Frank and Jack exchanged glances and then at the whispered command of Frank, Jack quickly sat on the head of their visitor while Tom and Harry threw themselves upon his leg.  Frank stooped, grasped the foot with one hand and with the other wrenched quickly at the thing that was protruding through the foot of the boy.

A shriek of agony told of the pain he had caused.  Frank shook his head in pity at the suffering he had brought about.  He glanced at the object he held in his hand, then sat down upon a locker and gave vent to shout after shout of laughter.  The boys gazed in open mouthed wonder at the spectacle.  Frank’s laugh was hearty.

“Frank,” cried Jack wonderingly, “what’s the matter?  Have you gone plumb crazy or are you enjoying this boy’s suffering?”

“Neither,” asserted Frank.  “I think we’ll give a little first aid and then thank Arnold here for catching the thief.”

“Thank me?” queried Arnold.  “I didn’t catch him.”

“Yes, you did,” declared Frank.  “But now to help him a bit.”

“How shall we treat the foot?” asked Tom gazing ruefully at the deck, now becoming crimson under the stain of blood.

“Get a basin and then some hot water,” directed Frank.  “I think we’d better wash this out first and then put in some disinfectant.  Have you got something to cleanse the wound?”

“Surely have,” was Tom’s confident answer.  “Got a whole chest full of dope here.  Help yourself to anything you want!”

“Let’s put in a lot of turpentine,” suggested Harry.  “That’s good for snake-bite and other things.  We’ve got plenty of it, too.”

Frank took charge of the injured lad, bathing and cleansing the wounded foot.  He prepared to bandage the member after giving it a liberal application of turpentine.  As he was about to put the bandage in place Harry offered another suggestion.

“Let’s put on some of that fat salt pork.  I got a rusty nail in my foot once and that’s what they put on me.”

“Did it work?” asked Tom.  “I mean the pork, of course.”

“Of course it worked,” stoutly maintained Harry.

“All right, then, put on a slice of pork.  It surely can’t do any harm and may draw out the poison from the foot.”

“What poison?” queried Arnold.  “What did he step on?”

“I told you,” stated Frank in a positive tone, “that Arnold captured this fellow.  When you know the facts, you’ll agree.”

“Let me mop up this smear on the floor,” suggested Tom, bringing hot water, “and then we’ll all listen.  Who’s the Sherlock?”

“Take cold water, Tom, for that spot on the floor,” was Frank’s suggestion.  “If you don’t the place will be discolored.”

“Sure enough, I guess I’m getting old and forgetful,” laughed Tom.  “We’ve had enough excitement today to make me forget most everything, I guess.  Tell you what, I’m sleepy, too.”

“Now tell us how you happened to say that Arnold caught this chap,” Jack demanded of Frank when the stranger had been placed in a comfortable position and the boys had gathered in the after cabin.  “I thought Arnold was in the bunk when it happened.”