By the time they had canted the water out of the swamped boat, Bill and his partner appeared on the scene.  All hands worked rapidly, and, almost before Joe could realize, the mainsail and jib had been hoisted, the anchor broken out, and the Dazzler was leaping down the channel.  Off a bleak piece of marshland Bill and the Cockney said good-by and cast loose in their skiff.  French Pete, in the cabin, bewailed their bad luck in various languages, and sought consolation in the wine-bottle.

CHAPTER X

WITH THE BAY PIRATES

The wind freshened as they got clear of the land, and soon the Dazzler was heeling it with her lee deck buried and the water churning by, half-way up the cockpit-rail.  Side-lights had been hung out.  ’Frisco Kid was steering, and by his side sat Joe, pondering over the events of the night.

He could no longer blind himself to the facts.  His mind was in a whirl of apprehension.  If he had done wrong, he reasoned, he had done it through ignorance; and he did not feel shame for the past so much as he did fear for the future.  His companions were thieves and robbers—­the bay pirates, of whose wild deeds he had heard vague tales.  And here he was, right in the midst of them, already possessing information which could send them to State’s prison.  This very fact, he knew, would force them to keep a sharp watch upon him and so lessen his chances of escape.  But escape he would, at the very first opportunity.

At this point his thoughts were interrupted by a sharp squall, which hurled the Dazzler over till the sea rushed inboard.  ’Frisco Kid luffed quickly, at the same time slacking off the main-sheet.  Then, single-handed,—­for French Pete remained below,—­and with Joe looking idly on, he proceeded to reef down.

The squall which had so nearly capsized the Dazzler was of short duration, but it marked the rising of the wind, and soon puff after puff was shrieking down upon them out of the north.  The mainsail was spilling the wind, and slapping and thrashing about till it seemed it would tear itself to pieces.  The sloop was rolling wildly in the quick sea which had come up.  Everything was in confusion; but even Joe’s untrained eye showed him that it was an orderly confusion.  He could see that ’Frisco Kid knew just what to do and just how to do it.  As he watched him he learned a lesson, the lack of which has made failures of the lives of many men—­the value of knowledge of one’s own capacities.  ’Frisco Kid knew what he was able to do, and because of this he had confidence in himself.  He was cool and self-possessed, working hurriedly but not carelessly.  There was no bungling.  Every reef-point was drawn down to stay.  Other accidents might occur, but the next squall, or the next forty squalls, would not carry one of those reef-knots away.