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men would strain to their utmost and fail to get in an inch of the
rope； at other times they came ahead more rapidly。
When the four boats were near enough together for a man to pass
from one to another； one Greek from each of three got into the
nearest boat to us； taking his rifle with him。 This made five in
the foremost boat； and it was plain that their intention was to
board us。 This they undertook to do； by main strength and sweat；
running hand over hand the float…line of a net。 And though it was
slow； and they stopped frequently to rest； they gradually drew
nearer。
Charley smiled at their efforts； and said； 〃Give her the topsail；
Ole。〃
The cap at the mainmast head was broken out； and sheet and downhaul
pulled flat； amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats； and the
Mary Rebecca lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever。
But the Greeks were undaunted。 Unable； at the increased speed； to
draw themselves nearer by means of their hands； they rigged from
the blocks of their boat sail what sailors call a 〃watch…tackle。〃
One of them； held by the legs by his mates； would lean far over the
bow and make the tackle fast to the float…line。 Then they would
heave in on the tackle till the blocks were together； when the
manoeuvre would be repeated。
〃Have to give her the staysail；〃 Charley said。
Ole Ericsen looked at the straining Mary Rebecca and shook his
head。 〃It will take der masts out of her；〃 he said。
〃And we'll be taken out of her if you don't；〃 Charley replied。
Ole shot an anxious glance at his masts； another at the boat load
of armed Greeks； and consented。
The five men were in the bow of the boat … a bad place when a craft
is towing。 I was watching the behavior of their boat as the great
fisherman's staysail； far； far larger than the top…sail and used
only in light breezes； was broken out。 As the Mary Rebecca lurched
forward with a tremendous jerk； the nose of the boat ducked down
into the water； and the men tumbled over one another in a wild rush
into the stern to save the boat from being dragged sheer under
water。
〃That settles them！〃 Charley remarked； though he was anxiously
studying the behavior of the Mary Rebecca； which was being driven
under far more canvas than she was rightly able to carry。
〃Next stop is Antioch！〃 announced the cheerful sailor； after the
manner of a railway conductor。 〃And next comes Merryweather！〃
〃Come here； quick；〃 Charley said to me。
I crawled across the deck and stood upright beside him in the
shelter of the sheet steel。
〃Feel in my inside pocket；〃 he commanded； 〃and get my notebook。
That's right。 Tear out a blank page and write what I tell you。〃
And this is what I wrote：
Telephone to Merryweather； to the sheriff； the constable； or the
judge。 Tell them we are coming and to turn out the town。 Arm
everybody。 Have them down on the wharf to meet us or we are gone
gooses。
Now make it good and fast to that marlin…spike； and stand by to
toss it ashore。〃
I did as he directed。 By then we were close to Antioch。 The wind
was shouting through our rigging； the Mary Rebecca was half over on
her side and rushing ahead like an ocean greyhound。 The seafaring
folk of Antioch had seen us breaking out topsail and staysail； a
most reckless performance in such weather； and had hurried to the
wharf…ends in little groups to find out what was the matter。
Straight down the water front we boomed； Charley edging in till a
man could almost leap ashore。 When he gave the signal I tossed the
marlinspike。 It struck the planking of the wharf a resounding
smash； bounced along fifteen or twenty feet； and was pounced upon
by the amazed onlookers。
It all happened in a flash； for the next minute Antioch was behind
and we were heeling it up the San Joaquin toward Merryweather； six
miles away。 The river straightened out here into its general
easterly course； and we squared away before the wind； wing…and…wing
once more； the foresail bellying out to starboard。
Ole Ericsen seemed sunk into a state of stolid despair。 Charley
and the two sailors were looking hopeful； as they had good reason
to be。 Merryweather was a coal…mining town； and； it being Sunday；
it was reasonable to expect the men to be in town。 Further； the
coal…miners had never lost any love for the Greek fishermen； and
were pretty certain to render us hearty assistance。
We strained our eyes for a glimpse of the town； and the first sight
we caught of it gave us immense relief。 The wharves were black
with men。 As we came closer； we could see them still arriving；
stringing down the main street； guns in their hands and on the run。
Charley glanced astern at the fishermen with a look of ownership in
his eye which till then had been missing。 The Greeks were plainly
overawed by the display of armed strength and were putting their
own rifles away。
We took in topsail and staysail； dropped the main peak； and as we
got abreast of the principal wharf jibed the mainsail。 The Mary
Rebecca shot around into the wind； the captive fishermen describing
a great arc behind her； and forged ahead till she lost way； when
lines we're flung ashore and she was made fast。 This was
accomplished under a hurricane of cheers from the delighted miners。
Ole Ericsen heaved a great sigh。 〃Ay never tank Ay see my wife
never again；〃 he confessed。
〃Why； we were never in any danger；〃 said Charley。
Ole looked at him incredulously。
〃Sure； I mean it；〃 Charley went on。 〃All we had to do； any time；
was to let go our end … as I am going to do now； so that those
Greeks can untangle their nets。〃
He went below with a monkey…wrench； unscrewed the nut； and let the
hook drop off。 When the Greeks had hauled their nets into their
boats and made everything shipshape； a posse of citizens took them
off our hands and led them away to jail。
〃Ay tank Ay ban a great big fool；〃 said Ole Ericsen。 But he
changed his mind when the admiring townspeople crowded aboard to
shake hands with him； and a couple of enterprising newspaper men
took photographs of the Mary Rebecca and her captain。
DEMETRIOS CONTOS
It must not be thought； from what I have told of the Greek
fishermen； that they were altogether bad。 Far from it。 But they
were rough men； gathered together in isolated communities and
fighting with the elements for a livelihood。 They lived far away
from the law and its workings； did not understand it； and thought
it tyranny。 Especially did the fish laws seem tyrannical。 And
because of this； they looked upon the men of the fish patrol as
their natural enemies。
We menaced their lives； or their living； which is the same thing；
in many ways。 We confiscated illegal traps and nets； the materials
of which had cost them considerable sums and the making of which
required weeks of labor。 We prevented them from catching fish at
many times and seasons； which was equivalent to preventing them
from making as good a living as they might have made had we not
been in existence。 And when we captured them； they were brought
into the courts of law； where heavy cash fines were collected from
them。 As a result； they hated us vindictively。 As the dog is the
natural enemy of the cat； the snake of man； so were we of the fish
patrol the natural enemies of the fishermen。
But it is to show that they could act generously as well as hate
bitterly that this story of Demetrios Contos is told。 Demetrios
Contos lived in Vallejo。 Next to Big Alec； he was the largest；
bravest； and most influential man among the Greeks。 He had given
us no trouble； and I doubt if he would ever have clashed with us
had he not invested in a new salmon boat。 This boat was the cause
of all the trouble。 He had had it built upon his own model； in
which the lines of the general salmon boat were somewhat modified。
To his high elation he found his new boat very fast … in fact；
faster than any other boat on the bay or rivers。 Forthwith he grew
proud and boastful： and； our raid with the Mary Rebecca on the
Sunday salmon fishers having wrought fear in their hearts； he sent
a challenge up to Benicia。 One of the local fishermen conveyed it
to us； it was to the effect that Demetrios Contos would sail up
from Vallejo on the following Sunday； and in the plain sight of
Benicia set his net and catch salmon； and that Charley Le Grant；
patrolman； might come and get him if he could。 Of course Charley
and I had heard nothing of the new boat。 Our own boat was pretty
fast； and we were not afraid to have a brush with any other that
happened along。
Sunday came。 The challenge had been bruited abroad； and the
fishermen and seafaring folk of Benicia turned out to a man；
crowding Steamboat Wharf till it looked like the grand stand at a
football match。 Charley and I had been sceptical； but the