f "The Rover Boys in Southern Waters."

As soon as they arrived at Mobile the Rover boys sent telegrams to
their folks at home and also to the ladies and girls at the Bird
plantation, telling of the safety of the entire party.

Sack Todd, Gasper Pold, Sid Jeffers, and the two sailors were locked
up. Nobody attempted to have Dan Baxter arrested, nor did the former
bully of Putnam Hall try to run away.

"I have made up my mind to take my medicine and I am going to do it,"
he said, almost stubbornly.

"What a change in him!" was Tom's comment. "The fellows at Putnam
Hall won't believe it when we tell them."

"Here is the whole thing in a nutshell," said Sam. "Dan has found
out that there is absolutely no happiness or satisfaction in being
dishonest. Even when he had money he didn't enjoy it--he told me so
himself. He said there was many a day when he would have preferred
being with the old crowd, even without a cent in his pocket."

As soon as he could Harold Bird set off for Mexico. A week later he
sent Dick Rover a telegram stating that he had found his father and
was taking him home. It may be added here that, cleared of the
suspicion that had hung over his name, Mr. Bird speedily recovered
from his insanity, and became the prosperous planter he had been in
years gone by.

When Sack Todd, Gasper Pold, and Sid Jeffers were brought to trial
Dan Baxter was a witness against each one. For the shooting of the
old hunter Pold received a life sentence in prison, and for their
various misdeeds Todd and the mate of the _Dogstar_ received ten and
twenty years respectively. Solly Jackson was also a witness against
Todd and Pold and was not prosecuted.

"What are you going to do about Dan Baxter?" asked Songbird of Dick,
one day.

"I am going to do nothing," answered Dick, firmly. "If you want to
prosecute him you can do so."

"He expects to be placed on trial."

"Well, he'll have to find somebody else to prosecute him."

"I shan't do anything, Dick. Why, he isn't the same chap he used to
be. He's as meek as any fellow I ever met."

In the end nobody prosecuted Dan Baxter, and he was allowed to go
his own way. The Rovers talked the matter over and one day they sent
for the former bully and asked him how much money he had on hand.

"I've got exactly two dollars and a quarter," was the answer. "I am
looking for work, but I haven't found anything yet," and Baxter's
face grew red and he hung his head.

"We have made