the cockpit-rail and holding on for dear life, was passing him a knife.  The second man stood at the wheel, putting it up with flying hands and forcing the sloop to pay off.  Beside him, his injured arm in a sling, was Red Nelson, his sou’wester gone and his fair hair plastered in wet, wind-blown ringlets about his face.  His whole attitude breathed indomitability, courage, strength.  It seemed almost as though the divine were blazing forth from him.  Joe looked upon him in sudden awe, and, realizing the enormous possibilities of the man, felt sorrow for the way in which they had been wasted.  A thief and a robber!  In that flashing moment Joe caught a glimpse of human truth, grasped at the mystery of success and failure.  Life threw back its curtains that he might read it and understand.  Of such stuff as Red Nelson were heroes made; but they possessed wherein he lacked—­the power of choice, the careful poise of mind, the sober control of soul:  in short, the very things his father had so often “preached” to him about.

These were the thoughts which came to Joe in the flight of a second.  Then the Reindeer swept skyward and hurtled across their bow to leeward on the breast of a mighty billow.

“Ze wild man! ze wild man!” French Pete shrieked, watching her in amazement.  “He t’inks he can jibe!  He will die!  We will all die!  He must come about.  Oh, ze fool, ze fool!”

But time was precious, and Red Nelson ventured the chance.  At the right moment he jibed the mainsail over and hauled back on the wind.

“Here she comes!  Make ready to jump for it,” ’Frisco Kid cried to Joe.

The Reindeer dashed by their stern, heeling over till the cabin windows were buried, and so close that it appeared she must run them down.  But a freak of the waters lurched the two crafts apart.  Red Nelson, seeing that the manoeuver had miscarried, instantly instituted another.  Throwing the helm hard up, the Reindeer whirled on her heel, thus swinging her overhanging main-boom closer to the Dazzler.  French Pete was the nearest, and the opportunity could last no longer than a second.  Like a cat he sprang, catching the foot-rope with both hands.  Then the Reindeer forged ahead, dipping him into the sea at every plunge.  But he clung on, working inboard every time he emerged, till he dropped into the cockpit as Red Nelson squared off to run down to leeward and repeat the manoeuver.

“Your turn next,” ’Frisco Kid said.

“No; yours,” Joe replied.

“But I know more about the water,” ’Frisco Kid insisted.

“And I can swim as well as you,” the other retorted.

It would have been hard to forecast the outcome of this dispute; but, as it was, the swift rush of events made any settlement needless.  The Reindeer had jibed over and was plowing back at breakneck speed, careening at such an angle that it seemed she must surely capsize.  It was a gallant sight.  Just then the storm burst in all its fury, the shouting wind flattening the ragged crests till they boiled.  The Reindeer dipped from view behind an immense wave.  The wave rolled on, but the next moment, where the sloop had been, the boys noted with startled eyes only the angry waters!  Doubting, they looked a second time.  There was no Reindeer.  They were alone on the torn crest of the ocean!