When the girls came on deck they found Baxter doing some of the work which Dick and Tom had been doing the morning before.  At first they were inclined to laugh, but Dora stopped herself and her cousins.

“Don’t let us laugh at him,” she whispered.  “It is hard enough for the poor fellow as it is.”

“I am not going to notice him after this,” said Nellie.  “To me he shall be an entire stranger.”  And the others agreed to treat Dan Baxter in the same manner.

But the boys were not so considerate, and Tom laughed outright when he caught sight of Baxter swabbing up some dirt on the rear deck.  This made the bully’s passion arise on the instant and he caught up his bucket as if to throw it at Tom’s head.

“Don’t you dare, Baxter!” cried Tom.  “If you do we’ll have a red-hot war.”

“I can lick you, Tom Rover!”

“Perhaps you can and perhaps you can’t.”

Baxter put up his fists, but on the approach of Dick and Sam he promptly retreated.  But before he went he hissed in Tom’s ear: 

“You wait, and see what I do!”

“He had better keep his distance,” said Dick.  “If he doesn’t, somebody will get hurt.”

“I suppose it galls him to work,” said Sam.  “He always was rather lazy.”

The day proved a nice one, and the Rover boys spent most of the time with the three girls, who were glad of their company once more.

All speculated on the question of what had become of the Tacoma, and of what the folks at home would think concerning their prolonged absence.

“I’d give a good deal to send a message home,” said Dick.

“We must cable as soon as we reach shore,” added Dora.

They saw but little of Dan Baxter during the day and nothing whatever of him the day following.

“He is trying to avoid us,” said Sam.  “Well, I am just as well satisfied.”

Through old Jerry they learned that Baxter hated the work given to him and that he was being favored a little by the first mate.

“Tell ye what, I hate that mate,” said Jerry.  “He’s got a wicked eye, and he drinks like a fish.”

“I know he drinks,” answered Tom.  “I smelt the liquor in his breath.”

They were now getting down into warmer latitudes and the next night proved unusually hot.  It was dark with no stars shining, and the air was close, as if another storm was at hand.

“I can’t sleep,” said Tom, after rolling around in his berth for half an hour.  “I’m going on deck.”  And he dressed himself and went up for some air.  He walked forward and leaned over the rail, watching the waves as they slipped behind the noble ship.

Tom’s coming on deck had been noticed by Dan Baxter, who sat on the side of the fore-castle, meditating on his troubles.  As the bully saw the youth leaning over the rail, his face took on a look of bitter hatred.

“I’ll teach him to laugh at me!” he muttered.