cured another glass of liquor.
Then he ordered old Jerry to take the bundle of clothing and put it
in the rowboat.

"I've got some money on this schooner," he said. "I want to see if
that's safe, or if you have stolen it."

"We haven't touched any money," answered Dick, his face flushing.
"It would be of no use to us on these islands."

"You come with me while I take a look," said Lesher.

Behind his back he waved his hand for Baxter to follow. All three
went below again, and into a stateroom the mate had occupied.

"The money was in that chest," said the mate. He threw open the lid.
"It's gone!" he cried.

Interested for the moment, Dick bent forward to look in the chest.
As he did so, Lesher suddenly hit him a savage blow over the head
with the butt of a pistol. The blow was a heavy one, and Dick fell
like a log to the floor.

"Oh!" came from Baxter. "Have you killed him?"

"No; only knocked the senses out of him," answered Lesher, bending
over his victim.

"What did you do it for?"

"To teach him a lesson. He shan't boss me, Baxter. Come, help me put
him in the brig, and be quick, before Jerry comes back."

They lifted up the insensible form and made their way to where the
ship's brig was located, a dirty closet once used for oil and lanterns.
Dick was thrown on the floor, and the mate shut the door on him and
locked it.

"Now he can stay there for a day or two," he snarled. "Reckon it will
teach him a lesson."

"What will you do with the sailor?"

Before Lesher could answer old Jerry appeared.

"Where is Dick Rover?" he asked.

"None of your business," growled Jack Lesher. "See here, Tolman, are
you going to obey me after this?"

"I want to know where Dick is?" said old Jerry stubbornly.

"I put him in the brig to cool off. He's too hot-headed for his own
good."

"You had no right to lock him up, Mr. Lesher. You must let him out
at once."

"Git out of here, quick!" roared Lesher. "On deck, or I'll flog you
well!"

"Ye won't tech me!" cried Jerry, his temper rising. "I aint under
orders no more, mind that. Now you let him out, or I'll do it. You
was a fool to lock him up in the first place."

He moved toward the brig, but Lesher caught him by the arm.

"Let's teach this chap a lesson, too!" came from Baxter, and, like
a flash, he struck old Jerry in the back of the head. The first blow
was followed by a second, and down went the tar, the blood oozing
from one of his wounds.

"Don't