."

"He'll never take care of me!" cried Dora.

"Nor me!" came from Nellie.

"I'd rather die than leave this place in Dan Baxter's company," added
Grace.

"Captain, I want you to understand that Gibson and I didn't agree
to what they wanted to do," came from Marny. "But we were overruled,
and we had to hold our tongues for fear of being knocked down or shot."

"Do you want to join our crowd?" asked Dick bluntly.

"We do, and if you'll take us in we'll promise to stand by you to
the end, no matter what comes. We know they've got the best of
it--having the ship's stores--but we don't care for that. They are
a drunken, good-for-nothing crowd, and we are done with them."

"All right, men, I think we can trust you," said Captain Blossom.
"It's a pity that Hackenhaven was lost overboard and eat up by the
sharks. We could rather have spared Lesher."

"Or Dan Baxter," observed Tom.

"With three gone they have but eight men left on the wreck," said
Sam. "And we now number seven men and three ladies. If we stand our
ground, I can't see as we have much to fear from them."

"It will be all right so long as they keep their distance," said
Captain Blossom. "But if they come over here in a body when they are
half full of drink, there is sure to be a row and probably some
shooting. Still, we needn't try to meet trouble halfway."

The sailors gave some more of the details of their doings while in
Lesher's company, and then they were provided with additional clothing,
and each was given a pistol and some ammunition. Nothing was said to
them about the cave or the provisions stored there, Captain Blossom
deeming it best to wait and make sure if they were to be thoroughly
trusted.

"You see," said he, "they may be straight enough, or they may be
spies sent by Lesher to find out just what we propose to do."

"They look honest," said Dick. "I should trust them."

The long pull on the bay had worn the two sailors out, and they were
soon sleeping soundly. The girls followed, and then the boys started
to turn in.

Sam had just gone to rest, and Tom was following, when Dick, who had
stepped out on the beach, uttered a cry.

"What's up?" asked Captain Blossom.

"Look toward the wreck. What does that light mean?"

The captain looked, and then ran for his spy-glass.

"The _Golden Wave_ is afire!" he exclaimed. "That light is coming up
out of the cabin!"

"The wreck is on fire!" shouted Tom, and this cry brought everybody
o