"Put him in another of the staterooms,—for the present," answered Sack Todd. "After we have got them all we can put them somewhere else."
"Shall we search him?" went on Dan Baxter, who was anxious to know what Sam might be carrying.
"Not now—we haven't time."
Poor Sam was placed in a stateroom next to that occupied by Hans, and then the evildoers hurried off to see what they could do in the way of capturing Dick. They expected to take the eldest Rover unawares, but in this they were mistaken.
In the meantime, Tom, full of suspicion from the very start, called up the speaking tube to his brother.
"I say, Dick, what's the mater with Dutchy?"
"Hans? Nothing that I know of," returned Dick. "Why?"
"Dan Baxter was just down here and said you wanted Sam quick—that something was wrong with Hans."
"I didn't send for Sam!" cried Dick, excitedly. He looked around him in the gloom. "Hans isn't here," he went on, down the tube.
"Well, look out—I think something is wrong," shouted back Tom. "Got your pistol handy?"
Dick felt in his pocket, and found the weapon
