how I despise that chap! and have, ever since we had our first row with him at Putnam Hall."
"I wonder what brought Arnold Baxter back to this section of the country? I shouldn't think he would dare to come back."
"He always was daring to the last degree in some matters, just as he is cowardly in others. I would give something to know if Dan is with him."
"We might follow up the steamer, if it wasn't for poor Dick."
The boys talked the matter over for some time, and while doing this the sails of the Swallow were again hoisted, and they turned the yacht back to the vicinity where Dick had gone overboard.
And while Tom and Sam are looking for their elder brother, let us turn back and learn what really did become of Dick.
He was waiting for Tom to come on deck with the lanterns when, of a sudden, something black and threatening loomed up out of the darkness to the starboard of the Swallow.
The mass was the better half of a monstrous lumber raft, which was rapidly going to pieces in the storm.
The raft, or rather what was left of it, hit the Swallow a glancing blow, otherwise the sailing craft must have been stove in and sunk.
