"We fired back at three Chinamen who fired on us from a boat."
"Sailboat—rowboat?"
"Rowboat. Didn't you hear the sound of oars?"
"Yes, yes! I am so rattled that I hardly know what I'm saying. What on earth shall we do?"
"We have to look after our captured opium, too. You remain here, Harry, and Leggett can stop with you. I'll run the stuff around into the India Basin and make sure of it. Don't you go doing the disappearance act now."
"Same to you, governor. Oh, these Chinks! I wish we might never have another mix-up with them."
Old King Brady made no reply, but hastily descended to the launch, which towed the captured sailboat to a bonded warehouse on the India Basin, where Secret Service men were waiting to receive them.
It was daybreak before he got back to the Islais Creek Channel again.
The fog had vanished with the night, and a hot August wind was blowing the sand about after the usual San Francisco style.
Harry and the Secret Service man were standing on the bulkhead.