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another puff like that and she surely would go。 While I pressed
her under and debated whether I should give up or not； the Chinese
cried for mercy。 I think it was the sweetest sound I have ever
heard。 And then； and not until then； did I luff up and ease out
the main…sheet。 The Reindeer righted very slowly； and when she was
on an even keel was so much awash that I doubted if she could be
saved。
But the Chinese scrambled madly into the cockpit and fell to
bailing with buckets； pots； pans； and everything they could lay
hands on。 It was a beautiful sight to see that water flying over
the side！ And when the Reindeer was high and proud on the water
once more； we dashed away with the breeze on our quarter； and at
the last possible moment crossed the mud flats and entered the
slough。
The spirit of the Chinese was broken； and so docile did they become
that ere we made San Rafael they were out with the tow…rope； Yellow
Handkerchief at the head of the line。 As for George； it was his
last trip with the fish patrol。 He did not care for that sort of
thing； he explained； and he thought a clerkship ashore was good
enough for him。 And we thought so too。
THE KING OF THE GREEKS
Big Alec had never been captured by the fish patrol。 It was his
boast that no man could take him alive； and it was his history that
of the many men who had tried to take him dead none had succeeded。
It was also history that at least two patrolmen who had tried to
take him dead had died themselves。 Further； no man violated the
fish laws more systematically and deliberately than Big Alec。
He was called 〃Big Alec〃 because of his gigantic stature。 His
height was six feet three inches； and he was correspondingly broad…
shouldered and deep…chested。 He was splendidly muscled and hard as
steel； and there were innumerable stories in circulation among the
fisher…folk concerning his prodigious strength。 He was as bold and
dominant of spirit as he was strong of body； and because of this he
was widely known by another name； that of 〃The King of the Greeks。〃
The fishing population was largely composed of Greeks； and they
looked up to him and obeyed him as their chief。 And as their
chief； he fought their fights for them； saw that they were
protected； saved them from the law when they fell into its
clutches； and made them stand by one another and himself in time of
trouble。
In the old days； the fish patrol had attempted his capture many
disastrous times and had finally given it over； so that when the
word was out that he was coming to Benicia； I was most anxious to
see him。 But I did not have to hunt him up。 In his usual bold
way； the first thing he did on arriving was to hunt us up。 Charley
Le Grant and I at the time were under a patrol…man named Carmintel；
and the three of us were on the Reindeer； preparing for a trip；
when Big Alec stepped aboard。 Carmintel evidently knew him； for
they shook hands in recognition。 Big Alec took no notice of
Charley or me。
〃I've come down to fish sturgeon a couple of months；〃 he said to
Carmintel。
His eyes flashed with challenge as he spoke； and we noticed the
patrolman's eyes drop before him。
〃That's all right； Alec；〃 Carmintel said in a low voice。 〃I'll not
bother you。 Come on into the cabin； and we'll talk things over；〃
he added。
When they had gone inside and shut the doors after them； Charley
winked with slow deliberation at me。 But I was only a youngster；
and new to men and the ways of some men； so I did not understand。
Nor did Charley explain； though I felt there was something wrong
about the business。
Leaving them to their conference； at Charley's suggestion we
boarded our skiff and pulled over to the Old Steamboat Wharf； where
Big Alec's ark was lying。 An ark is a house…boat of small though
comfortable dimensions； and is as necessary to the Upper Bay
fisherman as are nets and boats。 We were both curious to see Big
Alec's ark； for history said that it had been the scene of more
than one pitched battle； and that it was riddled with bullet…holes。
We found the holes （stopped with wooden plugs and painted over）；
but there were not so many as I had expected。 Charley noted my
look of disappointment； and laughed； and then to comfort me he gave
an authentic account of one expedition which had descended upon Big
Alec's floating home to capture him； alive preferably； dead if
necessary。 At the end of half a day's fighting； the patrolmen had
drawn off in wrecked boats； with one of their number killed and
three wounded。 And when they returned next morning with
reinforcements they found only the mooring…stakes of Big Alec's
ark； the ark itself remained hidden for months in the fastnesses of
the Suisun tules。
〃But why was he not hanged for murder？〃 I demanded。 〃Surely the
United States is powerful enough to bring such a man to justice。〃
〃He gave himself up and stood trial；〃 Charley answered。 〃It cost
him fifty thousand dollars to win the case； which he did on
technicalities and with the aid of the best lawyers in the state。
Every Greek fisherman on the river contributed to the sum。 Big
Alec levied and collected the tax； for all the world like a king。
The United States may be all…powerful； my lad； but the fact remains
that Big Alec is a king inside the United States； with a country
and subjects all his own。〃
〃But what are you going to do about his fishing for sturgeon？ He's
bound to fish with a 'Chinese line。'〃
Charley shrugged his shoulders。 〃We'll see what we will see；〃 he
said enigmatically。
Now a 〃Chinese line〃 is a cunning device invented by the people
whose name it bears。 By a simple system of floats； weights； and
anchors； thousands of hooks； each on a separate leader； are
suspended at a distance of from six inches to a foot above the
bottom。 The remarkable thing about such a line is the hook。 It is
barbless； and in place of the barb； the hook is filed long and
tapering to a point as sharp as that of a needle。 These hoods are
only a few inches apart； and when several thousand of them are
suspended just above the bottom； like a fringe； for a couple of
hundred fathoms； they present a formidable obstacle to the fish
that travel along the bottom。
Such a fish is the sturgeon； which goes rooting along like a pig；
and indeed is often called 〃pig…fish。〃 Pricked by the first hook
it touches； the sturgeon gives a startled leap and comes into
contact with half a dozen more hooks。 Then it threshes about
wildly； until it receives hook after hook in its soft flesh； and
the hooks； straining from many different angles； hold the luckless
fish fast until it is drowned。 Because no sturgeon can pass
through a Chinese line； the device is called a trap in the fish
laws； and because it bids fair to exterminate the sturgeon； it is
branded by the fish laws as illegal。 And such a line； we were
confident； Big Alec inten