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sight of our preparation； they would turn and row slowly back to
the Lancashire Queen； secure in the knowledge that we could not
overtake them。
To guard against calms … when our salmon boat would be useless … we
also had in readiness a light rowing skiff equipped with spoon…
oars。 But at such times； when the wind failed us； we were forced
to row out from the wharf as soon as they rowed from the ship。 In
the night…time； on the other hand； we were compelled to patrol the
immediate vicinity of the ship； which we did； Charley and I
standing four…hour watches turn and turn about。 The Italians；
however； preferred the daytime in which to escape； and so our long
night vigils were without result。
〃What makes me mad；〃 said Charley； 〃is our being kept from our
honest beds while those rascally lawbreakers are sleeping soundly
every night。 But much good may it do them；〃 he threatened。 〃I'll
keep them on that ship till the captain charges them board； as sure
as a sturgeon's not a catfish！〃
It was a tantalizing problem that confronted us。 As long as we
were vigilant； they could not escape； and as long as they were
careful； we would be unable to catch them。 Charley cudgelled his
brains continually； but for once his imagination failed him。 It
was a problem apparently without other solution than that of
patience。 It was a waiting game； and whichever waited the longer
was bound to win。 To add to our irritation； friends of the
Italians established a code of signals with them from the shore； so
that we never dared relax the siege for a moment。 And besides
this； there were always one or two suspicious…looking fishermen
hanging around the Solano Wharf and keeping watch on our actions。
We could do nothing but 〃grin and bear it；〃 as Charley said； while
it took up all our time and prevented us from doing other work。
The days went by； and there was no change in the situation。 Not
that no attempts were made to change it。 One night friends from
the shore came out in a skiff and attempted to confuse us while the
two Italians escaped。 That they did not succeed was due to the
lack of a little oil on the ship's davits。 For we were drawn back
from the pursuit of the strange boat by the creaking of the davits；
and arrived at the Lancashire Queen just as the Italians were
lowering their skiff。 Another night； fully half a dozen skiffs
rowed around us in the darkness； but we held on like a leech to the
side of the ship and frustrated their plan till they grew angry and
showered us with abuse。 Charley laughed to himself in the bottom
of the boat。
〃It's a good sign； lad；〃 he said to me。 〃When men begin to abuse；
make sure they're losing patience； and shortly after they lose
patience； they lose their heads。 Mark my words； if we only hold
out； they'll get careless some fine day； and then we'll get them。〃
But they did not grow careless； and Charley confessed that this was
one of the times when all signs failed。 Their patience seemed
equal to ours； and the second week of the siege dragged
monotonously along。 Then Charley's lagging imagination quickened
sufficiently to suggest a ruse。 Peter Boyelen； a new patrolman and
one unknown to the fisher…folk； happened to arrive in Benicia and
we took him into our plan。 We were as secret as possible about it；
but in some unfathomable way the friends ashore got word to the
beleaguered Italians to keep their eyes open。
On the night we were to put our ruse into effect； Charley and I
took up our usual station in our rowing skiff alongside the
Lancashire Queen。 After it was thoroughly dark； Peter Boyelen came
out in a crazy duck boat； the kind you can pick up and carry away
under one arm。 When we heard him coming along； paddling noisily；
we slipped away a short distance into the darkness； and rested on
our oars。 Opposite the gangway； having jovially hailed the anchor…
watch of the Lancashire Queen and asked the direction of the
Scottish Chiefs； another wheat ship； he awkwardly capsized himself。
The man who was standing the anchor…watch ran down the gangway and
hauled him out of the water。 This was what he wanted； to get
aboard the ship； and the next thing he expected was to be taken on
deck and then below to warm up and dry out。 But the captain
inhospitably kept him perched on the lowest gang…way step；
shivering miserably and with his feet dangling in the water； till
we； out of very pity； rowed in from the darkness and took him off。
The jokes and gibes of the awakened crew sounded anything but sweet
in our ears； and even the two Italians climbed up on the rail and
laughed down at us long and maliciously。
〃That's all right；〃 Charley said in a low voice； which I only could
hear。 〃I'm mighty glad it's not us that's laughing first。 We'll
save our laugh to the end； eh； lad？〃
He clapped a hand on my shoulder as he finished； but it seemed to
me that there was more determination than hope in his voice。
It would have been possible for us to secure the aid of United
States marshals and board the English ship； backed by Government
authority。 But the instructions of the Fish Commission were to the
effect that the patrolmen should avoid complications； and this one；
did we call on the higher powers； might well end in a pretty
international tangle。
The second week of the siege drew to its close； and there was no
sign of change in the situation。 On the morning of the fourteenth
day the change came； and it came in a guise as unexpected and
startling to us as it was to the men we were striving to capture。
Charley and I； after our customary night vigil by the side of the
Lancashire Queen； rowed into the Solana Wharf。
〃Hello！〃 cried Charley； in surprise。 〃In the name of reason and
common sense； what is that？ Of all unmannerly craft did you ever
see the like？〃
Well might he exclaim； for there； tied up to the dock； lay the
strangest looking launch I had ever seen。 Not that it could be
called a launch； either； but it seemed to resemble a launch more
than any other kind of boat。 It was seventy feet long； but so
narrow was it； and so bare of superstructure； that it appeared much
smaller than it really was。 It was built wholly of steel； and was
painted black。 Three smokestacks； a good distance apart and raking
well aft； arose in single file amidships； while the bow； long and
lean and sharp as a knife； plainly advertised that the boat was
made for speed。 Passing under the stern； we read Streak； painted
in small white letters。
Charley and I were consumed with curiosity。 In a few minutes we
were on board and talking with an engineer who was watching the
sunrise from the deck。 He was quite willing to satisfy our
curiosity； and in a few minutes we learned that the Streak had come
in after dark from San Francisco； that this was what might be
called the trial trip； and that she was the property of Silas Tate；
a young mining millionaire of Calif