom, grimly.
"Don't get fresh, young man!"
"I think you are the one who is fresh!" retorted Tom. "Do you thinkwe are going to train with such fellows as you? Not much!"
"Then you won't make terms?"
"No," came from the three Rovers.
At this the men at the foot of the iron ladder muttered somethingthat our friends could not catch. The rascals were furious and wantedto do some more shooting, but did not dare, fearing shots in return.
"Will you let Sack Todd have some water?" asked Pold, presently.
"There is good water in the bucket," answered Dick.
"That's gone."
"Then you'll have to wait until later for more."
"Todd has got to have water."
At this announcement the boys looked questioningly at each other.
"It may be true," said Dick. "I shouldn't want the man to die justbecause we had refused him water."
"It may be a trick, just to get the hatch open again," put in DanBaxter. "If I were you I wouldn't trust them. I know that crowd betterthan you do."
"You can have water in the morning," called down Dick. "In the meantimeyou keep quiet and do what you can for Todd. If you don't keep quietyou'll get the worst of it."
"Wait till I get my hands on you!" came in the hoarse voice of SackTodd. "I'll pulverize you!"
"He's a long way from being dead, by his voice," said Dick. "I reckonhe was playing off on us." And this was largely true. Sack Todd'swound was painful but by no means serious.
It must be confessed that the boys hardly knew how to proceed. Butpresently Dick remembered where he had seen some hooks and nails andhe sent Dan Baxter for these. When they were brought he calmlyproceeded to fasten the extra hooks to the hatch and then hook themfast to the deck.
"What are you doing now?" yelled Gasper Pold, and when he was toldhe muttered things I do not care to mention on these pages.
"Now, Sam and Tom, you remain on guard here, while the rest of us goand secure that door below," said Dick.
"It is secure," said Tom.
"Yes, I know, but some extra cross bars won't do any harm."
"Want me to help?" asked Baxter.
"You can come along," said Dick, not altogether willing to leave theformer bully out of sight.
He hurried to the door in question, one leading from the back of theengine room into something of a storeroom. The door was fastened bytwo ordinary bolts.
"I'll soon fix that!" said the eldest Rover. "Dan, you hold thelantern. Hans, bring that piece of board here."
The board was brought, and Dick began to nail it fast, directly overthe door. He had still another nail to drive when there came anunexpected crash on the other side.
"All together!" yelled the voice of Gasper Pold. "Now then, with a will!"
Another mighty crash followed and then a third. With this the doorflew from its hinges, and over it came, hurling Hans flat on hisback. Then Dick found himself confronted by Pold, Jeffers, and SackTodd, each with a weapon ready for use.