Then he handed around some liquor he had brought along, and some pistols, and most of them said they would stick to him, as I said before." "What about going directly to the wreck ?" asked Tom.
"That was Baxter's idea, and it wasn't thought of until we were on our way to this spot.

Baxter said that if we captured the ship we would have you at our mercy, for sooner or later your provisions would run out, and you'd be begging for something to eat." "The scoundrel!" cried Dick.

"So he thought to starve us into submission, eh?
Well, he shan't do it." "I said I didn't think it would be fair on the young ladies," continued Gibson.

"But he told me he'd take care of the girls after he had brought you to your knees." "He'll never take care of me!" cried Dora.
"Nor me!" came from Nellie.
"I'd rather die than leave this place in Dan Baxter's company," added Grace.
"Captain, I want you to understand that Gibson and I didn't agree to what they wanted to do," came from Marny.

"But we were overruled, and we had to hold our tongues for fear of being knocked down or shot." "Do you want to join our crowd ?" asked Dick bluntly.
"We do, and if you'll take us in we'll promise to stand by you to the end, no matter what comes.