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Charley considered it a moment and slapped his knee。
〃A good idea！ You're beginning to use that head of yours。 A
credit to your teacher； I must say。〃
〃But you mustn't chase him too far；〃 he went on； the next moment；
〃or he'll head out into San Pablo Bay instead of running home to
Vallejo； and there I'll be； standing lonely on the wharf and
waiting in vain for him to arrive。〃
On Thursday Charley registered an objection to my plan。
〃Everybody'll know I've gone to Vallejo； and you can depend upon it
that Demetrios will know； too。 I'm afraid we'll have to give up
the idea。〃
This objection was only too valid； and for the rest of the day I
struggled under my disappointment。 But that night a new way seemed
to open to me； and in my eagerness I awoke Charley from a sound
sleep。
〃Well；〃 he grunted； 〃what's the matter？ House afire？〃
〃No；〃 I replied； 〃but my head is。 Listen to this。 On Sunday you
and I will be around Benicia up to the very moment Demetrios's sail
heaves into sight。 This will lull everybody's suspicions。 Then；
when Demetrios's sail does heave in sight； do you stroll leisurely
away and up…town。 All the fishermen will think you're beaten and
that you know you're beaten。〃
〃So far； so good；〃 Charley commented； while I paused to catch
breath。
〃And very good indeed；〃 I continued proudly。 〃You stroll
carelessly up…town； but when you're once out of sight you leg it
for all you're worth for Dan Maloney's。 Take the little mare of
his； and strike out on the country road for Vallejo。 The road's in
fine condition； and you can make it in quicker time than Demetrios
can beat all the way down against the wind。〃
〃And I'll arrange right away for the mare； first thing in the
morning；〃 Charley said； accepting the modified plan without
hesitation。
〃But； I say；〃 he said； a little later； this time waking me out of a
sound sleep。
I could hear him chuckling in the dark。
〃I say； lad； isn't it rather a novelty for the fish patrol to be
taking to horseback？〃
〃Imagination；〃 I answered。 〃It's what you're always preaching …
'keep thinking one thought ahead of the other fellow； and you're
bound to win out。'〃
〃He！ he！〃 he chuckled。 〃And if one thought ahead； including a
mare； doesn't take the other fellow's breath away this time； I'm
not your humble servant； Charley Le Grant。〃
〃But can you manage the boat alone？〃 he asked； on Friday。
〃Remember； we've a ripping big sail on her。〃
I argued my proficiency so well that he did not refer to the matter
again till Saturday； when he suggested removing one whole cloth
from the after leech。 I guess it was the disappointment written on
my face that made him desist； for I； also； had a pride in my boat…
sailing abilities； and I was almost wild to get out alone with the
big sail and go tearing down the Carquinez Straits in the wake of
the flying Greek。
As usual； Sunday and Demetrios Contos arrived together。 It had
become the regular thing for the fishermen to assemble on Steamboat
Wharf to greet his arrival and to laugh at our discomfiture。 He
lowered sail a couple of hundred yards out and set his customary
fifty feet of rotten net。
〃I suppose this nonsense will keep up as long as his old net holds
out；〃 Charley grumbled； with intention； in the hearing of several
of the Greeks。
〃Den I give…a heem my old…a net…a；〃 one of them spoke up； promptly
and maliciously；
〃I don't care；〃 Charley answered。 〃I've got some old net myself he
can have … if he'll come around and ask for it。〃
They all laughed at this； for they could afford to be sweet…
tempered with a man so badly outwitted as Charley was。
〃Well； so long； lad；〃 Charley called to me a moment later。 〃I
think I'll go up…town to Maloney's。〃
〃Let me take the boat out？〃 I asked。
〃If you want to；〃 was his answer； as he turned on his heel and
walked slowly away。
Demetrios pulled two large salmon out of his net； and I jumped into
the boat。 The fishermen crowded around in a spirit of fun； and
when I started to get up sail overwhelmed me with all sorts of
jocular advice。 They even offered extravagant bets to one another
that I would surely catch Demetrios； and two of them； styling
themselves the committee of judges； gravely asked permission to
come along with me to see how I did it。
But I was in no hurry。 I waited to give Charley all the time I
could； and I pretended dissatisfaction with the stretch of the sail
and slightly shifted the small tackle by which the huge sprit
forces up the peak。 It was not until I was sure that Charley had
reached Dan Maloney's and was on the little mare's back； that I
cast off from the wharf and gave the big sail to the wind。 A stout
puff filled it and suddenly pressed the lee gunwale down till a
couple of buckets of water came inboard。 A little thing like this
will happen to the best small…boat sailors； and yet； though I
instantly let go the sheet and righted； I was cheered
sarcastically； as though I had been guilty of a very awkward
blunder。
When Demetrios saw only one person in the fish patrol boat； and
that one a boy； he proceeded to play with me。 Making a short tack
out； with me not thirty feet behind； he returned； with his sheet a
little free； to Steamboat Wharf。 And there he made short tacks；
and turned and twisted and ducked around； to the great delight of
his sympathetic audience。 I was right behind him all the time； and
I dared to do whatever he did； even when he squared away before the
wind and jibed his big sail over … a most dangerous trick with such
a sail in such a wind。
He depended upon the brisk sea breeze and the strong ebb…tide；
which together kicked up a nasty sea； to bring me to grief。 But I
was on my mettle； and never in all my life did I sail a boat better
than on that day。 I was keyed up to concert pitch； my brain was
working smoothly and quickly； my hands never fumbled once； and it
seemed that I almost divined the thousand little things which a
small…boat sailor must be taking into consideration every second。
It was Demetrios who came to grief instead。 Something went wrong
with his centre…board； so that it jammed in the case and would not
go all the way down。 In a moment's breathing space； which he had
gained from me by a clever trick； I saw him working impatiently
with the centre…board； trying to force it down。 I gave him little
time； and he was compelled quickly to return to the tiller and
sheet。
The centre…board made him anxious。 He gave over playing with me；
and started on the long beat to Vallejo。 To my joy； on the first
long tack across； I found that I could eat into the wind just a
little bit closer than he。 Here was where another man in the boat
would have been of value to him； for； with me but a few feet
astern； he did not dare let go the tiller and run amidships to try
to force down the centre…board。