"Every time when we have as much breeze as we have now," replied the skipper. "And we shall have a good deal more before we have any less." "There goes the Dasher," said Alf Sumner. "The Racer is after her." "And both of them will be a long way after the tinkers," added Ham Jackson. "We want you to put us ashore on the Sandy Bay side of the point," said Mad Twinker. "Of course, we shall pay you the dollar an hour for the boat and boatman for all the time we have her." "That's all right," answered the skipper, as he headed the Silver Moon farther out into the bay, and let off the main sheet to suit the change. In a few minutes more the boat was in rough water, and she began to pitch and roll in a manner somewhat trying to the nerves of persons not used to it. The six ruffians, who were no boatmen, for they had very seldom been allowed in a sailboat, did not like it. "What's the use of going out so far from the shore, Mr. Bissell?" demanded Mad Twinker. "I don't think it is safe to sail near the bluffs, for the wind is flawy and snappish there," replied the skipper. "I don't know but I shall have to put a reef in the mainsail, for the gusts come heavier than I thought for." As he spoke he hauled out a lot of rope from the locker under the tiller. He began to fuss over the lines to find a reef pendant. He took his knife from his pocket, and cut one of them off the right length. He laid the knife down by his side on the seat, and then returned all the ropes, except the one he had cut off, to the locker. "I may not want to reef, but it is best to be ready," continued the skipper, shifting the tiller a couple of notches on the comb. "Do you think those barges will come up with us, Mad?" "I should judge that they would not," replied the leader. "The Beech Hillers are putting in some strong strokes," added Bissell. "So are our boats," replied Mad. "They are getting up quite a smart race. Will you fellows bet on your own boats?" asked the skipper, with a cheerful smile. "Of course we won't while the Dasher is four hands short of her complement," said Jeff Monroe. "But your boats are doing their prettiest, and I shouldn't wonder if they got the best of it in the end. Don't you see that the Dasher is gaining on the Marian?" continued Bissell, with a great deal of earnestness. "I don't think she is gaining at all," put in Steve Douglas. But the six ruffians were gazing with all their eyes at the five barges; and this was the one thing that Bissell most desired. While he held on to the tiller with his right hand he had picked up his knife with the other. Reaching around behind him, he got hold of the cord which bound Paul Bristol. Making sure that the blade was in the right place, in which he was assisted by the prisoner, he cut the rope. "Is the Dasher gaining anything, Mad?" he asked when he had accomplished his purpose without attracting the attention of the ruffians.