Страница 325 из 416

The situation had resolved itself into a race between the

schooners, and Ellinwood was of no mind to come off second best.

Like a jockey before a race, he watched his rivals.

He knew that foxy Bijonah Tanner, who sometimes looked like an

old hump-backed cod himself, was his most dangerous rival. Tanner

said nothing, but his boats were out early and in late, and the

lanterns on his deck over the dressing pens could sometimes be

seen as late as ten o'clock at night.

Visits among the fleet had now ceased, both because there was no

time for it, and because a man from another schooner was looked

upon as a spy.

At the start of the season it had been expected that Nat Burns in

the Nettie B. would prove a strong contender for premier honors,

but, because of his ceaseless efforts to drive home his revenge,

Nat had done very little fishing and therefore could not possibly

be in the market.