de
him shudder. He was no friend to the Rovers, yet he did not wish to
see them lose their lives. He paused for a moment, then turned and
ran on deck.

Nobody was in sight, for the sailors from the _Dogstar_ were asleep
below. He ran for a bucket, filled it with water and took it to the
hatchway, which he opened feverishly.

"Hullo there!" he whispered.

"Baxter, is it you?" queried Dick, coming to the ladder.

"Yes. Take this bucket of water, quick. It's clean and good. Don't
drink what the others bring you."

"But, Baxter--" began Tom.

"I can't stay. Be careful of what they give you to eat and drink,
that's all." And the next moment the bucket was passed to Dick, the
hatch closed down, and Baxter fairly ran back to where he had left
the men.

"What can this mean?" asked Dick, staring at his companions.

"Dick, be careful," warned Sam. "It may be some plot of Baxter's."

"Maype ve ton't besser trink dot vater," suggested Hans. "I ton't
vont to vake up teat in der morning, ain't it!"

"Can the water be poisoned?" asked Tom.

They poured some in a glass and held it close to the light. It looked
good and Dick tasted it cautiously.

"Baxter said to beware of what the others gave us to eat and to
drink," said Sam. "Evidently something is in the air."

All sniffed of the water and tasted it, yet each was afraid to take
a regular drink. While they were deliberating they heard the hatch
being raised again. Then Sack Todd and Gasper Pold appeared once more.

CHAPTER XXV

ONE PLOT AND ANOTHER

"We've got the water for you," said Sack Todd. "We don't know as you
deserve it, but we don't want to be mean."

As he spoke he and Gasper Pold held down a jug containing not more
than two quarts.

"Not a very big supply," grumbled Tom. "We'll want a good deal more
down here. This is a regular sweatbox."

"You don't have to stay any longer than you wish," answered the
ex-counterfeiter, with a sickly grin.

"Ven do ve git somedings to eat?" asked Hans.

"In the morning."

This was all those above said, and soon the hatch was shut down and
fastened and Todd and Pold walked slowly away.

"They didn't seem to care much whether we surrendered or not," remarked
Sam.

"That makes me more suspicious than ever," answered Dick. "Boys, Dan
Baxter may have been acting on the square after all."

"Catch Dan doing that!" retorted Tom. "Why, it isn't in him, Dick."

"I don't know about that. He is bad, I know, but