he may not be as
much of a villain as these men are. I am going to examine the contents
of this jug."

All gathered around while Dick cleaned out the tumbler and then filled
it with the liquid from the jug. The water looked fairly clear,
although presently something like oil began to float on top. Dick
put his tongue to this and found it sweetish-bitter.

"This has certainly been dosed," said the eldest Rover. "I wouldn't
take a drink of it for a good deal."

"Then Baxter must have told the truth," said Sam. "I think I know
how the matter stands. Baxter got scared at what the men wanted to
do, and so started in to head them off. I believe I'll take a small
drink of that other water."

He did so, and the others followed, nobody, however, drinking more
than half a tumbler of the liquid. This served to quench the worst
of their thirst.

"Later on, if the water doesn't affect us, we can drink more," said
Tom. "If Dan Baxter really did mean well it's a great credit to him,
no matter how bad he is otherwise."

All sat down and talked in low tones. The night was now well advanced,
yet nobody felt like sleeping. Suddenly Dick leaped up, considerably
excited.

"I've got it, fellows! Maybe we can outwit them at their own game,"
he cried.

"How?" asked the others.

"Perhaps that water was drugged and was given to us to put us to
sleep. If we pretend to be overcome it may throw them off their guard,
and that will give us another chance to gain possession of the vessel.
What do you say if we lie down and pretend to be asleep when they
open the hatch?"

"All right, I am willing," answered Tom. "There is no excitement in
being cooped up in this hot place. Tell you what I'll do, to force
matters. You lie down and begin to snore and I'll pull the whistle.
Then, when they come, I'll demand to know what is wrong with you and
pitch over myself. Then we can see what happens next."

So it was arranged, and half an hour later Sam, Dick, and Hans
stretched out on the engineroom floor as if completely dead to the
world. Then Tom gave the whistle half a dozen sharp tugs. This brought
Todd, Pold, Jeffers, and Dan Baxter to the hatchway in a hurry.

"What's the row?" demanded Gasper Pold, looking down curiously.

"My brothers," came thickly from Tom, as he reeled around. "What did
you--you--do to them? My head--like--top! You--must--must--Oh!" And
then Tom sank down on a bench, slipped to the floor, and lay beside Sam.

"He's p