CHAPTER X
A BLOW IN THE DARKNESS
It would be hard to describe Dan Baxter's feelings after CaptainBlossom and the Rover boys left him alone in his stateroom. At oneinstant he was fairly shaking with rage, and at the next quaking withfear over what the future might hold in store for him.
"They have got the best of me again!" he muttered, clenching hisfists. "And after I felt sure I had escaped them. It must have beenFate that made Captain Blossom pick them up. Now I've either got towork as a common sailor or submit to being locked up in some dark,foul-smelling hole on the ship. And when we get to Australia, unlessI watch my chance to skip out, they'll turn me over to the police."
He could not sleep that night for thinking over the situation andwas up and dressed before daylight. Strolling on deck, he came faceto face with Sam, who had come up to get the morning air.
"I suppose you think you have got the best of me," growled Baxter.
"It looks like it, doesn't it?" returned Sam briefly.
"The game isn't ended yet."
"No, but it will be when you land in prison, Baxter."
"I'll get square."
"You have promised to get square times without number--and you havefailed every time."
"I won't fail the next time."
"Yes, you will. Wrong never yet triumphed over right."
"Oh, don't preach, Sam Rover."
"I am not preaching, I am simply trying to show you how foolish itis to do wrong. Why don't you turn over a new leaf?"
"Oh, such talk makes me sick!" growled the bully, and turned away.
A little while later Captain Blossom appeared and hunted up DanBaxter, who sat in his state-room, packing up his few belongings.
"Well, have you decided on your course, young man?" demanded themaster of the _Golden Wave_.
"Do you mean to lock me up if I refuse to become a sailor?" askedDan Baxter,
"I do, and I won't argue with you, either. Is it yes or no?"
"I don't want to be locked up in some dark hole on your ship."
"Then you are willing to become a sailor?"
"I--er--I suppose so."
"Very well, you can remove your things to the forecastle. Jack Lesher,the first mate, will give you your bunk."
This was "adding insult to injury," as it is termed, so far as Baxterwas concerned, for it will be remembered that it was Jack Lesher whohad obtained the passage on the _Golden Wave_ for the bully.
But Dan Baxter was given no chance to demur. Taking his traps he wenton deck, where Jack Lesher met him, grinning in sickly fashion.
"So you are going to make a change, eh?" said the mate.
"You needn't laugh at me, if I am," growled Baxter.
"I shan't laugh, my boy. It's hard luck," said Lesher. "Come along."
He led the way to the forecastle and gave Baxter a bunk next to thatoccupied by old Jerry. Then he brought out an old suit of sailor'sclothing and tossed it over.
"You've run in hard luck, boy," he said in a low voice, after he hadmade certain that nobody else was within hearing. "I am sorry for you."
"Really?" queried Dan Baxter, giving the mate a sharp look.
"Yes, I am, and if I can do anything to make it easy for you, counton me," went on Jack Lesher.
"Thank you."
"I suppose taking that money and the other things was more of boy'ssport than anything, eh?"
"That's the truth. I wanted to get square with those Rover boys. Theyare my bitter enemies. I didn't want the money."
Just then old Jerry came in and the conversation came to an end. ButBaxter felt that he had a friend on board and this eased him a little.He did not know that the reason Jack Lesher liked him was becausethe first mate was a criminal himself and had once served a term ina Michigan jail for knocking down a passenger on a boat and robbinghim of his pocketbook. As the old saying goes, "Birds of a featherflock together."
When the girls came on deck they found Baxter doing some of the workwhich Dick and Tom had been doing the morning before. At first theywere inclined to laugh, but Dora stopped herself and her cousins.
"Don't let us laugh at him," she whispered. "It is hard enough forthe poor fellow as it is."
"I am not going to notice him after this," said Nellie. "To me heshall be an entire stranger." And the others agreed to treat DanBaxter in the same manner.
But the boys were not so considerate, and Tom laughed outright whenhe caught sight of Baxter swabbing up some dirt on the rear deck.This made the bully's passion arise on the instant and he caught uphis bucket as if to throw it at Tom's head.
"Don't you dare, Baxter!" cried Tom. "If you do we'll have a red-hotwar."
"I can lick you, Tom Rover!"
"Perhaps you can and perhaps you can't."
Baxter put up his fists, but on the approach of Dick and Sam hepromptly retreated. But before he went he hissed in Tom's ear:
"You wait, and see what I do!"
"He had better keep his distance," said Dick. "If he doesn't, somebodywill get hurt."
"I suppose it galls him to work," said Sam. "He always was rather lazy."
The day proved a nice one, and the Rover boys spent most of the timewith the three girls, who were glad of their company once more.
All speculated on the question of what had become of the Tacoma, andof what the folks at home would think concerning their prolonged absence.
"I'd give a good deal to send a message home," said Dick.
"We must cable as soon as we reach shore," added Dora.
They saw but little of Dan Baxter during the day and nothing whateverof him the day following.
"He is trying to avoid us," said Sam. "Well, I am just as wellsatisfied."
Through old Jerry they learned that Baxter hated the work given tohim and that he was being favored a little by the first mate.
"Tell ye what, I hate that mate," said Jerry. "He's got a wicked eye,and he drinks like a fish."
"I know he drinks," answered Tom. "I smelt the liquor in his breath."
They were now getting down into warmer latitudes and the next nightproved unusually hot. It was dark with no stars shining, and the airwas close, as if another storm was at hand.
"I can't sleep," said Tom, after rolling around in his berth for halfan hour. "I'm going on deck." And he dressed himself and went up forsome air. He walked forward and leaned over the rail, watching thewaves as they slipped behind the noble ship.
Tom's coming on deck had been noticed by Dan Baxter, who sat on theside of the fore-castle, meditating on his troubles. As the bullysaw the youth leaning over the rail, his face took on a look of bitterhatred.
"I'll teach him to laugh at me!" he muttered.
Gazing around he saw that nobody was within sight and then he aroseto his feet. With a cat-like tread he came up behind Tom, who stilllooked at the waves, totally unconscious of danger.
Baxter's heart beat so loudly that he was afraid Tom would hear it.Again he looked around. Not a soul was near, and the gloom of thenight was growing thicker.
"He'll laugh another way soon!" he muttered, and stepped closer.
His fist was raised to deliver a blow when Tom happened to straightenup and look around. He saw the form behind him and the upraised armand leaped aside.
The blow missed its mark and Tom caught Baxter by the shoulder.
"What do you mean, Dan Baxter, by this attack?" he began, when thebully aimed another blow at him. This struck Tom full in the templeand partly dazed him. Then the two clenched awl fell heavily againstthe rail.
"I'll fix you!" panted Baxter, striking another blow as best hecould, and then, as Tom struck him in return, he forced Tom's headagainst the rail with a thump. The blow made Tom see stars and hewas more dazed than ever.
"Le--let up!" he gasped, but Baxter continued to crowd him againstthe rail, which at this point was very weak because of the collisionwith the steamer. Suddenly there was a snap and a crack and the railgave way. Baxter leaped back in time to
save himself from falling,but Tom could not help himself, and, with a wild cry, he went overboard!