Blow the Man Down - A Romance of the Coast

Then, turning from a look at the compass, he saw that the yacht's owner

was on the bridge. Half of an un-lighted cigar, which was soggy with the

dampness of the fog, plugged Marston's-mouth.

He scowled when the captain saluted.

"You needn't bother to talk now," the millionaire broke in when

Mayo began an explanation of his delay in obeying the call to the

quarter-deck. "When I have anything to say to a man I want his undivided

attention. Is this fog going to hold on?"

"Yes, sir, until the wind hauls more to the norrard."

"Then anchor."

"I am heading into Saturday Cove now, sir."

"Anchor here."

"I'm looking for considerably more than a capful of wind when it comes,

sir. It isn't prudent to anchor offshore."

Marston grunted and turned away. He stood at the end of the bridge,

chewing on the cigar, until the Olenia was in the harbor with mudhook

set. Mayo twitched the jingle bell, signaling release to the engineer.

"I am at your service, sir," he reported, walking to the owner.

Marston rolled the plugging cigar to a corner of his mouth and inquired,

"Now, young man, tell me what you mean by saluting a Bee line steamer

with my whistle?"

"I did not salute the Conomo, sir."

"You gave her three whistles."

"Yes, but--"

"You're on a gentleman's yacht now, young man, and not on a

fishing-steamer. Yachting etiquette doesn't allow a steam-whistle to

be sounded in salute. Mr. Beveridge has just looked it up for me, and I

know, and you need not assume any of your important knowledge." Marston

seemed to be displaying much more irritation than a small matter

warranted. But what he added afforded more light on the subject. "The

manager of the Bee line was on board that steamer. You heard him hoot

that siren at me!"

"I heard him give me cross-signals in defiance of the rules of the road,

sir."

"Didn't you know that he whistled at me as an insult--as a sneer?"

"I heard only ordinary signals, sir."

"Everything is ordinary to a sailor's observation! You allowed him to

crowd you off your course. You made a spectacle of my yacht, splashing

it around like a frightened duck."

"I was avoiding collision, sir."

"You should have made your bigness with my yacht! You sneaked and dodged

like a fishing-boat skipper. Was it on a fishing-boat you were trained

to those tricks?"