Joe had seen the manoeuver performed the previous night, and so was able to carry it out with fair success.

“Now!  Over with the mud-hook!  Watch out for turns!  Lively, now!”

The chain flew out with startling rapidity and brought the Dazzler to rest.  ’Frisco Kid went for’ard to help, and together they lowered the mainsail, furled it in shipshape manner and made all fast with the gaskets, and put the crutches under the main-boom.

“Here ’s a bucket,” said ’Frisco Kid, as he passed him the article in question.  “Wash down the decks, and don’t be afraid of the water, nor of the dirt either.  Here ’s a broom.  Give it what for, and have everything shining.  When you get that done bail out the skiff.  She opened her seams a little last night.  I ’m going below to cook breakfast.”

The water was soon slushing merrily over the deck, while the smoke pouring from the cabin stove carried a promise of good things to come.  Time and again Joe lifted his head from his task to take in the scene.  It was one to appeal to any healthy boy, and he was no exception.  The romance of it stirred him strangely, and his happiness would have been complete could he have escaped remembering who and what his companions were.  The thought of this, and of French Pete in his bleary sleep below, marred the beauty of the day.  He had been unused to such things and was shocked at the harsh reality of life.  But instead of hurting him, as it might a lad of weaker nature, it had the opposite effect.  It strengthened his desire to be clean and strong, and to not be ashamed of himself in his own eyes.  He glanced about him and sighed.  Why could not men be honest and true?  It seemed too bad that he must go away and leave all this; but the events of the night were strong upon him, and he knew that in order to be true to himself he must escape.

At this juncture he was called to breakfast.  He discovered that ’Frisco Kid was as good a cook as he was a sailor, and made haste to do justice to the fare.  There were mush and condensed milk, beefsteak and fried potatoes, and all topped off with good French bread, butter, and coffee.  French Pete did not join them, though ’Frisco Kid attempted a couple of times to rouse him.  He mumbled and grunted, half opened his bleared eyes, then fell to snoring again.

“Can’t tell when he ’s going to get those spells,” ’Frisco Kid explained, when Joe, having finished washing dishes, came on deck.  “Sometimes he won’t get that way for a month, and others he won’t be decent for a week at a stretch.  Sometimes he ’s good-natured, and sometimes he ’s dangerous; so the best thing to do is to let him alone and keep out of his way; and don’t cross him, for if you do there ’s liable to be trouble.

“Come on; let ’s take a swim,” he added, abruptly changing the subject to one more agreeable.  “Can you swim?”

Joe nodded.

“What ’s that place?” he asked, as he poised before diving, pointing toward a sheltered beach on the island where there were several buildings and a large number of tents.