“Sure, if you want to. Take Linding's place. Linding, you stay on the schooner. And mind, there's nobody but me giving orders around here. Pull away, boys.” The landing pier was deserted when they ran alongside. “Which way did he go?” asked Dick, as he stepped out. Harper pointed at the dim path. “How long ago was it?” “Just a few minutes.” “All right. We 'll wait here.” He sat down with his back against a post, and filled his pipe. “Got a match, Pink? Oh, I forgot, you're wet. Ole, give me a match.” He lighted up and settled back to smoke and think. McGlory had evidently walked some little distance back from the Cove, for nearly ten minutes passed before they heard his step in the brush. Dick sat still until he saw the mate coming down the bluff, then he said, “Get aboard, McGlory.” At the first word McGlory stopped short. “Well,” Dick added, rising, “how long are you going to keep us waiting?” Still there was no word from the motionless figure. Not until Dick stepped to the stern of the boat did he speak. “Come up here a minute, will you, Cap'n? I want to speak to you.” “You can do any speaking you have to do on the schooner. Swing around, Pink. I 'll hold her.” “Just a minute, Cap'n, you know what I mean.” “All I know about you is that you can't be trusted.” “Seems to me you're gettin' mighty innocent all to once.” “You can have your choice, McGlory, of getting aboard or staying behind. For my part, I'd a heap sight rather leave you behind.” “You needn't talk that way. I know what I'm doin'--I know I'm not to talk to you--” “All right, Pink,”--Dick stepped into the boat,--“let her go.” McGlory turned and looked back up the path, as if listening. Then suddenly he ran out on the landing and got aboard just as the men were pushing off. He took the bow thwart, and settled down without a word. When they reached the schooner, he got out the boat-hook, and held her steady while Dick climbed out. “That 'll do there,” said Dick, when McGlory and Larsen were hoisting the boat up to the davits. “Let her down again. Pink, you'd better take Linding and sound the channel ahead of us. We 'll start right out.” “That ain't necessary,” put in the mate, hurriedly; “I can take her out.” Dick turned and looked him over sharply. “How do I know you wouldn't run her aground? You seem to be raising the devil generally.” “I ain't a fool,” replied the mate, with an impatient gesture. “I'd feel a little safer if you were. Well, all right, Pink, make her fast. We 'll let him try it.”