ons to the letter. No acts of violence had as yet been
committed by any of the American crews. The ex-sailors, though chafing
at their inaction, had assumed the defensive throughout.

The next thing was to arrange to oppose Mascola's next move.

"Whatever he does, he's got to do mighty quick," observed Dickie as the
_Richard_ nosed her way among the albacore fishermen. "It's roughing up
in the last five minutes and the glass is falling all the time."

"There's only one thing he can do, as near as I can figure," Gregory
answered. "And that's to come down the harbor channel and hit us from
the stern. If he does that," he added quickly, "we'll have to be careful
not to block the sea-way leading into the harbor. My idea is to move
farther up. Then if the blow does come, we can go out with the wind and
sea through the north channel."

"That's our best bet, unless it's a nor'wester," she agreed. "We've got
to keep a way out clear or Mascola will crowd us on the rocks."

The captains of the fishing-boats reported their craft to be better than
half laden when the _Richard_ arrived alongside. The fish were still
running strong. In another hour, without interference, they might be
loaded. At Gregory's direction the albacore fishermen began cruising
toward the north channel.

The next thing to do was to marshal the fleet to withstand Mascola's
attack from the rear. Owing to the extreme wideness of the waterway,
the Italian's boats would now have a better chance. The V must be
broadened by the boats hitherto held in reserve. They must be brought up
at once. The rising wind and the roughening sea, added to Gregory's
inexperience in handling the speed-boat, rendered the mobilization of
the cannery fleet not only slow, but extremely hazardous as well.

Before his left end defense was complete, Mascola was bearing down upon
his center.

CHAPTER XXIV

A FIGHTING CHANCE

Mascola's boats advanced warily, spreading out and covering off the
defending fleet as they came. It would be a boat to boat, man to man
fight in the darkness.

Head-on, the opposing fleets collided with a crash which twisted their
keels and racked their timbers. Lights merged together and became
stationary as hull locked with hull in a grinding embrace. The alien
crews swarmed to the decks and leaped across the rail upon the American
sailors who surged forward to meet them. Fists flashed in the darkness.
Men met hand to hand. The night was filled wi