"I'll wager he and his father have had a row with Captain Langless," observed Dick. "Otherwise he wouldn't be half so meek."
"I wish we could win Captain Langless over to our side," put in Sam suddenly, struck by the idea. "Do you suppose it could be done if we paid him well?"
"I'd hate to buy him off," said Tom.
"But it might be best," said Dick slowly. "We don't know what the Baxters may have in store for us."
"It's pretty plain to me what they want to do. They are going to hold us prisoners until father signs off his rights to that mining claim."
"And if father won't sign off?"
"Then they'll treat us pretty badly."
"Perhaps they'll kill us."
"We can sound Captain Langless—it won't do any harm."
"But you mustn't let the Baxters get an inkling of what is up."
For the present the captain was not in sight, having retired to the stern to consult Arnold Baxter upon several points. They remained on deck until noon, when the cook called them to dinner in the cabin. They found they were to dine with Captain Langless.
"I asked the Baxters to join us, but they de-
