midday
`` Tow the junk into San Rafael , of course , '' came the answer . Charley turned to me . `` You stand by the junk , lad , and I 'll pass you a towing line . If the wind does n't fail us , we 'll make the creek before the tide gets too low , sleep at San Rafael , and arrive in Oakland to-morrow by midday . '' So saying , Charley and Neil returned to the _ Reindeer _ and got under way , the junk towing astern . I went aft and took charge of the prize , steering by means of an antiquated tiller and a rudder with large , diamond-shaped holes , through which the water rushed back and forth . By now the last of the fog had vanished , and Charley 's estimate of our position was confirmed by the sight of McNear 's Landing a short half-mile away .