e the cries of pa

tch that controlled the overhead lights.

oking toward the source of the distur

toward the forward cabin with a vim a

ommanded Arnold,

straight on end while hoarse growls issued in thunderous tones from his throat arou

Harry in a tone of discovery. "Somebo

y's usually smooth hair. "What did you s

one in there," stout

manded Jack. "Let

llows and the boys moved forward to in

what do you want?

figure lying at the foot of the comp

itously bending over the prostrate form c

t," wailed the stran

ood gracious, that's a bad wound. Wonde

," cried Harry. "Look at that thing proje

of their visitor while Tom and Harry threw themselves upon his leg. Frank stooped, grasped the foot with

ght about. He glanced at the object he held in his hand, then sat down upon a locker and gave vent to shout

the matter? Have you gone plumb crazy o

ll give a little first aid and then tha

ied Arnold. "I d

ared Frank. "But now

om gazing ruefully at the deck, now be

think we'd better wash this out first and then put in some

er. "Got a whole chest full of dope her

ted Harry. "That's good for snake-bite and

prepared to bandage the member after giving it a liberal application of turpent

pork. I got a rusty nail in my foot

ed Tom. "I mean th

rked," stoutly m

ork. It surely can't do any harm and

eried Arnold. "Wh

tone, "that Arnold captured this fellow

suggested Tom, bringing hot water, "and t

the floor," was Frank's suggestion. "If

ed Tom. "We've had enough excitement today to make me forge

f Frank when the stranger had been placed in a comfortable position and the boys ha

he visitor's foot, "Arnold discovered the horse buried upside down

rd cabin. It must have got kicked about during the evening and left with the tail st

continued, "that's my deduction. If anyone

old's explanation had been correct. They all waited to hear f

and interview this lad. He looks to me

val. The boys crowded forward eagerly.

picking up an object from the bunk besid

xclaimed. "Where did that come from?

nold. "It's only a small piece. G

Jack. "Don't giv

d questioned in

ought it aboard for

. "Here I might have killed our best fr

k shaking the stranger by the shoul

omer, keeping his face turned toward

to use for a sandwich for yourself. You were about to use our

safed to this sally

now you. You were aboard our boat once before. We are several ga

declared Frank. "Come here until I sugges

holding the stranger. After a moment's consultation they retur

if we have to wring your neck to get it. We don't care about doing you any harm, especially since you're already wounded, bu

can't do anything to me. Besides, you'

pted Jack. "We can protect ourselves even

He'd better not monkey too far with thi

ease start the coils and fry this chun

e benefit of the visitor. He had no intention of using the weapo

" cried the boy.

ated Jack. "I

d. "I'll promise not to do anything agains

harm you if you'll agree not to injure us, but we must know wh

th his hands. "There," he cried sitting up in bed, "now

ld on his automatic. "If Wyckoff tries any of his dirty tricks

man. He shot a nigger once just because the fellow disput

Petit Bois that his hands were clean," sco

seen him?" que

that! He just told

ou to do?" inquired

der the floor boards I would find a plug driven

arefully and swim ashore. I was not t

ve been impossible to hear you more than forty or fifty miles away. There's nothing

"The poor lad is having troubles of h

ry. "He wasn't invited aboard. If he'd sta

oubles we get into are caused by our own acts. I'm sleepy.

Let's set a guard over the prisoner an

l the boys. They were tired after their lo

idnight visitor, volunteered to act as guard during the first watch. He stoutly ma

thrown overboard and

he reached across to the bunk occupied b

t the hospital," he su

g on the bunk. The