tales of the fish patrol-第2章

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top。



Their　laughter　was　not　good　laughter。　　There　was　a　hint　of　menace

in　it；　a　maliciousness　which　their　black　looks　verified。　　The

Yellow　Handkerchief；　since　his　discovery　of　my　empty　pocket；　had

become　most　insolent　in　his　bearing；　and　he　wormed　about　among　the

other　prisoners；　talking　to　them　with　great　earnestness。



Swallowing　my　chagrin；　I　stepped　down　into　the　cockpit　and　began

throwing　out　the　water。　　But　hardly　had　I　begun；　when　the　boom

swung　overhead；　the　mainsail　filled　with　a　jerk；　and　the　Reindeer

heeled　over。　　The　day　wind　was　springing　up。　　George　was　the

veriest　of　landlubbers；　so　I　was　forced　to　give　over　bailing　and

take　the　tiller。　　The　wind　was　blowing　directly　off　Point　Pedro　and

the　high　mountains　behind；　and　because　of　this　was　squally　and

uncertain；　half　the　time　bellying　the　canvas　out　and　the　other　half

flapping　it　idly。



George　was　about　the　most　all…round　helpless　man　I　had　ever　met。

Among　his　other　disabilities；　he　was　a　consumptive；　and　I　knew　that

if　he　attempted　to　bail；　it　might　bring　on　a　hemorrhage。　　Yet　the

rising　water　warned　me　that　something　must　be　done。　　Again　I

ordered　the　shrimp…catchers　to　lend　a　hand　with　the　buckets。　　They

laughed　defiantly；　and　those　inside　the　cabin；　the　water　up　to

their　ankles；　shouted　back　and　forth　with　those　on　top。



〃You'd　better　get　out　your　gun　and　make　them　bail；〃　I　said　to

George。



But　he　shook　his　head　and　showed　all　too　plainly　that　he　was

afraid。　　The　Chinese　could　see　the　funk　he　was　in　as　well　as　I

could；　and　their　insolence　became　insufferable。　　Those　in　the　cabin

broke　into　the　food　lockers；　and　those　above　scrambled　down　and

joined　them　in　a　feast　on　our　crackers　and　canned　goods。



〃What　do　we　care？〃　George　said　weakly。



I　was　fuming　with　helpless　anger。　　〃If　they　get　out　of　hand；　it

will　be　too　late　to　care。　　The　best　thing　you　can　do　is　to　get　them

in　check　right　now。〃



The　water　was　rising　higher　and　higher；　and　the　gusts；　forerunners

of　a　steady　breeze；　were　growing　stiffer　and　stiffer。　　And　between

the　gusts；　the　prisoners；　having　gotten　away　with　a　week's　grub；

took　to　crowding　first　to　one　side　and　then　to　the　other　till　the

Reindeer　rocked　like　a　cockle…shell。　　Yellow　Handkerchief

approached　me；　and；　pointing　out　his　village　on　the　Point　Pedro

beach；　gave　me　to　understand　that　if　I　turned　the　Reindeer　in　that

direction　and　put　them　ashore；　they；　in　turn；　would　go　to　bailing。

By　now　the　water　in　the　cabin　was　up　to　the　bunks；　and　the　bed…

clothes　were　sopping。　　It　was　a　foot　deep　on　the　cockpit　floor。

Nevertheless　I　refused；　and　I　could　see　by　George's　face　that　he

was　disappointed。



〃If　you　don't　show　some　nerve；　they'll　rush　us　and　throw　us

overboard；〃　I　said　to　him。　　〃Better　give　me　your　revolver；　if　you

want　to　be　safe。〃



〃The　safest　thing　to　do；〃　he　chattered　cravenly；　〃is　to　put　them

ashore。　　I；　for　one；　don't　want　to　be　drowned　for　the　sake　of　a

handful　of　dirty　Chinamen。〃



〃And　I；　for　another；　don't　care　to　give　in　to　a　handful　of　dirty

Chinamen　to　escape　drowning；〃　I　answered　hotly。



〃You'll　sink　the　Reindeer　under　us　all　at　this　rate；〃　he　whined。

〃And　what　good　that'll　do　I　can't　see。〃



〃Every　man　to　his　taste；〃　I　retorted。



He　made　no　reply；　but　I　could　see　he　was　trembling　pitifully。

Between　the　threatening　Chinese　and　the　rising　water　he　was　beside

himself　with　fright；　and；　more　than　the　Chinese　and　the　water；　I

feared　him　and　what　his　fright　might　impel　him　to　do。　　I　could　see

him　casting　longing　glances　at　the　small　skiff　towing　astern；　so　in

the　next　calm　I　hauled　the　skiff　alongside。　　As　I　did　so　his　eyes

brightened　with　hope；　but　before　he　could　guess　my　intention；　I

stove　the　frail　bottom　through　with　a　hand…axe；　and　the　skiff

filled　to　its　gunwales。



〃It's　sink　or　float　together；〃　I　said。　　〃And　if　you'll　give　me　your

revolver；　I'll　have　the　Reindeer　bailed　out　in　a　jiffy。〃



〃They're　too　many　for　us；〃　he　whimpered。　　〃We　can't　fight　them

all。〃



I　turned　my　back　on　him　in　disgust。　　The　salmon　boat　had　long　since

passed　from　sight　behind　a　little　archipelago　known　as　the　Marin

Islands；　so　no　help　could　be　looked　for　from　that　quarter。　　Yellow

Handkerchief　came　up　to　me　in　a　familiar　manner；　the　water　in　the

cockpit　slushing　against　his　legs。　　I　did　not　like　his　looks。　　I

felt　that　beneath　the　pleasant　smile　he　was　trying　to　put　on　his

face　there　was　an　ill　purpose。　　I　ordered　him　back；　and　so　sharply

that　he　obeyed。



〃Now　keep　your　distance；〃　I　commanded；　〃and　don't　you　come　closer！〃



〃Wha'　fo'？〃　he　demanded　indignantly。　　〃I　t'ink…um　talkee　talkee

heap　good。〃



〃Talkee　talkee；〃　I　answered　bitterly；　for　I　knew　now　that　he　had

understood　all　that　passed　between　George　and　me。　　〃What　for　talkee

talkee？　　You　no　sabbe　talkee　talkee。〃



He　grinned　in　a　sickly　fashion。　　〃Yep；　I　sabbe　velly　much。　　I

honest　Chinaman。〃



〃All　right；〃　I　answered。　　〃You　sabbe　talkee　talkee；　then　you　bail

water　plenty　plenty。　　After　that　we　talkee　talkee。〃



He　shook　his　head；　at　the　same　time　pointing　over　his　shoulder　to

his　comrades。　　〃No　can　do。　　Velly　bad　Chinamen；　heap　velly　bad。　　I

t'ink…um　…　〃



〃Stand　back！〃　I　shouted；　for　I　had　noticed　his　hand　disappear

beneath　his　blouse　and　his　body　prepare　for　a　spring。



Disconcerted；　he　went　back　into　the　cabin；　to　hold　a　council；

apparently；　from　the　way　the　jabbering　broke　forth。　　The　Reindeer

was　very　deep　in　the　water；　and　her　movements　had　grown　quite

loggy。　　In　a　rough　sea　she　would　have　inevitably　swamped；　but　the

wind；　when　it　did　blow；　was　off　the　land；　and　scarcely　a　ripple

disturbed　the　surface　of　the　bay。



〃I　think　you'd　better　head　for　the　beach；〃　George　said　abruptly；　in

a　manner　that　told　me　his　fear　had　forced　him　to　make　up　his　mind

to　some　course　of　action。



〃I　think　not；〃　I　answered　shortly。



〃I　command　you；〃　he　said　in　a　bullying　tone。



〃I　was　commanded　to　bring　these　prisoners　into　San　Rafael；〃　was　my

reply。



Our　voices　were　raised；　and　the　sound　of　the　altercation　brought

the　Chinese　out　of　the　cabin。



〃Now　will　you　head　for　the　beach？〃



This　from　George；　and　I　found　myself　looking　into　the　muzzle　of　his

revolver　…　of　the　revolver　he　dared　to　use　on　me；　but　was　too

cowardly　to　use　on　the　prisoners。



My　brain　seemed　smitten　with　a　dazzling　brightness。　　The　whole

situation；　in　all　its　bearings；　was　focussed　sharply　before　me　…

the　shame　of　losing　the　prisoners；　the　worthlessness　and　cowardice

of　George；　the　meeting　with　Le　Grant　and　the　other　patrol　men　and

the　lame　explanation；　and　then　there　was　the　fight　I　had　fought　so

hard；　victory　wrenched　from　me　just　as　I　thought　I　had　it　within　my

grasp。　　And　out　of　the　tail　of　my　eye　I　could　see　the　Chinese

crowding　together　by　the　cabin　doors　and　leering　triumphantly。　　It

would　never　do。



I　threw　my　hand　up　and　my　head　down。　　The　first　act　elevated　the

muzzle；　and　the　second　removed　my　head　from　the　path　of　the　bullet

which　went　whistling　past。　　One　hand　closed　on　George's　wrist；　the

other　on　the　revolver。　　Yellow　Handkerchief　and　his　gang　sprang

toward　me。　　It　was　now　or　never。　　Putting　all　my　strength　into　a

sudden　effort；　I　swung　George's　body　forward　to　meet　them。　　Then　I

pulled　back　with　equal　suddenness；　ripping　the　revolver　out　of　his

fingers　and　jerking　him　off　his　feet。　　He　fell　against　Yellow

Handkerchief's　knees；　who　stumbled　over　him；　and　the　pair　wallowed

in　the　bailing　hole　where　the　cockpit　floor　was　torn　open。　　The

next　instant　I　was　covering　them　with　my　revolver；　and　the　wild

shrimp…catchers　were　cowering　and　cringing　away。



But　I　swiftly　discovered　that　there　was　all　the　difference　in　the

world　between　shooting　men　who　are　attacking　and　men　who　are　doing

nothing　more　than　simply　refusing　to　obey。　　For　obey　they　would　not

when　I　ordered　them　into　the　bailing　hole。　　I　threatened　them　with

the　revolver；　but　they　sat　stolidly　in　the　flooded　cabin　and　on　the

roof　and　would　not　move。



Fifteen　minutes　passed；　the　Reindeer　sinking　deeper　and　deeper；　her

mainsail　flapping　in　the　calm。　　But　from　off　the　Point　Pedro　shore

I　saw　a　dark　line　form　on　the　water　and　travel　toward　us。　　It　was

the　steady　breeze　I　had　been　expecting　so　long。　　I　called　to　the

Chinese　and　pointed　it　out。　　They　hailed　it　with　exclamations。

Then　I　pointed　to　the　sail　and　to　the　water　in　the　Reindeer；　and

indicated　by　signs　that　when　the　wind　reached　the　sail；　what　of　the

water　aboard　we　would　capsize。　　But　they　jeered　defiantly；　for　they

knew　it　was　in　my　power　to　luff　the　helm　and　let　go　the　main…sheet；

so　as　to　spill　the　wind　and　escape　damage。



But　my　mind　was　made　up。　　I　hauled　in　the　main…sheet　a　foot　or　two；

took　a　turn　with　it；　and　bracing　my　feet；　put　my　back　against　the

tiller。　　This　left　me　one　hand　for　the　sheet　and　one　for　the

revolver。　　The　dark　line　drew　nearer；　and　I　could　see　them　looking

from　me　to　it　and　back　again　with　an　apprehension　they　could　not

successfully　conceal。　　My　brain　and　will　and　endurance　were　pitted

against　theirs；　and　the　problem　was　which　could　stand　the　strain　of

imminent　death　the　longer　and　not　give　in。



Then　the　wind　struck　us。　　The　main…sheet　tautened　with　a　brisk

rattling　of　the　blocks；　the　boom　uplifted；　the　sail　bellied　out；

and　the　Reindeer　heeled　over　…　over；　and　over；　till　the　lee…rail

went　under；　the　cabin　windows　went　under；　and　the　bay　began　to　pour

in　over　the　cockpit　rail。　　So　violently　had　she　heeled　over；　that

the　men　in　the　cabin　had　been　thrown　on　top　of　one　another　into　the

lee　bunk；　where　they　squirmed　and　twisted　and　were　washed　about；

those　underneath　being　perilously　near　to　drowning。



The　wind　freshened　a　bit；　and　the　Reindeer　went　over　farther　than

ever。　　For　the　moment　I　thought　she　was　gone；　and　I　knew　that

another　puff　like　that　and　she　surely　would　go。　　While　I　pressed

her　under　and　debated　whether　I　should　give　up　or　not；　the　Chinese

cried　for　mercy。　　I　think　it　was　the　sweetest　sound　I　have　ever

heard。　　And　then；　and　not　until　then；　did　I　luff　up　and　ease　out

the　main…sheet。　　The　Reindeer　righted　very　slowly；　and　when　she　was

on　an　even　keel　was　so　much　awash　that　I　doubted　if　she　could　be

saved。



But　the　Chinese　scrambled　madly　into　the　cockpit　and　fell　to

bailing　with　buckets；　pots；　pans；　and　everything　they　could　lay

hands　on。　　It　was　a　beautiful　sight　to　see　that　water　flying　over

the　side！　　And　when　the　Reindeer　was　high　and　proud　on　the　water

once　more；　we　dashed　away　with　the　breeze　on　our　quarter；　and　at

the　last　possible　moment　crossed　the　mud　flats　and　entered　the

slough。



The　spirit　of　the　Chinese　was　broken；　and　so　docile　did　they　become

that　ere　we　made　San　Rafael　they　were　out　with　the　tow…rope；　Yellow

Handkerchief　at　the　head　of　the　line。　　As　for　George；　it　was　his

last　trip　with　the　fish　patrol。　　He　did　not　care　for　that　sort　of

thing；