The Adventures of Rover Boys: 26 Illustrated Adventure Novels. Stratemeyer Edward
The talk went on for some time, and then Dan approached one of the mates of the freighter, who had just come from the stateroom to which Dick had been taken.
"How is that young fellow getting on?" he asked carelessly.
"He's in bad shape," was the answer.
"Do you think he'll die?"
"Hardly, but he is very weak and completely out of his mind. The hot sun, coming after the storm, must have affected his brain."
"Out of his mind? Doesn't he recognize anybody?"
"No, he talks nothing but lumber, and cries out to be pulled from the water. Poor boy! it's too bad, isn't it?"
"It is too bad," said Dan Baxter hypocritically. "Do you know his name?"
"No, but he's a brother to those boys who us from the yacht a couple of hours ago. A lumber raft struck the yacht and the boy was knocked overboard and managed to cling to some timber."
"Is the man who was saved his friend?"
"No, he was on the raft and the two are strangers;" and with this remark the mate of the freight steamer passed on.
Without delay Dan told his father of what he had heard. Arnold Baxter was much pleased.
"If he remains out of his mind we'll be safe enough," he said. "I presume they'll put him off at Cleveland and send him to the hospital."
"I wonder where that yacht is?"
"Oh, we have left her miles behind."
"And how soon will we reach Cleveland?"
"Inside of half an hour, so I heard one of the deck hands say."
No more was said for the time being, but both father and son set to thinking deeply, and their thoughts ran very much in the same channel.
Just as the freight steamer was about to make the landing at Cleveland, Arnold Baxter touched his son on the arm.
"If they take Dick Rover ashore, let us go ashore too," he whispered.
"I was thinking of that, dad," was Dan's answer. "Was you thinking, too, of getting him in our power?"
"Yes."
"I don't see why we can't do it — if he is still unconscious."
"It won't hurt to try. But we will have to work quick, for more than likely his brothers will follow us to this city," went on Arnold Baxter.
The steamer had but little freight for Cleveland, so the stop was only a short one.
When poor Dick was brought up on a cot, still unconscious, Arnold Baxter stepped forward.
"I have determined to stop off at Cleveland," he said to Captain Jasper. "If there is anything I can do for this poor fellow, I will do it willingly."
"Why, I thought you were going through to Buffalo," returned the captain in surprise.
"I was going through, but I've just remembered some business that must be attended to. I'll take the train for Buffalo to-morrow. If you want me to see to it that this poor fellow is placed in the hospital, I'll do it."
The offer appeared a good one, and relieved Captain Jasper's mind greatly.
"You are kind, sir," he said. "It isn't everyone who would put himself to so much trouble."
"I was wrecked myself once," smiled Arnold Baxter. "And I know how miserable I felt when nobody gave me a hand."
"I suppose the authorities will take him until his brothers come in on that yacht."
"There is no need to send him to a public institution. I will see to it that he gets to a first-class hotel," went on Arnold Baxter smoothly.
There was a little more talk, and then Dick was carried ashore and a coach was called.
By this time the freight steamer was ready to leave, and a minute later she proceeded on her way.
Arnold Baxter and Dan looked around and saw only a few people at hand. In the crowd was Luke Peterson, who now came forward.
"Want any help?" asked the lumberman respectfully.
"You might keep an eye open for that yacht," replied Arnold Baxter.
"All right, sir. Where are you going to take young Rover?"
"To the Commercial Hotel. I am well known there, and can easily get him a good room and the necessary medical attention."
"Then, if I see anything of the yacht, I'll send his brothers up to the hotel after him."
"That's it," returned Arnold Baxter. He turned to the driver of the coach. "To the Commercial Hotel," he went on, in a loud voice. "And drive as easy as you can."
Dan was already in the coach, supporting poor Dick in his arms. Arnold Baxter leaped in and banged the door shut. Soon the coach was moving away from the water front and in the direction of the hotel which had been mentioned.
"Of course you are not going to the Commercial Hotel," observed Dan, as soon as he felt safe to speak.
"Leave it all to me, my son," was Arnold Baxter's reply. "We got him away nicely, didn't we?"
"Yes, but — "
"Never mind the future, Dan. How is he?"
"Dead as a stone, so far as knowing anything is concerned."
"I trust he remains so, for a while at least."
The coach rattled on, and presently came to a halt in front of the hotel which had been mentioned.
"Wait here until I get back," said Arnold Baxter to his son and to the coach driver, and then hurried inside of the building.
Instead of asking for a room he spent a few minutes in looking over a business directory.
"It's too bad, but they haven't a single room vacant," he said, on coming back to the coach. "I've a good mind to take him to some private hospital, after all. Do you know where Dr. Karley's place is?" he went on, turning to the coach driver.
"Yes."
"Then drive us to that place."
Again the coach went on. Dr. Karley's Private Sanitarium was on the outskirts of Cleveland, and it took half an hour to reach it. It was an old-fashioned building surrounded by a high board fence. Entering the grounds, Arnold Baxter ascended the piazza and rang the bell.
A negro answered the summons, and ushered him into a dingy parlor. Soon Dr. Karley, a dried-up, bald-headed, old man appeared.
"And what can I do for you, sir?" he asked, in a squeaky voice.
"Just the man I wanted to meet," thought Arnold Baxter.
He was a good reader of character, and saw that Dr. Karley would do almost anything for money. The doctor's sanitarium was of a "shady" character. Among the inmates were two old men, put there by their relatives merely to get them out of the way, and an old lady who was said to be crazy by those who wished to get possession of her money.
"I have a peculiar case on hand, doctor," said Arnold Baxter, after introducing himself as Mr. Arnold. "A young friend of mine has been almost drowned in the lake. I would like you to take charge of him for a day or two."
"Well, I — er — "
"I will pay you well for your services," went on Arnold Baxter.
"You have him with you?"
"Yes, in a coach outside. He was found drifting on a log and almost out of his head on account of exposure to the water and the hot sun. I think a few days of rest and medical attention will bring him around all right."
The little old doctor bobbed his head. "I will go out and see him," he said.
Quarter of an hour later found Dick in an upper room of the sanitarium, lying on a comfortable bed, and with