第 3 节
作者:暖暖      更新:2021-02-27 02:31      字数:9322
  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 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