The evening passed quietly and soon one after another retired. As agreed, the camp-fire was left burning, and each took his turn at remaining on guard. In the morning it was Dora who made an announcement that startled all of them. The girl had taken Captain Blossom's spyglass and was looking across the bay in the direction of the wreck. "There are men on board of the _Golden Wave_" she announced. "I can see them quite plainly." "Men on board of the wreck!" cried Dick. "Are you sure, Dora?" "Look for yourself, Dick." The youth did so and saw that Dora was right. Half a dozen figures could be seen walking to and fro. "Who are they?" asked Tom. "Lesher and his crowd?" "That I can't make out," answered Dick, and handed over the glass to his brother. All could see the men on the wreck, but at such a distance it was impossible to make out any faces. "Maybe they are savages," came from Grace. "No, they are dressed like white people," said Captain Blossom.. "Perhaps another ship has come in!" ejaculated Tom. "If it has, we are saved!" "I don't see any other ship," said old Jerry. "It may be on the other side of yonder island," came from Sam. "The best thing we can do is to row over and investigate," said Captain Blossom. "If another ship has come in, the captain may claim that wreck and everything on board." A hasty breakfast was prepared and eaten, and it was agreed that the captain, Dick, and old Jerry should row over to the wreck in the best of the boats. The three were soon on the way, wondering whom they were to meet and what sort of a reception would be tendered to them. CHAPTER XXVIII THE MATE SHOWS HIS HAND Captain Blossom had taken the spyglass along, and as they drew closer to the wreck he gazed long and earnestly at the men walking the deck of the _Golden Wave_. "They are my crew," he announced at last. "And they are in tatters." "They must have had a hard time of it since you were cast ashore," said Dick. "Unless I am mistaken, not a one of them is sober," went on the captain. "They are cutting up like a band of wild Indians." Before long they were within hailing distance of those on the wreck. Then a voice from the rail hailed them. "Boat ahoy!" "Ahoy!" answered the captain. "What do you want?" demanded the sailor on the wreck. He could scarcely talk straight. "We want to come on board." "Sorry, cap'n, but I can't let you come aboard," answered the sailor, with something of a hiccough. "Can't let me come aboard?" repeated the captain. "Why not?" "Cause it's ag'in orders." "Whose orders?" "Captain Lesher's." "Captain Lesher!" ejaculated Captain Blossom indignantly. "How long has he been a captain?" "We made him cap'n yesterday." "That's right," put in another sailor. "We 'lected him unan--nan-- nan'mously; yes, sir, unan--nan--nan'mously." "You are drunk, Bostwick." "No, sir, aint drunk at all.--Lesher, he's drunk--but he's cap'n all the same."