“Ah, dose boys!  Dey take all-a night!” they heard French Pete exclaim, and then the gruff voice of Red Nelson, who said:  “Never you mind, Frenchy.  I taught the Kid his sailorizing, and I ain’t never been ashamed of him yet.”

The Reindeer was the faster boat, but by spilling the wind from her sails they managed so that the boys could keep them in sight.  The breeze came steadily in from the west, with a promise of early increase.  The stars were being blotted out by masses of driving clouds, which indicated a greater velocity in the upper strata.  ’Frisco Kid surveyed the sky.

“Going to have it good and stiff before morning,” he said, “just as I told you.”

Several hours later, both boats stood in for the San Mateo shore, and dropped anchor not more than a cable’s-length away.  A little wharf ran out, the bare end of which was perceptible to them, though they could discern a small yacht lying moored to a buoy a short distance away.

According to their custom, everything was put in readiness for hasty departure.  The anchors could be tripped and the sails flung out on a moment’s notice.  Both skiffs came over noiselessly from the Reindeer.  Red Nelson had given one of his two men to French Pete, so that each skiff was doubly manned.  They were not a very prepossessing group of men,—­at least, Joe did not think so,—­for their faces bore a savage seriousness which almost made him shiver.  The captain of the Dazzler buckled on his pistol-belt, and placed a rifle and a stout double-block tackle in the boat.  Then he poured out wine all around, and, standing in the darkness of the little cabin, they pledged success to the expedition.  Red Nelson was also armed, while his men wore at their hips the customary sailor’s sheath-knife.  They were very slow and careful to avoid noise in getting into the boats, French Pete pausing long enough to warn the boys to remain quietly aboard and not try any tricks.

“Now ’d be your chance, Joe, if they had n’t taken the skiff,” ’Frisco Kid whispered, when the boats had vanished into the loom of the land.

“What ’s the matter with the Dazzler?” was the unexpected answer.  “We could up sail and away before you could say Jack Robinson.”

’Frisco Kid hesitated.  The spirit of comradeship was strong in the lad, and deserting a companion in a pinch could not but be repulsive to him.

“I don’t think it ’d be exactly square to leave them in the lurch ashore,” he said.  “Of course,” he went on hurriedly, “I know the whole thing ’s wrong; but you remember that first night, when you came running through the water for the skiff, and those fellows on the bank busy popping away?  We did n’t leave you in the lurch, did we?”

Joe assented reluctantly, and then a new thought flashed across his mind.  “But they ’re pirates—­and thieves—­and criminals.  They ’re breaking the law, and you and I are not willing to be lawbreakers.  Besides, they ’ll not be left.  There ’s the Reindeer.  There ’s nothing to prevent them from getting away on her, and they ’ll never catch us in the dark.”