the waist of the steam yacht. As he
rounded a corner of the cabin he heard a murmur of voices, and the
next moment he found himself confronted by Pold, Todd, the mate of
the _Dogstar_, and Dan Baxter.

The evildoers were taken somewhat by surprise and halted in confusion.
In the semi-darkness Dick saw that one carried a gag and cloth and
the two others ropes.

"There he is!" faltered Dan Baxter, before he had time to think.

"No, you don't!" cried Dick, stepping back several paces. "What were
you going to do?" he demanded.

"We want to talk to you," answered Sack Todd, smoothly.

"What do you want? Stand back! I don't want any of you to come closer."

"See here, Mr. Rover, it's all right," came from Gasper Pold. "We
ain't going to harm you. We only want to have a little peaceable
palaver."

"Where is my brother Sam? And where is Hans Mueller?"

"They are both in the cabin. I was going to ask you to join us, in
a general talk," said Sack Todd, catching his cue from Gasper Pold
as to how best to proceed.

"We want to find out where you are taking us," put in the mate of
the _Dogstar_.

"You are acting very queerly," said Dick. He had backed up close to
one of the small cabin windows, which was open. "Sam! Hans!" he yelled
suddenly, and at the top of his lungs.

Of course there was no reply, and satisfied that something was indeed
wrong he retreated still further.

"Stop him!" yelled Gasper Pold. "Don't let him get below to where
his brother is!"

He meant Tom, and Dick instantly made up his mind that the best thing
he could do would be to get to the engine room and warn his fun-loving
brother of their peril. He made a turn, sent Sack Todd and Dan Baxter
sprawling, and an instant later was diving out of sight down the
ladder leading to the machinery.

"Dick! I thought something was wrong and I was coming up!" came from
Tom. "What of Sam and Hans?"

"I don't know. They are after me! Have you your pistol?"

"Yes, and I'll use it too, if they bother me," answered Tom,
determinedly.

"Stop where you are!" cried Dick, looking up the iron ladder. "My
brother and I have pistols and we shall use them if you attempt to
follow down here!"

"Look out!" yelled Dan Baxter, in alarm, and tumbled back to a safe
place. "They'll shoot sure, I know 'em!"

At these words all at the top of the iron ladder hesitated. In the
meantime both Tom and Dick held their pistols up, so that the shining
barrels could be dimly s