"We might find the Peacock and make a new deal with Captain Langless."
"Langless is a weak-hearted fool, and I'll never trust him again. We would have done much better had we hired a small boat which we could run alone."
"But what shall we do, dad?"
"I think we had best go into hiding in the interior of the island. We can take a store of provisions along from this boat."
"Shall we take the Rovers with us?"
"We may as well. We can't let them starve, and by holding them prisoners we may be able to make terms with Dick Rover and his friends."
"That's an idea. I reckon Dick will do a lot rather than see Tom and Sam suffer."
"To be sure."
"Where do you suppose Dick Rover and his friends are now?"
"Somewhere around the island, although I have seen nothing of their boat."
By noon the Baxters had completed their plans and left the boat, carrying with them a load of provisions wrapped up in a sheet of canvas. They invited Josiah Crabtree to go with them, but that individual declined.
"I cannot take Mrs. Stanhope along," he said, "and I will not desert the lady."
