And when Tom sought for the police, it was very odd that there was not one to be found in the quarter of San Francisco which most needs clubbing to keep it in order. There was not even one to bear witness that a crowd of bluejackets and an American citizen had come along the water front at midnight. But five minutes after midnight a British lieutenant could have taken his oath that both crews were in their boats and at least moderately sober. "I've seen the admiral, Benson," said Selwyn, as he stepped into his boat and sat down, "and he may be later than he said." "Very well, sir," replied Benson. And as soon as Selwyn had disappeared into the darkness, the boat with Mr. Shanghai Smith in followed suit. And the bay of San Francisco is not so well policed that they had any one inquiring what they were doing as they pulled across to Saucelito, and laid up quietly till three o'clock. "He ain't dead, we hopes," said the crew of the boat. "Not 'e," said Benson; "'is 'eart beats all to rights, and 'is head is perfectly sound, bar a lump the size of a 'en's egg. That up-endin' dodge of Thomas's is very fatal in a row--oh, it's very fatal." It was nearly two o'clock before Shanghai made any motion. But when he did begin to get conscious, he found his mind and his tongue with surprising rapidity. "That 'ead of yourn must be made of five-eighths boiler-plate, Mr. Smith," said Benson, as Smith sat up suddenly. "What am I doin' here?" asked Smith. "'Ow do we know?" asked the delighted crew. "You _would_ come. It warn't no good excusin' of ourselves." Smith put his hand to his head. "Who hit me?" he demanded savagely. "No one," said the crew unanimously; "you tried to stand on your 'ead." "Put me ashore," said Smith. "What are you goin' to do?" "We're waitin' to see the _'Arvester_ yonder 'eave 'er anchor up," replied Benson. "We're in the sailor-supplyin' line, we are, same as you was." "He don't like to hear that," said Billings; "we're cutting him out of a job. And this time we ain't supplyin' admirals." "No, we ain't. Yah, you man-buyin', sailor-robbin' swine! And 'twas you dared touch our admiral. Oh, you dog, you!" They all took a turn at him, and Smith saw he was in the tightest corner he had ever occupied. This was satisfactorily expressed for him. "Say, Shanghai, did you ever hear of Barney's bull?" And when Smith refused to answer, they answered for him. "He was jammed in a clinch, and so are you. You're goin' to 'ave the finest time of all your life. Did you ever 'ear of Sant of the _'Arvester_?" And Smith, for all his brutal courage, shook in his boots. "I'll give you chaps a hundred dollars to put me ashore," he cried. "I never touched Sir Richard Dunn." "Dry up," said Benson, "and don't lie. We wouldn't part with you, my jewel, not for a thousand. What made you desert from the _'Arvester_, a comfortable ship like that, with sich a duck of a skipper?"