get to Australia perhaps we can work together, eh?" and he closed
one eye suggestively. Baxter had told him of his rich relative, and
the mate thought there might be a chance to get money from Baxter.
"He'd rather give me money than have me tell his relation what sort
of a duck he is," said Lesher to himself.

After this incident the time passed pleasantly enough for over a
week. When Baxter came from the brig he went to work without a word.
Whenever he passed the Rovers or the girls he acted as if he did not
know they were there, and they ignored him just as thoroughly. But
the boys watched every move the bully made.

As mentioned before, Jack Lesher was a drinking man, and as the
weather grew warmer the mate increased his potions until there was
scarcely a day when he was thoroughly sober. Captain Blossom remonstrated
with him, but this did little good.

"I'm attending to my duties," said Lesher. "And if I do that you
can't expect more from me."

"I thought I hired a man that was sober," said Captain Blossom. "I
won't place my vessel in charge of a man who gets drunk."

Yet he was not willing to do the mate's work, or put that work onto
others, so Jack Lesher had to take his turn on deck, no matter in
what condition.

"I must say I don't like that first mate at all," said Tom to Sam.
"He is very friendly with Baxter."

"I have noticed that," replied the youngest Rover. "Such a friendship
doesn't count in the mate's favor."

"Last night he was thoroughly drunk, and wasn't fit to command."

"Well, that is Captain Blossom's lookout. The captain can't be on
deck all of the time."

Two nights after this talk Jack Lesher was again in command of the
ship, Captain Blossom having retired after an unusually hard day.

It was hot and dark, and the air betokened a storm. The man at the
wheel was following a course set by the captain, and the sailors
whose watch was on deck lay around taking it as easy as they could.

The mate had been drinking but little in the afternoon, but before
coming on deck he took several draughts of rum. He was in a partiallarly
bad humor and ready to find fault with anybody or anything.

Some of the sails had been reefed, and these he ordered shaken out,
although there was a stiff breeze blowing. Then he approached the
man at the wheel and asked for the course.

"Southwest by south," was the answer.

"That aint right," growled the mate. "It should be south by west."

"The captain g