"Great work," cried Jim, in admiration, "but what did you do with 'em when you had them caught?" "That didn't bother us long," said the old fellow; "we didn't want their company, and we had to fix it so they wouldn't bother us, so we put their engines out of commission, so they had to use their small sails; broke their cannons, and threw all their ammunition into the sea, and left them, to their own devices." "Where is the _Storm King_ and her crew now, Captain?" asked the engineer with evident interest. "Cruising down in the South Seas, I reckon." "Some time we may run across them, eh, Chief?" questioned Jim. "Stranger things have happened," replied Berwick with a knowing grin. "Well, I don't intend to let John Singleton beat me at the game with our mutual friend, Captain Broome," remarked Jim, as he rose to his feet. "The old chap was right enough," remarked Jim, as the two of them sent the beautiful boat over the slightly rolling waters of the gray, sodden-hued bay towards Frau Scheff's. "If money can buy her, I am going to own this boat. There is no telling when we might find use for her, if we ever go down into the South Seas." "You want something bigger than this low, black, rakish craft if you are going to be a pirate in the South Seas," remarked Berwick caustically. "Indeed, yes!" agreed Jim. "I'm sure going to have the _Sea Eagle_ over yonder," and he nodded his head in the direction of the open bay. "When Captain Broome gets done with her?" questioned Berwick slyly. "Perhaps sooner; I dunno," said Jim gloomily. They beached their long, low, black craft on the sands below the restaurant of Herr and Frau Scheff, and from that base of supplies laid in a liberal stock of provisions, enough to last for a day at least. There was some ham, a loaf of bread, butter and an apple pie. Sauerkraut they had to politely refuse, for, as Jim said in an aside to his friend, "There was no disguising their trail from the enemy if they carried that." But they had plenty of other necessities, including tea and coffee. They were also loaned a few necessary cooking utensils, and thus equipped, they launched out in their skiff once more. CHAPTER XXX JIM BOARDS THE PIRATE "Whither away, Brother?" questioned John Berwick, as they bent gently and rhythmically to the oars. "I thought we might lay alongside the _Sea Eagle_, and invite Brother Broome to surrender," suggested Jim. "All right, I'm with you, as I can't walk ashore," replied John Berwick. However, instead of rowing straight in the direction of the _Sea Eagle_, Jim bent a circuitous course around her. It was now growing towards evening and a heavy fog was rolling in even then over the sea towards the Golden Gate. The two comrades in a short time reached the western shore of the bay near which the _Sea Eagle_ lay anchored.