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As he caught at the rail for support he saw the flames leap skyward, blackened by smoke and bits of timber. The waves burned brightly about the settling hull. Then came the sound of the explosion of the Florence's second tank. "Mascola's broken through. Can't you hear me? Are you hurt?" Gregory staggered to the seat and dropped beside the girl. "I'll be all right in a minute," he said.
Gregory measured the distance which separated him from the advancing Italian. Faintly to his ears came the sound of creaking boards behind him. Perhaps Mascola's men were pressing in from the rear. He dared not look to see. His eyes were held by Mascola's crooked arm. That was what he must grab and break. Mascola's dark eyes, shining with anger, flashed over Gregory's shoulder to the door beyond.
The isolation of the island was threatened by the increasing activities of the American fleet in that vicinity. Mascola's opportunity was only a means to an end. Gregory's frown deepened. What Rock and Bandrist were doing at Diablo concerned him in itself, not at all. In so far as it related to Mascola's interference, however, it was all-important.
First came a true account of the fight with Mascola's men on the beach which had ended in the decisive victory for the service men. Followed, in chronological order, a review of past interferences suffered by the American fishermen at the hands of the foreigners.
And while we're on the subject I'll say that I intend to run it as I please. Neither myself nor my men are seeking trouble with Mascola's foreigners. But I'll tell you here and now that we are prepared to fight, if need be, for what the law says we can have. We want only a square deal, Mr. Rock, and you can take it from me we are going to get it."
Lay to, Tom, and we'll pull them aboard with mine." The fisherman drew alongside the row of bobbing corks with a grim smile playing about his lips. "Have to rustle," he observed. "You know how Mascola's boats follow up." The girl tossed her head. "I don't care if his whole fleet comes along. And him with them. I'm going to make him pay me for those fish Boris stole from my nets.
The girl took a quick step backward and covered Mascola's waist-line with the automatic. "You'll go now," she said. Turning to Gregory she added: "Tell him you'll pay him down-town." Gregory picked up the Italian's knife before replying: "I'll be at the bank at two," he said, making no move to comply with Mascola's request for his weapon. Mascola clenched his hands. His face grew red with passion.
"I want you to move," Mascola said thickly. "My men were here first. Plenty of fish at San Anselmo. Many as here. If you go to the other island there will be no trouble." "And if we stay?" Mascola's passenger looked up quickly at Gregory's words, and the light fell full upon his face. It was Bandrist. "I hope you will not decide to stay," he said slowly.
She's about a mile off the goose-neck. They're going to land in the next cove. The Gray Ghost's at anchor now off the isthmus cove. Mascola's speed-boat passed them in the fog about an hour ago. He's lying in somewhere farther down." He rose as he spoke and began to wreck the radio set. "Tie those fellows up good, Jack," he instructed Billings. "We don't want to be bothered with them down below.
It takes a lot of power to put her on her 'high horse. But once she's there, she makes her speed on a minimum of horse-power. That's why we bank on the Richard to beat the Fuor d'Italia. Your boat is heavier than Mascola's, closer ribbed, but you have more power. We're backing this one against his in any weather and the rougher it is the better it will suit us." Gregory glowed with satisfaction.
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