A NEW RESPONSIBILITY FOR JOE

Heaving in on the anchor-chain till it was up and down, ’Frisco Kid and Joe ceased from their exertions.  Everything was in readiness to give the Dazzler the jib, and go.  They strained their eyes in the direction of the shore.  The clamor had died away, but here and there lights were beginning to flash.  The creaking of a block and tackle came to their ears, and they heard Red Nelson’s voice singing out:  “Lower away!” and “Cast off!”

“French Pete forgot to oil it,” ’Frisco Kid commented, referring to the tackle.

“Takin’ their time about it, ain’t they?” the boy on the Reindeer called over to them, sitting down on the cabin and mopping his face after the exertion of hoisting the mainsail single-handed.

“Guess they ’re all right,” ’Frisco Kid rejoined.  “All ready?”

“Yes—­all right here.”

“Say, you,” the man on the yacht cried through the skylight, not venturing to show his head.  “You ’d better go away.”

“And you ’d better stay below and keep quiet,” was the response.  “We ’ll take care of ourselves.  You do the same.”

“If I was only out of this, I ’d show you!” he threatened.

“Lucky for you you ’re not,” responded the boy on the Reindeer; and thereat the man kept quiet.

“Here they come!” said ’Frisco Kid suddenly to Joe.

The two skiffs shot out of the darkness and came alongside.  Some kind of an altercation was going on, as French Pete’s voice attested.

“No, no!” he cried.  “Put it on ze Dazzler.  Ze Reindeer she sail too fast-a, and run away, oh, so queeck, and never more I see it.  Put it on ze Dazzler.  Eh?  Wot you say?”

“All right then,” Red Nelson agreed.  “We ’ll whack up afterwards.  But, say, hurry up.  Out with you, lads, and heave her up!  My arm ’s broke.”

The men tumbled out, ropes were cast inboard, and all hands, with the exception of Joe, tailed on.  The shouting of men, the sound of oars, and the rattling and slapping of blocks and sails, told that the men on shore were getting under way for the pursuit.

“Now!” Red Nelson commanded.  “All together!  Don’t let her come back or you ’ll smash the skiff.  There she takes it!  A long pull and a strong pull!  Once again!  And yet again!  Get a turn there, somebody, and take a spell.”

Though the task was but half accomplished, they were exhausted by the strenuous effort, and hailed the rest eagerly.  Joe glanced over the side to discover what the heavy object might be, and saw the vague outlines of a small office-safe.

“Now all together!” Red Nelson began again.  “Take her on the run and don’t let her stop!  Yo, ho! heave, ho!  Once again!  And another!  Over with her!”