Shortly afterwards, a grey mass rose out of the water to port and he supposed it was Texada. There were mines on the island, and he might be able to engage a rescue party; but he reflected that he could not beat the sloop back to windward unless the breeze fell, which it showed no signs of doing. It would be more prudent to go on to Vancouver, where he would be sure of getting a steamer, but he closed with the long island a little, and dusk was falling when he made out a boat in the partial shelter of a bight. Standing in closer, he saw that there were two men in the craft, and driving down upon her he backed the jib and ran alongside. There was a crash as he struck the boat, and an astonished and angry man clutched the sloop's rail. "Now what in the name of thunder?" he began, and stopped, struck by Carroll's ragged appearance. "Can you take this sloop to Vancouver?" the latter inquired. "I could if it was worth while," was the cautious answer. "It will be a mighty wet run." "Seven dollars a day, until you're home again," said Carroll. "A bonus if you can sail her with the whole reefed mainsail up--I won't stick at a few dollars. Can your partner pull that boat ashore alone? If not, cast her adrift, I'll buy her." "He'll make the beach," said the other, jumping on board. "Seven dollars sounds a square deal. I won't put the screw on you." "Then help me hoist the peak," Carroll bade him. "After that, you can take the helm; I'm played out." The man, who shouted something to his companion, seized the halliards; and the sloop drove on again furiously; with an increased spread of canvas, while Carroll stood holding on by the coaming while the boat dropped back. "I'll leave you to it," he informed the new helmsman. "It's twenty-four hours since I've had more than a bite or two of food, and some weeks since I had a decent meal." "You look like it," the other informed him. "Been up against it somewhere?" Carroll, who did not reply, crawled below and managed to light the stove and make a kettleful of tea. He drank a good deal of it, and nearly emptied the remaining small meat-can, which he presently held out for his companion's inspection, standing beneath the hatch. "There's some tea left, but this is all there is to eat on board the craft," he said. "You're hired to take her to Vancouver--and you'd better get there as soon as you can." The bronzed helmsman nodded. "She won't be long on the way if the mast holds up." "Have you seen any papers lately?" Carroll inquired. "I've been up in the bush and I'm interested in the Clermont mine. It looked as if there might be some changes in the company's prospects when I went away." "I noticed a bit about it in the Colonist a while back," was the answer. "They sold out to another concern, or amalgamated with it; I don't remember which."