ugh it any more with this one," Bronson commented.
"I reckon when he looks over his boat it'll mean a job for the shop
putting in a few ribs."

Mascola returned to his fleet, his cheeks burning with rage. In the
first preliminary skirmish with the enemy, he realized he had been
beaten. He had found out nothing of value. Had damaged his boat too, no
doubt. Well, he'd make somebody pay for it before morning. Circling his
boats, he gave orders for an immediate advance in the direction of the
cannery fleet.

Kenneth Gregory looked after the departing lights of the _Fuor
d'Italia_.

"Score one for the invaders of Bandrist's island," he said grimly.
"Mascola didn't learn much on his reconnoitering expedition, except that
we had a better boat than his." Then he turned to Bronson. "Take us up
to the other end," he instructed. "I want to tell the boys to keep as
close in as they can so Mascola's boats will have to skirt the reef to
get by."

When they arrived at the indicated spot and the V broadened according to
orders, the lights of the alien fleet could be discerned moving toward
them.

"Here they come," announced Dickie Lang. "Looks as if they were going to
try to crowd in from the north side."

Gregory smiled. "That's just what I want them to do," he answered. "One
of the benefits of reconnoitering is to get an idea of just what you're
going into. If Mascola had taken a good look, he wouldn't have come that
way."

CHAPTER XXIII

BATTLE OF NORTHWEST HARBOR

Convoyed by his fishing fleet, Mascola came steadily on. Cruising to the
seaward of the cannery boats he circled, laid to and critically surveyed
the bobbing lights in the narrow channel which was flanked on both sides
by saw-toothed reefs. The fish were coming from the north and west.
Doubtless the American fisherman already had them well "chummed up" with
their live bait. He would force an entrance among the cannery boats if
they did not give way and take their school. He had done it before. It
was simple enough. Directing his boats to follow, he led them on.

Kenneth Gregory stood in the bow of the _Pelican_ with a megaphone and
directed the position of the boats which made up his first line of
defense. His plan of keeping Mascola away from his fishing fleet was
nothing more or less than just straight football formation, with an
augmented line to withstand the opposing pressure. The _Pelican_ formed
the center of the wedge. To her right and left f