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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
absolutely refused to give up the two men。 By this time Charley
was as enraged as the Greek。 Not only had he been foiled in a long
and ridiculous chase； but he had been knocked senseless into the
bottom of his boat by the men who had escaped him。
〃Knock off my head with little apples；〃 he declared emphatically；
striking the fist of one hand into the palm of the other； 〃if those
two men ever escape me！ I'll stay here to get them if it takes the
rest of my natural life； and if I don't get them； then I promise
you I'll live unnaturally long or until I do get them； or my name's
not Charley Le Grant！〃
And then began the siege of the Lancashire Queen； a siege memorable
in the annals of both fishermen and fish patrol。 When the Reindeer
came along； after a fruitless pursuit of the shad fleet； Charley
instructed Neil Partington to send out his own salmon boat； with
blankets； provisions； and a fisherman's charcoal stove。 By sunset
this exchange of boats was made； and we said good…by to our Greek；
who perforce had to go into Benicia and be locked up for his own
violation of the law。 After supper； Charley and I kept alternate
four…hour watches till day…light。 The fishermen made no attempt to
escape that night； though the ship sent out a boat for scouting
purposes to find if the coast were clear。
By the next day we saw that a steady siege was in order； and we
perfected our plans with an eye to our own comfort。 A dock； known
as the Solano Wharf； which ran out from the Benicia shore； helped
us in this。 It happened that the Lancashire Queen； the shore at
Turner's Shipyard； and the Solano Wharf were the corners of a big
equilateral triangle。 From ship to shore； the side of the triangle
along which the Italians had to escape； was a distance equal to
that from the Solano Wharf to the shore； the side of the triangle
along which we had to travel to get to the shore before the
Italians。 But as we could sail much faster than they could row； we
could permit them to travel about half their side of the triangle
before we darted out along our side。 If we allowed them to get
more than half…way； they were certain to beat us to shore； while if
we started before they were half…way； they were equally certain to
beat us back to the ship。
We found that an imaginary line； drawn from the end of the wharf to
a windmill farther along the shore； cut precisely in half the line
of the triangle along which the Italians must escape to reach the
land。 This line made it easy for us to determine how far to let
them run away before we bestirred ourselves in pursuit。 Day after
day we would watch them through our glasses as they rowed leisurely
along toward the half…way point； and as they drew close into line
with the windmill； we would leap into the boat and get up sail。 At
sight of our preparation； they would turn and row slowly back to
the Lancashire Queen；