Just at that moment the chug-chug of a motor was heard outside.
"He's turning over the engine!" cried Red-whiskers, jumping for one of the doors. "Landers has got the satchel and he's getting away with it in the boat."
Red-whiskers threw himself against the door, trying to break it down.
"Wait, confound it!" yelped Ross; "here's the key, John. I'll unlock the door if you'll gi' me a chance."
The three men paid no attention whatever to Matt. As soon as Ross could unlock and throw open the door they all rushed out.
The San Bruno was still lying where she had been moored, but the wheeze of a boat could be heard, and a craft, a cable's length away, could be seen vanishing wraithlike into the shadows across the cove.
"Landers has got another boat, somewhere, and he's running away in it!" declared Kinky.
"We'll overhaul him with the San Bruno," cried Red-whiskers, throwing himself into the launch. "One of you stay behind and look after the prisoner——"
"Hang the prisoner!" answered Kinky. "The money means more to us than he does."
Ross cast off the rope that held the launch alongside the house boat, and both he and Kinky sprang aboard the San Bruno.