When Dick awoke he found Dr. Karley at hand, ready to give him some nourishing food. The doctor had just come from a long talk with Arnold Baxter, and it may as well be stated that the two men understood each other pretty thoroughly.
"Where am I?" he asked, in a fairly strong voice.
"Safe," said the old doctor soothingly. "Here, take this. It will do you a whole lot of good."
"Are my brothers around?"
"We'll talk later, after you are stronger."
The old doctor would say no more. Dick took the medicine offered, and did really feel stronger. Then a light breakfast was brought in, of which he partook readily. The food gone, the doctor disappeared, locking the door after him, but so softly that Dick was not aware of the fact until some time later.
While Dick was trying to get back his strength the Baxters were not idle.
Arnold Baxter had on his person all the money he possessed, a little over three thousand dollars. This had been saved from the wreck of his expedition to the West, and he was now resolved to spend every dollar of it, if necessary, in bringing the Rovers to terms, as he put it.
