CHAPTER XXIII.
CAPTAIN SAM.
The boys were now badly frightened, and the more so because they did not know what to do for their chief, who lay dying, as they supposed.
His left hand and shoulder were bleeding profusely, and Tom, remembering some instructions that Sam had once given him[3] with respect to the stopping of a flow of blood, at once examined the wounds, to discover their nature.

Two fingers of Sam's left hand had been carried away, and a deep flesh wound showed itself in his shoulder.

By the use of a handkerchief or two Tom soon succeeded in staunching the flow of blood, while one of the other boys sailed the boat.

After a little while the dashing rain revived the wounded boy, and while he was still very weak, he was able, within an hour, to take the direction of affairs into his own hands again.
[Footnote 3: See "The Big Brother" Chapter 3.] But what mischief maybe done in an hour! The boys had never once thought of anything but Sam, during all that time, and they had been sailing for an hour straight out into the Gulf of Mexico, at a furious rate of speed! It was pouring down rain, and land was nowhere visible! When Sam's questions drew out these facts, the boys were disposed to be very much frightened.
"There's no cause for alarm, I think," said Sam, reassuringly.

"I think I know how to manage it, and perhaps it is better so." "Of course you know how to manage," said Sid Russell, admiringly.