und over some rough rocks, where both of us got our clothing torn.
We thought we saw a flag up there somewhere, but we weren't sure."

"Yes, we have a signal of distress up there," answered Dora. She
hardly knew how best to reply.

"Who is here?"

"Captain Blossom, old Jerry Tolman, and the three Rover boys. Old
Jerry and Dick have just gone over to the wreck en an errand. The
others have gone on an exploring tour among the islands, which are
seven in number."

"Got the wreck, have yer!" came in almost a grunt from Jack Lesher.
"Sure enough!" He staggered down to the beach. "Don't see why you
stay here when you might be aboard of her."

"It is cooler here," answered Nellie.

"How many sailors were saved?" asked Grace.

"Nine were saved, besides Lesher and myself," answered Dan Baxter.
"You see, we picked up some of the men from one of the other boats."

"Then your party numbers eleven in all," said Dora.

"Yes," came from Jack Lesher. "An' I am the cap'n of the lot," and
he bobbed his head in satisfaction. He had partaken of just enough
liquor to make him foolish.

"I wish Dick and old Jerry would come back," whispered Grace to Dora.
"I do not like Mr. Lesher at all."

"I never liked him," replied Dora. "When he gets intoxicated he is
a bad fellow to deal with."

"Reckon we'll make ourselves comfortable here," said Lesher, staggering
to a hammock Dick had put up for the girls to rest in. He pitched
into the hammock, carrying a bottle of liquor with him. Another drink
was taken, and soon he was fast asleep, snoring loudly.

CHAPTER XIX

HOT WORDS AND BLOWS

"What a shame!" said Nellie, pointing to the slumbering mate.

"That shows what liquor will do," came from Dora.

"Oh, you mustn't blame him too much," returned Dan Baxter, who also
liked the taste of the liquor. "Remember that we have been living a
dog's life since we came on shore, while you have been living on the
best the ship affords."

"I wouldn't touch liquor if I was starving!" cried Grace.

"And neither would the Rover boys," added Dora.

"Oh, you think the Rover boys are regular saints!" grumbled the
bully. "You don't know what they would do behind your back."

"If they said they wouldn't drink they wouldn't," cried Nellie, her
eyes flashing. "We can trust them every time."

"I suppose the Rover boys run this place to suit themselves," went
on Baxter, eying the house and the general appearance of the camp
sharply.

"We