n for it. But I have no doubt Carew's men gathered
up their leader and made off ahead of the law's coming. Carew is too
much the fox not to have had a getaway prepared; and the clearance we
dumped off the Farallones showed that he had the _Dawn_ ready for sea.
I'll wager we didn't beat him out through the Gate by many hours!"

"I suppose the police are looking for us?" ventured Martin.

"Not likely," assured the other. "We are safe away, at any rate. But
I doubt if they have even heard of the _Cohasset_. The denizens of
that groggery would have given no evidence against us--they are
themselves too deeply implicated. Also, shooting affrays are common
enough on the Frisco waterfront, even gunfights of such magnitude as we
indulged in. The police will forget all about it within a week's time.

"Of course, if we had left you behind, to be arrested, the consequences
might have been serious enough for you, providing you did not have
money or influence. That is the main reason we brought you to sea with
us. But as it is, a dead or wounded Jap does not amount to much in
Frisco, and the affair will have slipped men's minds long ere we see
Market Street again."

"But--I think I killed that man, Spulvedo!" urged Martin, with a qualm
at the recollection.

"A good job if you did," was the reply. "He was a notorious scoundrel.
If you snuffed him out, I suspect the police would feel inclined to
vote you a medal. But don't feel badly about that incident, Blake.
Remember, you dropped him in self-defense."

"Gentlemen!" broke in Ruth suddenly. "We will have to adjourn this
meeting till another time. Seven bells went some time ago. I have
just time to get my coffee and relieve the bosun by midnight."

"What--the watch gone!" cried the captain. "But, lass, you have had no
rest."

"Small matter," assented the girl, rising. "I'll make up for it. Is
there any change in course, captain?"

"No, make all the westing we can," said the captain. "If this breeze
will only hold a couple of days longer, we'll pick up the trades. Then
for the passage!"

"But--a second!" exclaimed Little Billy. "We have not yet assigned our
new brother to his duties. You know, Blake, there are no drones in the
happy family. Now, I suggest, you are eminently qualified to assist
the hard-driven steward."

A hearty laugh from the girl and the old man checked the hunchback's
speech.

"No, you are not going to sluff your job upon poor Mr.