"Run to the stateroom and see," answered Baxter. "I'll get the big
lantern."
Lew Flapp hurried to the door of the state-room, taking with him the
key Baxter handed over.
"Hullo, in there!" he shouted. "Are you awake?"
Receiving no answer he knocked loudly on the door.
"I say, why don't you answer?" he went on. "I'm coming in."
Still receiving no reply, he started to put the key in the lock and
found that he could not do so.
"It won't do any good to block the lock," he called out. "Answer me,
or I'll break down the door."
Still nothing but silence, and in perplexity he ran back to Baxter.
"I can't get a sound out of them, and the keyhole is stuffed," he said.
"We'll break in the door," said the leader of the evil-doers.
It took but a minute to execute this threat, for the door was thin
and frail. Both gave a hasty look around.
"Gone!"
"They must have taken the rowboat and rowed away," said Lew Flapp.
Both went back to where they had left Pick Loring and Hamp Gouch.
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