The Rover Boys Series. Stratemeyer Edward

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      CHAPTER XV

       CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT

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      Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

      In the past Baxter had always been used to fine clothing, which he had taken care should be in good repair. Now his clothing was dilapidated and his shoes looked as if they were about ready to fall apart.

      More than this, his face was hollow and careworn, and one eye looked as if it had suffered severe blow of some sort. Altogether he was most wretched-looking specimen of humanity, and it was a wonder that he was allowed at the hotel. But the truth of the matter was that he had told the proprietor a long tale of sufferings in the interior and of a delayed remittance from home, and the hotel keeper was keeping him solely on this account.

      "How he is changed!" muttered Tom. "He looks like a regular tramp!"

      "He's been in hard luck, that's certain," came from Sam. "I wonder how he drifted out here?"

      While Sam was speaking Dan Baxter raised his eyes from the newspaper and glanced around. As his gaze fell upon the three Rover boys he started and the paper fell to the floor, then he got up and strode toward them.

      "Dick Rover!" he cried. "Where did you fellows come from?"

      "From Putnam Hall, Baxter," answered Dick quietly. "And what brought you here?"

      Ordinarily Dan Baxter would have retorted that that was none of Dick's business, but now he was in thoroughly low spirits, and he answered meekly:

      "I've been playing in hard luck. I went down to New York and one night when I was in a sailors' boarding house I drank more than was good for me, and when I woke up in the morning I found myself on a vessel bound for Africa."

      "You were shanghaied as a sailor?" asked Tom.

      "That's it, and while I was on board the Costelk the captain and mate treated me worse than a dog. See that eye? The captain did that, and when I struck back he put me in irons and fed me nothing but stale biscuits and water."

      "And the ship left you here?"

      "No; she was bound for Cape Town, but stopped here for supplies, and I jumped overboard at night and swam ashore, and here I am, and sorry for it," and Dan Baxter drew a long breath.

      The Rovers were astonished at his meek manner. Was this really the domineering Baxter, who had always insisted on having his own way, and who had done so many wrong deeds in the past?

      "You've had a hard time of it, I suppose? said Dick, hardly knowing how to go on.

      "Hard, Dick, aint no word," came from the former bully of Putnam Hall. "I've run up against the worst luck that anybody could ever imagine. But I reckon you don't care about that?"

      "Do you think we ought to care, Baxter?"

      "Well, it aint fair to take advantage of a chap when he's down on his luck," grumbled the former bully. "I guess I've learnt my lesson all right enough."

      "Do you mean to say you are going to turn over a new leaf?" queried Sam with interest.

      "Yes, if I ever get the chance."

      Randolph Rover now joined the group, and Dick explained the situation. Mr. Rover questioned Baxter closely and found that he was without a cent in his pocket and that the hotel keeper had threatened to put him out if he was not able to pay up inside of the next twenty-four hours.

      "See here, Baxter, you never were my friend, and you never deserved any good from me, but I don't like to see a dog suffer," said Dick. "I'll give you thirty shillings, and that will help you along a little," and he drew out his purse.

      "And I'll give you the same," came from Tom.

      "Ditto from me," said Sam. "But don't forget that what Dick says is true, nevertheless."

      Ninety English shillings — about twenty-two dollars of our money — was more cash than Dan Baxter had seen in some time, his other money having been spent before he had taken his unexpected ocean trip, and his eyes brightened up wonderfully.

      "I'll be much obliged to you for the — the loan," he stammered. "I'll pay you back some time, remember."

      "Never mind about that," replied Dick.

      "My advice to you is, to take the first ship you can for home."

      "And what brought you out here — going on a hunt for your father?"

      "Yes."

      "You'll have a big job finding him. I understand the natives of the Congo are going on the warpath before long. They have had some difficulty with the settlers."

      "I guess we'll manage to take care of ourselves," answered Tom, and then he and his brothers followed their uncle up to the rooms which had been engaged for them during their stay in the town.

      "He's, down in the mouth, and no mistake," was Tom's comment, when the boys were left to themselves. "I never saw him so humble before."

      "Perhaps knocking around has taught him a lesson," said Dick. "I hope he really does turn over a new leaf."