and then at the whispered command of
Frank, Jack quickly sat on the head of their visitor while Tom and Harry
threw themselves upon his leg. Frank stooped, grasped the foot with one
hand and with the other wrenched quickly at the thing that was
protruding through the foot of the boy.

A shriek of agony told of the pain he had caused. Frank shook his head
in pity at the suffering he had brought about. He glanced at the object
he held in his hand, then sat down upon a locker and gave vent to shout
after shout of laughter. The boys gazed in open mouthed wonder at the
spectacle. Frank's laugh was hearty.

"Frank," cried Jack wonderingly, "what's the matter? Have you gone plumb
crazy or are you enjoying this boy's suffering?"

"Neither," asserted Frank. "I think we'll give a little first aid and
then thank Arnold here for catching the thief."

"Thank me?" queried Arnold. "I didn't catch him."

"Yes, you did," declared Frank. "But now to help him a bit."

"How shall we treat the foot?" asked Tom gazing ruefully at the deck,
now becoming crimson under the stain of blood.

"Get a basin and then some hot water," directed Frank. "I think we'd
better wash this out first and then put in some disinfectant. Have you
got something to cleanse the wound?"

"Surely have," was Tom's confident answer. "Got a whole chest full of
dope here. Help yourself to anything you want!"

"Let's put in a lot of turpentine," suggested Harry. "That's good for
snake-bite and other things. We've got plenty of it, too."

Frank took charge of the injured lad, bathing and cleansing the wounded
foot. He prepared to bandage the member after giving it a liberal
application of turpentine. As he was about to put the bandage in place
Harry offered another suggestion.

"Let's put on some of that fat salt pork. I got a rusty nail in my foot
once and that's what they put on me."

"Did it work?" asked Tom. "I mean the pork, of course."

"Of course it worked," stoutly maintained Harry.

"All right, then, put on a slice of pork. It surely can't do any harm
and may draw out the poison from the foot."

"What poison?" queried Arnold. "What did he step on?"

"I told you," stated Frank in a positive tone, "that Arnold captured
this fellow. When you know the facts, you'll agree."

"Let me mop up this smear on the floor," suggested Tom, bringing hot
water, "and then we'll all listen. Who's the Sherlock?"

"Take cold water, Tom, for that spot on the floor,"