CHAPTER XI

A CALL FROM THE STERN

For the instant after Tom slipped over the side of the _Golden Wave_, Dan Baxter was too dazed to do more than stare at the spot where he had last seen the boy with whom he had been struggling.

"Gone!" he muttered presently. "Gone!" he repeated and crouched back in the darkness.

The great beads of perspiration came to his brow as he heard rapid footsteps approaching. Would he be accused of sending Tom Rover to his death?

"What's the trouble?" came in the voice of Captain Blossom.

Instead of answering, Dan Baxter crept still further back. Then, watching his chance, he darted into the forecastle.

"Hullo, the rail is broken!" he heard the captain exclaim. "Bring a lantern here, quick!"

A sailor came running with a lantern, which lit up the narrow circle of the deck near the rail and part of the sea beyond.

"Somebody gave a cry," said the captain, to those who began to gather. "Looks to me as if the rail gave way and let somebody overboard."

"Tom Rover was on deck," came from old Jerry. "Do you reckon as how it was him?"

"I don't know. It was somebody, that's certain. Call all hands at once."

This was done, and Dan Baxter had to come out with the rest. He was pale and trembled so he could scarcely stand.

"All here," said Captain Blossom. "Must have been one of the Rover boys or one of the young ladies."

Based on the article and the following list of answers, write a list of questions.

1. the rai
2. Tom
3. Rover
4. Jerry
5. no
6. the captain
7. Golden Wave
8. he heard footsteps approaching
9. he would be accused of killing Tom
10. all hands
11. all hands
12. no
13. the Rover boys or the young ladies.
1. What is broken?
2. who went over the side?
3. Surname?
4. Who said he had been on deck?
5. is he a young man?
6. who was examining the rail?
7. what's his ship's name?
8. Why was Dan sweating?
9. why was that bad?
10. what did the capt need to see?
11. after the lantern, what else did the capt want on deck?
12. were any missing?
13. which 2 groups must be missing someone?