The crew and captain were
probably frightened by feeling some mysterious sleepy influence at
work, and they hastily deserted the ship. Probably the commander did
not like to acknowledge the real reason for his seemingly
un-called-for act, and he did not tell Blowitz the cause for the
abandonment. The stuff in the boxes remained on board, ready to render
unconscious any persons who came within reach of the fumes. Maybe it
made the dogs mad.
"The accidental closing of the cabin door deprived us of air. The
fumes filled the cabin, and rendered us all unconscious. I do not yet
understand how we were revived."
"It must have been the water cask," declared Jerry, who had seen it on
deck, and his theory, which was the correct one, was accepted.
"Now I will finish working the combination, and open the safe," said
Mr. De Vere, when they had breathed in deep of the fresh air, and felt
the last influences of the fumes vanish. "We must have been
unconscious an hour or more."
It did not take him long after this to open the strong box. From an
inner compartment he drew forth a bundle of papers, and a small box,
that seemed quite heavy. This he opened.
"The gold is safe, at any rate," he announced. "Now to look at the
papers."
A hasty examination of these showed that they were all there.
"This is good news for me, boys," announced Mr. De Vere. "My fortune
is safe now, and that scoundrel Blowitz can not ruin me as he tried to
do!"
"Hark! What was that?" asked Jerry suddenly.
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