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Williams regarded her with inscrutable severity, unaware, of course, that McGuire had suggested the Flying Gull to her. Perhaps he felt that her readiness to discover the way that he would leave confirmed her right to go, and it may be that he also had Penwenn, and Penwenn's chagrin, in mind when his head moved faintly toward her, nodding assent.

The Flying Gull was easily secured. Being in their home port, some of her crew and all of her officers were on shore as usual the next evening when Williams and five of his native sailors from the Islander came alongside in a rowboat. He was on board, with a gun at the head of the man on watch before that fellow could do more than cry out; and though other members of the crew came running out on deck, they were not expecting anything like piracy in a peaceful bay, with vessels all about; and they, having no arms at hand, were quickly subdued without being hurt. An hour or two later McGuire, two other native sailors from the Islander, Nada, and the boy John Paullen, came on board. Williams then took advantage of the tide and darkness; and strong rowers towed the schooner from among the ships anchored off the city; then, making sail, crept to the Golden Gate, and were ready for the dash to sea as soon as the Flying Gull's sailors were released in a rowboat. It was from them that Penwenn, and the city at large, learned what had been done.