JOE TRIES TO TAKE FRENCH LEAVE Joe did not mind.

In fact, he was glad he had not caught the first fish, for it helped out a little plan which had come to him while swimming.

He threw the last cleaned fish into a bucket of water and glanced about him.
The quarantine station was a bare half-mile away, and he could make out a soldier pacing up and down at sentry duty on the beach.

Going into the cabin, he listened to the heavy breathing of the sleepers.

He had to pass so close to 'Frisco Kid to get his bundle of clothes that he decided not to take it.