“Oh, don’t tell him, Grace.”

“But I shall, Dora.  Baxter has got to keep his distance.  I hate him myself, and so does Nellie.”

“I wish he and Mr. Lesher had kept their distance.”

“Do you think they will really come here—­I mean all of the sailors?”

“More than likely.”

The girls continued their work, and for the time being Dan Baxter kept his distance.  Jack Lesher continued to snore away in the hammock, nor did he rouse up when Dick and old Jerry returned.

“Dan Baxter!” cried Dick, as he leaped from the rowboat.  “Where did you come from?” And then the story of the newcomers had to be told over again.

Dick eyed Jack Lesher with open disgust.  “A man who will act like that has no welcome in our camp,” he said to Baxter.

“You don’t mean you are going to turn him out,” said the bully, in alarm.

“If he stays here he must behave himself.”

“You forget that he was the first mate of the schooner, Dick Rover.”

“We are not on the schooner now.”

“No, but you are getting your living—­or the largest part of it—­from the schooner.”

“What do you mean, Baxter?”

“I mean that it’s the same as if you were on the schooner.  And that being so, Mr. Lesher is the second in command here.”

At this statement the girls looked alarmed, and even old Jerry’s face showed his uneasiness.  But Dick’s face was full of contempt.

“Do you mean to say that thing “—­pointing to the drunken mate—­” that thing can command any of us?  If you do, let me say right now that you are mistaken.”

“We’ll see about that later.”

“This is our camp, and it is not for you, the mate, or anybody else to come here and dictate to us.  If you try that, we’ll send you off in double-quick order.”

There was a pause, and Dick and old Jerry began to unload the things they had brought from the wreck.  They had found a large cake of ice.  But the coming of Baxter and Jack Lesher had taken away the pleasure of making lemonade and orange ice, and the lump was placed in some water to cool it for drinking purposes.

As soon as Grace could get the chance she told Dick of the way Dan Baxter had treated Dora.  At once Dick’s face took on a stern look that boded the bully no good.

“I’ll have a talk with him and come to an understanding,” said the eldest Rover, and strode out of the house and to where Baxter was walking up the beach, picking up fancy-colored sea-shells.

“Look here, Baxter, I want to have an understanding with you,” he said, catching the bully by the arm.

“What do you want now?”

“I want you to promise to leave Dora Stanhope alone in the future.”

“How I treat her is none of your business,” blustered the bully.

“But it is my business, Baxter.”

“See here, Dick Rover, I won’t be bossed by you!” howled the tall youth.  “You mind your own business.”