rge portion of the leak.

"We can anchor her without trouble," said the old sailor. "And perhaps
straighten her up too, so the deck won't be so slanty. Then she'll
be a reg'lar hotel for all hands."

"Let us go below and see how things are down there," said Dick, and
he at once led the way.

At that instant a loud sneeze reached their ears, causing Dick to
pause on the companion way. Looking into the cabin he saw a man
standing there, partly dressed.

"Captain Blossom!" he ejaculated. "Is it really you or your ghost?"

"Dick Rover!" cried the master of the schooner. "Then you weren't
drowned, after all?"

"No, captain. But--but how did you escape?"

"Is it really Captain Blossom?" came from Tom, and he rushed down
into the cabin, followed by old Jerry. All shook hands, and the face
of the captain showed his pleasure over the meeting.

"So you all escaped and are here," he said. "I am downright glad to
know it. What of the others?"

"We don't know what became of the other boats," answered Dick.

"Saw nothing at all?"

"Not a thing."

The captain shook his head sorrowfully.

"But how did you escape?" asked Dick again.

"That is a short story, lad. When I went overboard from the rowboat,
I caught hold of some of the wreckage from the schooner. This was
still fast to the deck, and by hauling myself in I soon got on board
again. As I had no boat, I remained on board, for I soon saw that
the schooner would not go down immediately. At daylight the ship left
the rocks and drifted around on the ocean until the wind came up last
night, when we struck this island and got beached, as you see. I was
worn out with watching, and as soon as I found the boat was safe from
sinking I went to bed, and slept soundly until I heard you three
tramping around the deck."

"We are stopping over on yonder island," said Tom, when all went on
deck, and he pointed in the direction. "See, Sam and the girls are
waving to us. Let us wave in return, and stand apart, so they can
see that there are four of us."

They did as the youngest Rover advised and soon saw that they were
seen. Then Captain Blossom held up his spyglass.

"I reckon they will know who I am by that," he said, and he was right,
for Sam told the girls that the fourth man was Captain Blossom beyond
a doubt.

"How is your stock of provisions?" asked old Jerry. "We are getting
just a bit tired of living on birds and fish. And we want a gun or
a pistol with which to p