he
deck of the wreck over there. You were only passengers, but Jerry
Tolman was a sailor, and he's under my command. I told him to bring
me some liquor, and he has got to do it. If he won't obey, it's
mutiny, just you remember that!" And he shook his finger warningly
in old Jerry's face.

"I told ye I don't know where the liquor is," answered old Jerry
doggedly.

"And he tells the truth," said Dick. "I put it away myself."

"Then I command you to bring it to me."

"I told you before your commands don't hold water here. Even old
Jerry hasn't got to obey you. When the _Golden Wave_ was abandoned that
ended your authority. We have simply made Captain Blossom our leader
because he acted fair and square. But we don't have to obey him if
we don't want to."

"What of the nine sailors who are with me?"

"We'll be pleased to give them their full share of what is on the
wreck, and if they behave themselves they can build a camp right
next to this one. But you must remember that we discovered the wreck
first, and that Captain Blossom was the only man left on board."

"We'll see what the men have to say about this," growled Lesher.
"Then you aint going to give me no liquor?"

"You can have one glass with your breakfast, and that is all. After
this you can have the regulation ship's grog, with the other sailors.
But getting drunk has got to be stopped, even if we have to dump all
the liquor into the ocean."

By this time the girls had appeared on the scene, and the talk came
to an end, Dick turning in to help get breakfast. Jack Lesher walked
down to the beach, followed by Dan Baxter.

"You see, it is just as I told you," said Baxter. "They are going to
ride right over us."

"They wouldn't ride over us if I had those other sailors here,"
growled the mate.

"Or if we were armed," went on the bully. "I tried to get hold of a
pistol, but Dick Rover watches me like a cat watches a mouse."

"If we could get to the wreck we might arm ourselves," said Lesher.
"Here is a boat; let us row over."

"I'm willing," answered the bully.

They walked to the boat, shoved it into the water, and leaped in.
Just as Lesher picked up the oars Dick saw what they were doing.

"Stop!" he cried.

"What do you want?" growled the mate.

"Where are you going?"

"Over to the wreck."

"What for?"

"That is our business," put in Dan Baxter.

"You shan't go over there until Captain Blossom comes back."

"We'll go when we please," sa