ossible to make out any faces.

"Maybe they are savages," came from Grace.

"No, they are dressed like white people," said Captain Blossom..

"Perhaps another ship has come in!" ejaculated Tom. "If it has, we
are saved!"

"I don't see any other ship," said old Jerry.

"It may be on the other side of yonder island," came from Sam.

"The best thing we can do is to row over and investigate," said
Captain Blossom. "If another ship has come in, the captain may claim
that wreck and everything on board."

A hasty breakfast was prepared and eaten, and it was agreed that the
captain, Dick, and old Jerry should row over to the wreck in the best
of the boats. The three were soon on the way, wondering whom they
were to meet and what sort of a reception would be tendered to them.

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE MATE SHOWS HIS HAND

Captain Blossom had taken the spyglass along, and as they drew closer
to the wreck he gazed long and earnestly at the men walking the deck
of the _Golden Wave_.

"They are my crew," he announced at last. "And they are in tatters."

"They must have had a hard time of it since you were cast ashore,"
said Dick.

"Unless I am mistaken, not a one of them is sober," went on the
captain. "They are cutting up like a band of wild Indians."

Before long they were within hailing distance of those on the wreck.
Then a voice from the rail hailed them.

"Boat ahoy!"

"Ahoy!" answered the captain.

"What do you want?" demanded the sailor on the wreck. He could scarcely
talk straight.

"We want to come on board."

"Sorry, cap'n, but I can't let you come aboard," answered the sailor,
with something of a hiccough.

"Can't let me come aboard?" repeated the captain. "Why not?"

"Cause it's ag'in orders."

"Whose orders?"

"Captain Lesher's."

"Captain Lesher!" ejaculated Captain Blossom indignantly. "How long
has he been a captain?"

"We made him cap'n yesterday."

"That's right," put in another sailor. "We 'lected him unan--nan--
nan'mously; yes, sir, unan--nan--nan'mously."

"You are drunk, Bostwick."

"No, sir, aint drunk at all.--Lesher, he's drunk--but he's cap'n
all the same."

"That's right," put in a third sailor. "Hurrah for Captain Lesher
and the rum he let us have!"

"Got to keep off, I tell you," went on Bostwick. "If you don't, we
have--er--we have strict orders to fire on you, yes, sir."

"To fire on us!" cried Dick.--"Do you mean to say you would fire on us?"

"Now, se