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him； he dashed down into the ditch and up to the crest again after
Captain Bunker。 But he had completely disappeared。 A little
lagoon； making in from the bay； on which a small fishing…boat was
riding； and a solitary fisherman mending his nets on the muddy
shore a few feet from it； were all that was to be seen。
He was turning back； when he saw the object of his search creeping
from some reeds； on all fours； with a stealthy； panther…like
movement towards the unconscious fisherman。 Before Hurlstone could
utter a cry； Bunker had sprung upon the unfortunate man； thrown him
to the earth； rapidly rolled him over and over； enwrapping him hand
and foot in his own net； and involving him hopelessly in its
meshes。 Tossing the helpless victimwho was apparently too
stupefied to call outto one side； he was rushing towards the boat
when； with a single bound； Hurlstone reached his side and laid his
hand upon his shoulder。
〃Captain Bunker； for God's sake！ what are you doing？〃
Captain Bunker turned slowly and without apparent concern towards
his captor。 Hurlstone fell back before the vacant； lack…lustre
eyes that were fixed upon him。
〃Captain Bunker's my name；〃 said the madman； in a whisper。 〃Lemuel
Bunker； of Nantucket！ Hush！ don't waken him；〃 pointing to the
prostrate fisherman； 〃I've put him to sleep。 I'm Captain Bunker
old drunken Bunkerwho stole one ship from her owners； and
disgraced himself； and now is going to steal anotherha； ha！ Let
me go。〃
〃Captain Bunker；〃 said Hurlstone； recovering himself in time to
prevent the maniac from dashing into the water。 〃Look at me。
Don't you know me？〃
〃Yes； yes； you're one of old Bunker's dogs kicked overboard by
Perkins。 I'm one of Perkins' dogs gone mad； and locked up by
Perkins！ Ha； ha！ But I got out！ Hush！ SHE let me out。 SHE
thought I was going to see the boys at San Antonio。 But I'm going
off to see the old barque out there in the fog。 I'm going to chuck
Perkins overboard and the two mates。 Let me go。〃
He struggled violently。 Hurlstone； fearful of quitting his hold to
release the fisherman； whom Captain Bunker no longer noticed； and
not daring to increase the Captain's fury by openly calling to him；
beckoned the pinioned man to make an effort。 But； paralyzed by
fear； the wretched captive remained immovable； staring at the
struggling men。 With the strength of desperation Hurlstone at last
forced the Captain down upon his knees。
〃Listen； Captain！ We'll go togetheryou understand。 I'll help
youbut we must get a larger boat firstyou know。〃
〃But they won't give it；〃 said Captain Bunker mysteriously。
〃Didn't you hear the Councilthe ownersthe underwriters say： 'He
lost his ship； he's ruined and disgraced； for rum； all for rum！'
And we want rum； you know； and it's all over there； in the
Excelsior's locker！〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 said Hurlstone soothingly； 〃but there's more in the
bigger boat。 Come with me。 We'll let the man loose； and we'll
make him show us his bigger boat。〃
It was an unfortunate suggestion； for the Captain； who had listened
with an insane chuckle； and allowed himself to be taken lightly by
the hand； again caught sight of the prostrate fisherman。 A yell
broke from himhis former frenzy returned。 With a cry of
〃Treachery！ all hands on deck！〃 he threw off Hurlstone and rushed
into the water。
〃Help！〃 cried the young man； springing after him； 〃It is madness。
He will kill himself！〃
The water was shallow； they were both wading； they both reached the
boat at the same time； but the Captain had scrambled into the
stern…sheets； and cast loose the painter； as Hurlstone once more
threw his arms about him。
〃Hear me； Captain。 I'll go with you。 Listen！ I know the way
through the fog。 You understand： I'll pilot you！〃 He was
desperate； but no longer from despair of himself； but of another；
he was reckless； but only to save a madman from the fate that but a
moment before he had chosen for himself。
Captain Bunker seemed to soften。 〃Get in for'ard；〃 he said； in a
lower voice。 Hurlstone released his grasp； but still clinging to
the boat； which had now drifted into deeper water； made his way to
the bow。 He was climbing over the thwarts when a horrified cry
from the fisherman ashore and a jarring laugh in his ear caused him
to look up。 But not in time to save himself！ The treacherous
maniac had suddenly launched a blow from an oar at the unsuspecting
man as he was rising to his knees。 It missed his head； but fell
upon his arm and shoulder； precipitating him violently into the sea。
Stunned by the shock； he sank at first like lead to the bottom。
When he rose again； with his returning consciousness； he could see
that Captain Bunker had already hoisted sail； and； with the
assistance of his oars； was rapidly increasing his distance from
the shore。 With his returning desperation he turned to strike out
after him； but groaned as his one arm sank powerless to his side。
A few strokes showed him the madness of the attempt； a few more
convinced him that he himself could barely return to the shore。 A
sudden torpor had taken possession of himhe was sinking！
With this thought； a struggle for life began； and this man who had
just now sought death so eagerlywith no feeling of inconsistency；
with no physical fear of dissolution； with only a vague； blind；
dogged determination to live for some unknown purposea
determination as vague and dogged as his former ideas of self…
destructionsummoned all his energies to reach the shore。 He
struck out wildly； desperately； once or twice he thought he felt
his feet touch the bottom； only to find himself powerlessly dragged
back towards the sea。 With a final superhuman effort he gained at
last a foothold on the muddy strand； and； half scrambling； half
crawling； sank exhaustedly beside the fisherman's net。 But the
fisherman was gone！ He attempted again to rise to his feet； but a
strange dizziness attacked him。 The darkening landscape； with its
contracting wall of fog； the gloomy flat； the still； pale sea； as
yet unruffled by the faint land breeze that was slowly wafting the
escaping boat into the shadowy offingall swam round him！ Through
the roaring in his ears he thought he heard drumbeats； and the
fanfare of a trumpet； and voices。 The next moment he had lost all
consciousness。
When he came to； he was lying in the guard…room of the Presidio。
Among the group of people who surrounded him he recognized the
gaunt features of the Commander； the sympathetic eyes of Father
Esteban； and the fisherman who had disappeared。 When he rose on
his elbow； and attempted to lift himself feebly； the fisherman；
with a cry of gratitude； threw himself on his knees； and kissed his
helpless hand。
〃He lives； he lives！ your Excellencies！ Saints be praised； he
lives！ The herothe brave Americanothe noble caballero who
delivered me from the madman。〃
〃Who are you？ and w