"Ah; 'tis true," agreed Red-beard. "Unless you please will arrest Ramon, Ramon will whip me until I faint. I know; it is his habit when he is opposed."
"Get aboard, then," said Steve, impatiently. "There's room enough, and your service may come handy to us."
Somewhat to their surprise the man came aboard without an instant's hesitation, and at once Steve started the engine.
"Are any other men left upon this island?" asked Mr. Cumberford, as the launch gathered way and darted down the inlet.
"Two," said Chica. "But they have no orders to interfere with you, so they will be blind. Fourteen have gone with Ramon."
"Are they armed?" asked Orissa.
"I do not know, señorita. Francisco may be, and perhaps Tomas; but Ramon is afraid to trust many of his men with guns."
Heading out of the inlet they rounded the pillar of rock and skirted the shore until the open sea lay between them and Owl Island. Now they were able to see plainly the big launch of Ramon Ganza plodding along in advance. It had fully half an hour's start of them, yet from the distance it had gone Steve awoke to the fact that it was not nearly so speedy as Madeline's little boat. Although the big launch had gasoline engines of comparatively modern pattern, the lines of the boat were broad and "tubby," in strong contrast with the slender, graceful waist of the Salvador's launch. Moreover, Ramon had neglected his machinery, as he had everything else on the island, and the engines did not work as well as they should.
"I've an idea that I can beat the pirate to the Salvador," said Steve.
"By Jove!" cried Chesty; "if you could do that, old man, you'd save the day."