on his arm.

"I'm sorry," he began. But Mascola's open muffler drowned his words and
the _Fuor d'Italia_ leaped away into the darkness.

"Mascola's drunk," commented Dickie, looking after them. "Otherwise, he
would never have talked like that. It's a wonder Bandrist ever mixed up
with him." She turned about and confronted Gregory. Behind him were
Hawkins, Bronson and the crew of the _Curlew_. "This means we've got to
move," she exclaimed. "We'd better round up the bunch, give them their
positions and start fishing."

Gregory and the girl climbed into the _Richard_, calling to Bronson to
follow.

"Tell 'Sparks' to send word to Howard to beat it out with the _Pelican_
right away," Gregory instructed Hawkins. Then he exclaimed to Dickie as
she took her seat beside him: "It looks like Mascola was spoiling for a
fight. And if he is I'll say he's due for the surprise of his life."

CHAPTER XXII

STRICTLY ON THE DEFENSIVE

The _Richard_ was in motion before the echoes of the _Fuor d'Italia's_
gatlin-like exhaust had died away. Directing Bronson to take them
alongside each of the vessels which composed the fleet, Gregory and
Dickie Lang boarded the fishing vessels and conferred with the
respective captains. Gregory's instructions were phrased with military
directness.

Every launch was assigned a definite position which it was to assume at
once and hold at all cost. The fleet was divided into three divisions.
The main unit, comprising the vessels equipped with the live-bait tanks,
were to begin "chumming" at once within a given area. As soon as
practicable, fishing was to commence. The second division, made up for
the most part of the heavier, Diesel-motored vessels, was to lay to in V
formation about the fishermen to protect them from interference in the
direction from which the fish were running. The remainder of the fleet
were to stand by as a rearguard, cover the extreme flanks and maintain a
reserve.

Before taking leave of each craft as it left to go to its new position,
Gregory briefly addressed the crew: "Get this, fellows. We're here to
fish. Not to fight. If trouble comes, let Mascola start it. If he does,
I expect you to hold your positions. Keep in the clear and use no
firearms. Remember, what you do to-night, binds me. Play safe. Keep
cool. But get the fish."

To a man, the ex-sailors understood the seriousness of the situation,
though there were some who argued against the poor fighting policy