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handful of dirty Chinamen。〃
〃And I； for another； don't care to give in to a handful of dirty
Chinamen to escape drowning；〃 I answered hotly。
〃You'll sink the Reindeer under us all at this rate；〃 he whined。
〃And what good that'll do I can't see。〃
〃Every man to his taste；〃 I retorted。
He made no reply； but I could see he was trembling pitifully。
Between the threatening Chinese and the rising water he was beside
himself with fright； and； more than the Chinese and the water； I
feared him and what his fright might impel him to do。 I could see
him casting longing glances at the small skiff towing astern； so in
the next calm I hauled the skiff alongside。 As I did so his eyes
brightened with hope； but before he could guess my intention； I
stove the frail bottom through with a hand…axe； and the skiff
filled to its gunwales。
〃It's sink or float together；〃 I said。 〃And if you'll give me your
revolver； I'll have the Reindeer bailed out in a jiffy。〃
〃They're too many for us；〃 he whimpered。 〃We can't fight them
all。〃
I turned my back on him in disgust。 The salmon boat had long since
passed from sight behind a little archipelago known as the Marin
Islands； so no help could be looked for from that quarter。 Yellow
Handkerchief came up to me in a familiar manner； the water in the
cockpit slushing against his legs。 I did not like his looks。 I
felt that beneath the pleasant smile he was trying to put on his
face there was an ill purpose。 I ordered him back； and so sharply
that he obeyed。
〃Now keep your distance；〃 I commanded； 〃and don't you come closer！〃
〃Wha' fo'？〃 he demanded indignantly。 〃I t'ink…um talkee talkee
heap good。〃
〃Talkee talkee；〃 I answered bitterly； for I knew now that he had
understood all that passed between George and me。 〃What for talkee
talkee？ You no sabbe talkee talkee。〃
He grinned in a sickly fashion。 〃Yep； I sabbe velly much。 I
honest Chinaman。〃
〃All right；〃 I answered。 〃You sabbe talkee talkee； then you bail
water plenty plenty。 After that we talkee talkee。〃
He shook his head； at the same time pointing over his shoulder to
his comrades。 〃No can do。 Velly bad Chinamen； heap velly bad。 I
t'ink…um … 〃
〃Stand back！〃 I shouted； for I had noticed his hand disappear
beneath his blouse and his body prepare for a spring。
Disconcerted； he went back into the cabin； to hold a council；
apparently； from the way the jabbering broke forth。 The Reindeer
was very deep in the water； and her movements had grown quite
loggy。 In a rough sea she would have inevitably swamped； but the
wind； when it did blow； was off the land； and scarcely a ripple
disturbed the surface of the bay。
〃I think you'd better head for the beach；〃 George said abruptly； in
a manner that told me his fear had forced him to make up his mind
to some course of action。
〃I think not；〃 I answered shortly。
〃I command you；〃 he said in a bullying tone。
〃I was commanded to bring these prisoners into San Rafael；〃 was my
reply。
Our voices were raised； and the sound of the altercation brought
the Chinese out of the cabin。
〃Now will you head for the beach？〃
This from George； and I found myself looking into the muzzle of his
revolver … of the revolver he dared to use on me； but was too
cowardly to use on the prisoners。
My brain seemed smitten with a dazzling brightness。 The whole
situation； in all its bearings； was focussed sharply before me …
the shame of losing the prisoners； the worthlessness and cowardice
of George； the meeting with Le Grant and the other patrol men and
the lame explanation； and then there was the fight I had fought so
hard； victory wrenched from me just as I thought I had it within my
grasp。 And out of the tail of my eye I could see the Chinese
crowding together by the cabin doors and leering triumphantly。 It
would never do。
I threw my hand up and my head down。 The first act elevated the
muzzle； and the second removed my head from the path of the bullet
which went whistling past。 One hand closed on George's wrist； the
other on the revolver。 Yellow Handkerchief and his gang sprang
toward me。 It was now or never。 Putting all my strength into a
sudden effort； I swung George's body forward to meet them。 Then I
pulled back with equal suddenness； ripping the revolver out of his
fingers and jerking him off his feet。 He fell against Yellow
Handkerchief's knees； who stumbled over him； and the pair wallowed
in the bailing hole where the cockpit floor was torn open。 The
next instant I was covering them with my revolver； and the wild
shrimp…catchers were cowering and cringing away。
But I swiftly discovered that there was all the difference in the
world between shooting men who are attacking and men who are doing
nothing more than simply refusing to obey。 For obey they would not
when I ordered them into the bailing hole。 I threatened them with
the revolver； but they sat stolidly in the flooded cabin and on the
roof and would not move。
Fifteen minutes passed； the Reindeer sinking deeper and deeper； her
mainsail flapping in the calm。 But from off the Point Pedro shore
I saw a dark line form on the water and travel toward us。 It was
the steady breeze I had been expecting so long。 I called to the
Chinese and pointed it out。 They hailed it with exclamations。
Then I pointed to the sail and to the water in the Reindeer； and
indicated by signs that when the wind reached the sail； what of the
water aboard we would capsize。 But they jeered defiantly； for they
knew it was in my power to luff the helm and let go the main…sheet；
so as to spill the wind and escape damage。
But my mind was made up。 I hauled in the main…sheet a foot or two；
took a turn with it； and bracing my feet； put my back against the
tiller。 This left me one hand for the sheet and one for the
revolver。 The dark line drew nearer； and I could see them looking
from me to it and back again with an apprehension they could not
successfully conceal。 My brain and will and endurance were pitted
against theirs； and the problem was which could stand the strain of
imminent death the longer and not give in。
Then the wind struck us。 The main…sheet tautened with a brisk
rattling of the blocks； the boom uplifted； the sail bellied out；
and the Reindeer heeled over … over； and over； till the lee…rail
went under； the cabin windows went under； and the bay began to pour
in over the cockpit rail。 So violently had she heeled over； that
the men in the cabin had been thrown on top of one another into the
lee bunk； where they squirmed and twisted and were washed about；
those underneath being perilously near to drowning。
The wind freshened a bit； and the Reindeer went over farther than
ever。 For the moment I thought she was gone； and I knew that
another puff like that and she surely would go。 While I pressed
her under and debated whether I should