am, Tom, and Hans.

"Talk to him," said Dick. "I'll be back soon," and then he left and
made his way up the companionway to the deck of the steam yacht.

His heart was in a strange tumult. That Dan Baxter should want to
reform was a surprise of which he had never dreamed. Could the former
bully be playing a part?

"He's sly enough," he reasoned. "And yet his eyes had a look in them
that I never saw before. He looked like a worried wild animal, that
doesn't know how to turn or what to do. He's down here all alone
among strangers, and evidently he has found out that Sack Todd and
the rest aren't his sort. Well, if he wants to reform I shan't put
anything in his way. But I am not going to give him too much rope--just
yet."

Having gained the deck of the vessel, Dick looked around cautiously.
It was a dark night, the stars being hidden by clouds. He crept along
slowly.

"Well, you'll have to give me a pointer or two about the engine,"
Dick heard Sack Todd exclaim. "I thought I knew how to run it, but
I reckon I was mistaken."

"Oh, why not let that go just now," growled the mate of the _Dogstar_
in return. "We've got to make sure of those boys first, and get some
sleep, too."

"It won't take but a few minutes to explain about the engine," said
Gasper Pold. "I ran one once for six weeks."

"Seems to me you have dabbled in a little bit of everything," observed
Sack Todd.

"So I have."

The three men were near the pilot house, but came away and started
for the hatchway leading down into the engine room. They had to pass
close to where Dick was crouching and the eldest Rover hardly dared
to breathe, so fearful was he of discovery.

Presently Dick saw the three men go down the iron ladder, one after
another. As they did this, a sudden idea came into his head.

"I'll do it!" he told himself, and sneaked forward with the silence
and quickness of a cat.

The hatch still lay beside the opening, with the hooks that had been
used to fasten it down. It was heavy and Dick wondered if he could
move and fasten it quick enough.

"I wish Sam or Tom was here to help me," he thought.

As he started to raise the hatch a sudden puff of wind made the mast
creak loudly. This alarmed the men below and Sack Todd started up
the ladder.

"We ought to have somebody on guard," he said, so loudly that Dick
heard him. "I don't trust that Baxter very much."

"All right," answered Gasper Pold. "You go to the cabin, and--"

He brok