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handled splendidly。 Even when Charley praised it； our prisoner
refused to speak or to notice us； and we soon gave him up as a most
unsociable fellow。
We ran up the Carquinez Straits and edged into the bight at
Turner's Shipyard for smoother water。 Here were lying several
English steel sailing ships； waiting for the wheat harvest； and
here； most unexpectedly； in the precise place where we had captured
Big Alec； we came upon two Italians in a skiff that was loaded with
a complete 〃Chinese〃 sturgeon line。 The surprise was mutual； and
we were on top of them before either they or we were aware。
Charley had barely time to luff into the wind and run up to them。
I ran forward and tossed them a line with orders to make it fast。
One of the Italians took a turn with it over a cleat； while I
hastened to lower our big spritsail。 This accomplished； the salmon
boat dropped astern； dragging heavily on the skiff。
Charley came forward to board the prize； but when I proceeded to
haul alongside by means of the line； the Italians cast it off。 We
at once began drifting to leeward； while they got out two pairs of
oars and rowed their light craft directly into the wind。 This
manoeuvre for the moment disconcerted us； for in our large and
heavily loaded boat we could not hope to catch them with the oars。
But our prisoner came unexpectedly to our aid。 His black eyes were
flashing eagerly； and his face was flushed with suppressed
excitement； as he dropped the centre…board； sprang forward with a
single leap； and put up the sail。
〃I've always heard that Greeks don't like Italians；〃 Charley
laughed； as he ran aft to the tiller。
And never in my experience have I seen a man so anxious for the
capture of another as was our prisoner in the chase that followed。
His eyes fairly snapped； and his nostrils quivered and dilated in a
most extraordinary way。 Charley steered while he tended the sheet；
and though Charley was as quick and alert as a cat； the Greek could
hardly control his impatience。
The Italians were cut off from the shore； which was fully a mile
away at its nearest point。 Did they attempt to make it； we could
haul after them with the wind abeam； and overtake them before they
had covered an eighth of the distance。 But they were too wise to
attempt it； contenting themselves with rowing lustily to windward
along the starboard side of a big ship； the Lancashire Queen。 But
beyond the ship lay an open stretch of fully two miles to the shore
in that direction。 This； also； they dared not attempt； for we were
bound to catch them before they could cover it。 So； when they
reached the bow of the Lancashire Queen； nothing remained but to
pass around and row down her port side toward the stern； which
meant rowing to leeward and giving us the advantage。
We in the salmon boat； sailing close on the wind； tacked about and
crossed the ship's bow。 Then Charley put up the tiller and headed
down the port side of the ship； the Greek letting out the sheet and
grinning with delight。 The Italians were already half…way down the
ship's length； but the stiff breeze at our back drove us after them
far faster than they could row。 Closer and closer we came； and I；
lying down forward； was just reaching out to grasp the skiff； when
it ducked under the great stern of the Lancashire Queen。
The chase was virtually where it had begun。 The Italians were
rowing up the starboard side of the ship； and we were hauled close
on the wind and slowly edging out from the ship as we worked to
windward。 Then they darted around her bow and began the row down
her port side； and we tacked about； crossed her bow； and went
plunging down the wind hot after them。 And again； just as I was
reaching for the skiff； it ducked under the ship's stern and out of
danger。 And so it went； around and around； the skiff each time
just barely ducking into safety。
By this time the ship's crew had become aware of what was taking
place； and we could see their heads in a long row as they looked at
us over the bulwarks。 Each time we missed the skiff at the stern；
they set up a wild cheer and dashed across to the other side of the
Lancashire Queen to see the chase to wind…ward。 They showered us
and the Italians with jokes and advice； and made our Greek so angry
that at least once on each circuit he raised his fist and shook it
at them in a rage。 They came to look for this； and at each display
greeted it with uproarious mirth。
〃Wot a circus！〃 cried one。
〃Tork about yer marine hippodromes； … if this ain't one； I'd like
to know！〃 affirmed another。
〃Six…days…go…as…yer…please；〃 announced a third。 〃Who says the
dagoes won't win？〃
On the next tack to windward the Greek offered to change places
with Charley。
〃Let…a me sail…a de boat；〃 he demanded。 〃I fix…a them； I catch…a
them； sure。〃
This was a stroke at Charley's professional pride； for pride
himself he did upon his boat…sailing abilities； but he yielded the
tiller to the prisoner and took his place at the sheet。 Three
times again we made the circuit； and the Greek found that he could
get no more speed out of the salmon boat than Charley had。
〃Better give it up；〃 one of the sailors advised from above。
The Greek scowled ferociously and shook his fist in his customary
fashion。 In the meanwhile my mind had not been idle； and I had
finally evolved an idea。
〃Keep going； Charley； one time more；〃 I said。
And as we laid out on the next tack to wind…ward； I bent a piece of
line to a small grappling hook I had seen lying in the bail…hole。
The end of the line I made fast to the ring…bolt in the bow； and
with the hook out of sight I waited for the next opportunity to use
it。 Once more they made their leeward pull down the port side of
the Lancashire Queen； and once more we churned down after them
before the wind。 Nearer and nearer we drew； and I was making
believe to reach for them as before。 The stern of the skiff was
not six feet away； and they were laughing at me derisively as they
ducked under the ship's stern。 At that instant I suddenly arose
and threw the grappling iron。 It caught fairly and squarely on the
rail of the skiff； which was jerked backward out of safety as the
rope tautened and the salmon boat ploughed on。
A groan went up from the row of sailors above； which quickly
changed to a cheer as one of the Italians whipped out a long
sheath…knife and cut the rope。 But we had drawn them out of
safety； and Charley； from his place in the stern…sheets； reached
over and clutched the stern of the skiff。 The whole thing happened
in a second of time； for the first Italian was cutting the rope and
Charley was clutching the skiff when the second Italian dealt him a
rap over the head with an oar； Charley released his hold and
collapsed； stunned； into the bottom of the salmon boat； and the
Italians bent to their oars and escaped back under the ship's
stern。
The Greek took both tiller and sheet and continued the chase around
the Lancashire Queen； while I attended to Charley； on whose head a
nasty lump was rapidly rising。 Our sailor audience was wild with
delight； and to a man encouraged the fleeing Italians。 Charley sat
up； with one hand on his head； and gazed about him sheepishly。
〃It will never do to let them escape now；〃 he said； at the same
time drawing his revolver。
On our next circuit； he threatened the Italians with the weapon；
but they rowed on stolidly； keeping splendid stroke and utterly
disregarding him。
〃If you don't stop； I'll shoot；〃 Charley said menacingly。
But this had no effect； nor were they to be frightened into
surrendering even when he fired several shots dangerously close to
them。 It was too much to expect him to shoot unarmed men； and this
they knew as well as we did； so they continued to pull doggedly
round and round the ship。
〃We'll run them down； then！〃 Charley exclaimed。 〃We'll wear them
out and wind them！〃
So the chase continued。 Twenty times more we ran them around the
Lancashire Queen； and at last we could see that even their iron
muscles were giving out。 They were nearly exhausted； and it was
only a matter of a few more circuits； when the game took on a new
feature。 On the row to windward they always gained on us； so that
they were half…way down the ship's side on the row to leeward when
we were passing the bow。 But this last time； as we passed the bow；
we saw them escaping up the ship's gangway； which had been suddenly
lowered。 It was an organized move on the part of the sailors；
evidently countenanced by the captain； for by the time we arrived
where the gangway had been； it was being hoisted up； and the skiff；
slung in the ship's davits； was likewise flying aloft out of reach。
The parley that followed with the captain was short and snappy。 He
absolutely forbade us to board the Lancashire Queen； and as