So the Reindeer, crewless, lay across the estuary at the sandspit.

Beside her lay the Razzle Dazzle with a burned mainsail and Scotty and me on board.

Whisky Bob had fallen out with French Frank and gone on a raid "up river" with Nicky the Greek.
The result of this raid was a brand-new Columbia River salmon boat, stolen from an Italian fisherman.

We oyster pirates were all visited by the searching Italian, and we were convinced, from what we knew of their movements, that Whisky Bob and Nicky the Greek were the guilty parties.
But where was the salmon boat?
Hundreds of Greek and Italian fishermen, up river and down bay, had searched every slough and tule patch for it.
When the owner despairingly offered a reward of fifty dollars, our interest increased and the mystery deepened.
One Sunday morning old Captain Spink paid me a visit.

The conversation was confidential.