"You've got him," encouraged John. "Hold him."

Suddenly Sam doubled up his legs, drawing both Grant and George forward, almost on their faces. Then quick as a flash he shot out with both feet, striking the two boys each full in the chest. Their grip was torn loose and they were sent sprawling backward, over the seat onto John, who too was bowled over so that all four boys lay in a heap on the bottom of the boat.

Grant was the first to regain his senses, and a strange sight greeted his eyes. Sam and Petersen were now on their feet, still locked in each other's arms. Suddenly the Finn wrenched an arm free and drawing back struck the negro a stunning blow squarely between the eyes. Sam's arms half dropped to his sides and he reeled drunkenly. Then quick as a flash he once more seized his enemy in his embrace and a moment later the two men went overboard.

CHAPTER VIII

A SORRY PLIGHT

There was a great splash. The st.u.r.dy life-boat rocked dangerously and then all was still.

John and George had now lifted themselves from their fallen position and all three boys peered eagerly about.

"Where are they? What happened?" demanded John.

"They went overboard," exclaimed Grant.

"But where are they?"

"There they are, over there," cried George. "Get out the oars."

A dark head appeared for an instant and then sank beneath the surface of the water once more.

"That's Sam," cried John excitedly. "Swing the boat around."

"I'm doing my best," panted George as he dipped one oar deep into the water and pulled with all his might. In response to his efforts the boat came around until it was directly over the spot where Sam's head had appeared. John and Grant hung over the sides ready to seize the negro the moment he was seen again.

"There he is," cried Grant suddenly, and he made a lunge at Sam, who had come to the surface for the second time.

"Get him?" demanded John.

"Yes. Help me, somebody!"

John sprang to his a.s.sistance and a moment later the two boys dragged the half-drowned negro over the side into the boat.

"Where's Petersen?" demanded Grant, loosing his hold on Sam and allowing him to sink to the bottom of the boat. "Have you seen him, Pop?"

"No," said George, "I haven't. I've looked everywhere for him, too."

Fred had now recovered somewhat from the blow he had received and he joined the others in their search for the missing sailor. The four boys stood up in the boat and peered about them anxiously in every direction.

"Are you sure he didn't come up, Pop?" asked Grant.

"I told you I've been looking for him," said George. "I haven't seen him at all."

"But he must have come up," protested John.

"Maybe he did," acknowledged George. "I don't believe it, though, for I've certainly been on the lookout."

"What shall we do?" demanded John in dismay.

"What can we do?" said George.

"But he'll drown."

"He probably has already," said Grant. "Think how long he's been under."

"And you mean to say we'll never even find his body?" said John, almost unnerved by the sudden catastrophe.

"We're going to look, anyway," said Grant decidedly.

"Suppose we row around in a circle for a while," Fred suggested.

"We can try at least," said Grant, and fitting the oars into the oarlocks the four boys rowed slowly about, all the time keeping a sharp lookout in all directions. Meanwhile Sam lay motionless on the bottom of the boat. For at least half an hour the search was continued, but not one glimpse of the missing Petersen did they secure.

"I'm afraid it's no use," exclaimed Grant at last.

"I guess not," agreed John. "It wouldn't do us any good if we did find him now. He's surely drowned by this time."

"No doubt of it," said Grant.

"And there's the fellow who did it," exclaimed George, pointing to Sam, who still lay huddled in a heap in the stern. No one had paid the slightest attention to the negro since he had been hauled aboard. He was exhausted, but in no danger, as could be plainly seen from his regular and heavy breathing.

"We ought to throw him overboard, too," said John.

"He's not entirely to blame," said Grant. "He's ignorant and superst.i.tious and doesn't know any better, but we do, and we must act accordingly."

"He committed a crime, though," said John, "and we ought to hand him over to the authorities."

"What authorities?" said Grant with a grim smile. "Just look around you.

There isn't even a boat or a bit of land in sight, let alone authorities."

"Then we ought to punish him ourselves," insisted John.

"Who are we to do a thing like that!" said George. "We've no right to take the law into our own hands."

At this moment Sam stirred and finally sat up. He was soaking wet still and very weak. He blinked at the sun, which was now shining brightly, and looked dazedly about him. The four boys watched him in silence.

"Where is I?" demanded Sam at length.

"Where do you think you are?" exclaimed John. "You're in a boat."

"De _Josephine_," muttered Sam. "Where am de _Josephine_?"

"As though you didn't know," said John scornfully. "You needn't try to bluff us."