They did not realize what had happened.
"I'll throw 'em overboard," volunteered Jerry.
"Don't go near them," cautioned Mr. De Vere. "If you breathe too
deeply of those fumes, you'll be killed. Get a boat hook, poke them
out of the locker, spear them with the sharp point, and thrust them up
through the broken cabin window."
Jerry hurried to the Ripper, which safely rode alongside the brig. He
got a sharp boat hook, and, with the aid of Bob and Ned, the boxes,
with their deadly contents were soon out on deck, whence they were
knocked into the sea. Then a hunt was made in other parts of the brig
and more boxes were found and cast into the ocean.
"What was in them?" asked Ned, when the task was finished. "Was that
what made us fall asleep?"
"It was," replied Mr. De Vere. "What was in them I do not know
exactly, but it was some chemical that Blowitz put there to accomplish
his purpose. I see through his scheme now. After the brig was loaded
he sent these boxes aboard. They were distributed in different parts
of the ship, some in the quarters of the crew, some where the mates
slept, and others in the captain's cabin. They were properly adjusted
to give off a vapor at a certain time and he counted either on the
fumes killing the men, or making them unconscious so they would die of
heart failure. Then, very likely, he intended to make a search for the
brig which would have no captain or crew, and claim the vessel. But
his scheme did not work as he intended.
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