“They are packed away in a stateroom.  Captain Blossom thought it wouldn’t do to leave them lying loose.  Some savages might come to the islands and steal them, and then we’d be in a bad hole.”

“We’ve got to have some guns and pistols, Rover.”

“Well, you can see the captain about that.”

“I shan’t wait.  Which stateroom are they in?”

Dick would not tell the mate, and Lesher went around trying the various doors.  Coming to one that was locked he burst it open with his shoulder.

Dick scarcely knew what to do, and while he was trying to make up his mind Jack Lesher secured a pistol and a rifle, and also a pistol for Dan Baxter.  He would have taken more fire-arms, but Dick stopped him.

“That is enough,” he said.

“I want some for the men,” said the first mate.

“They can get pistols from Captain Blossom when they get here.”

“Humph!  You think you are in sole command, don’t you?”

“I am not going to allow you to take away all the firearms that are here, Mr. Lesher.”

“We’ll see:” 

The mate went into the pantry and secured another glass of liquor.  Then he ordered old Jerry to take the bundle of clothing and put it in the rowboat.

“I’ve got some money on this schooner,” he said.  “I want to see if that’s safe, or if you have stolen it.”

“We haven’t touched any money,” answered Dick, his face flushing.  “It would be of no use to us on these islands.”

“You come with me while I take a look,” said Lesher.

Behind his back he waved his hand for Baxter to follow.  All three went below again, and into a stateroom the mate had occupied.

“The money was in that chest,” said the mate.  He threw open the lid.  “It’s gone!” he cried.

Interested for the moment, Dick bent forward to look in the chest.  As he did so, Lesher suddenly hit him a savage blow over the head with the butt of a pistol.  The blow was a heavy one, and Dick fell like a log to the floor.

“Oh!” came from Baxter.  “Have you killed him?”

“No; only knocked the senses out of him,” answered Lesher, bending over his victim.

“What did you do it for?”

“To teach him a lesson.  He shan’t boss me, Baxter.  Come, help me put him in the brig, and be quick, before Jerry comes back.”

They lifted up the insensible form and made their way to where the ship’s brig was located, a dirty closet once used for oil and lanterns.  Dick was thrown on the floor, and the mate shut the door on him and locked it.

“Now he can stay there for a day or two,” he snarled.  “Reckon it will teach him a lesson.”

“What will you do with the sailor?”

Before Lesher could answer old Jerry appeared.

“Where is Dick Rover?” he asked.

“None of your business,” growled Jack Lesher.  “See here, Tolman, are you going to obey me after this?”