“They’ll get enough on’t afore to-morrow,” said Uncle Ben.

“It will cure them of camping out.”

“Tim said, the last time he was with us, that we ought to camp out,” added William.

“The best way is to let them have it out till they are sick on’t,” continued Uncle Ben.  “It won’t hurt ’em; they won’t get the scurvy.”

Captain Sedley took the glass on Frank’s return, and examined the camp.  By its aid he obtained a very correct idea of their encampment.  The Rovers were at dinner, and he recognized Charles Hardy and several of his companions.  The glass was taken by several of the party; and, after this examination, even Mr. Hardy concluded that it was best to make a merit of necessity, and let the foolish boys have out their frolic.

Soon after, the Rovers took to the boats, and pulled up the lake.  Then, the anxious party on shore discovered that Charles was in command of the Zephyr.  With the help of the spy-glass, they were able to form a very correct idea of the state of feeling on board the boats.  There was a great deal of quarreling in both; and, after they had been out half an hour, a regular fight occurred in the Zephyr.

About five o’clock they returned to the island, and before dark it began to rain.  All the evening a great fire blazed on the island; but the frail tents of the Rovers must have been entirely inadequate to protect them from the severity of the weather.

At nine o’clock the Zephyrs, who had spent the evening in the hall, went home, leaving Uncle Ben, who had been deputed by Captain Sedley to watch the Rovers, still gazing through his night-glass at the camp-fires on the island.  Soon after, discordant cries were wafted over the waters, and it was plain to the veteran that there was “trouble in the camp.”  The sounds seemed to indicate that a fight was in progress.  After a time, however, all was quiet again, and the old sailor sought his bed.

During the night it cleared off, and Tuesday was a bright, pleasant day.  It was found in the morning that one of the tents had been moved away from the other.  About nine o’clock all the Rovers gathered on the beach; but they were divided into two parties, and there seemed to be a violent dispute between them.  One of the parties, as they attempted to get into the Zephyr, was assaulted by the other, and a fight ensued, in which neither gained a victory.  Then a parley, and each party took one of the boats and pulled away from the island.  It was observed that Charles was no longer the coxswain.  He seemed to have lost the favor of his companions, and several of them were seen to kick and strike him.

The boats went in different directions—­the Zephyr pulling towards Rippleton.  When her crew observed the party who were watching them from the shore, they commenced cheering lustily, and the coxswain, out of bravado, steered towards them.

“Who is he?” asked Frank.