“Where’ll he beach?” he asked sharply.
The half-breed pointed down at the wide foreshore on the south side of the river mouth.
“He mak that beach,” the man replied promptly. Then he pointed down at the northern beach where his own boat was still lying. “I mak him dis way. But I know. I sail him all time by the headland. So I slip him current, an’ mak quick shelter by the headland. Big ship not slip him current. Oh, no, he mak so.” He swung an outstretched arm from right to left, indicating a great sweep across the bay. “He full current. An’——”
“Sasa.”
“Yep, boss.”
“Can we signal from that headland?”
The half-breed’s eyes widened.
“Wo’ for we signal. It no good sure. Him crazy white man not understand nothing. Him ship in the Death Current. He go on. Oh, yes. Crazy white man break all up bimeby.” He shrugged. “It all same all time. Same lak that other who look into caves an’ climb rocks. I see him one time mak right out to sea in canoe only built for river. Him current tak him. I get him with my boat. I tak him back. He not say nothing but curse me for a black son-of-a-bitch. Sure he all break up bimeby.”
The doomed vessel was crashing on at terrific speed. Already it was looming large as it approached the headland. And now, as it drew nearer, its yawing became more and more pronounced. For some moments no one spoke while they contemplated the wretched vessel’s impending fate. Then, as her high bows disappeared behind the upstanding belt of the headland, McLagan turned on his contemptuous servant.
“Who’s the feller you’re talking about? The feller who looks into caves and climbs rocks?” he asked sharply.