" French Pete insisted in excited gibberish that the Dazzler had the right to have three men in its crew, and appealed to 'Frisco Kid to bear him out.

"Just stay in the cockpit and keep out of their way," 'Frisco Kid whispered to Joe.

Bill cast off the bowline, the Cockney followed suit with the stern, 'Frisco Kid gave her the jib as French Pete jammed up the tiller, and the Dazzler caught the breeze, heeling over for mid-channel.

'Frisco Kid asked as they got into the other boat.

" 'Frisco Kid took the second pair, while French Pete steered.

At the beach they turned their burdens over to 'Frisco Kid, who loaded them, first in the one skiff and then in the other.

French Pete at the bow-oars and 'Frisco Kid at the stroke had the skiff's nose pointed seaward and were calmly awaiting his arrival.

Joe and 'Frisco Kid came up side by side, and together they clambered aboard with the skiff's painter in tow.

He could see that 'Frisco Kid knew just what to do and just how to do it.

'Frisco Kid knew what he was able to do, and because of this he had confidence in himself.

While the thought of 'Frisco Kid being a thief was repulsive to him, 'Frisco Kid himself was not.

While the thought of 'Frisco Kid being a thief was repulsive to him, 'Frisco Kid himself was not.

As it was, he thought it his own natural badness which prevented him from disliking 'Frisco Kid; but, while he felt shame at his own weakness, he could not smother the warm regard which he felt growing up for this particular bay pirate.

"Take in two or three feet on the skiff's painter," commanded 'Frisco Kid, who had an eye for everything.

"Be careful," 'Frisco Kid warned, as a heavy puff struck the Dazzler and careened her dangerously over on her side.

'Frisco Kid shouted.

"Plenty of time," 'Frisco Kid cautioned, shooting the Dazzler into the wind toward it and gradually losing headway.

Joe still felt ashamed for the trouble he had caused; but 'Frisco Kid quickly put him at ease.

Then slowly his head dropped over on 'Frisco Kid's shoulder and he was fast asleep.

Joe rubbed the sleep from his eyes and drank in the glory of it till 'Frisco Kid told him to go for'ard and make ready for dropping the anchor.

'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.

He discovered that 'Frisco Kid was as good a cook as he was a sailor, and made haste to do justice to the fare.

As he began to haul in he glanced at 'Frisco Kid and saw that he too had evidently captured a finny prize.

He had to pass so close to 'Frisco Kid to get his bundle of clothes that he decided not to take it.

To complicate matters, 'Frisco Kid waxed mutinous.