The half-breed shrugged without withdrawing his gaze from where the vessel was disappearing behind the headland.
“How, I say? I not know. He come down the river out of the hills. What you call him? All white mans say him Li-as, yes? Indian man say him Devil River. Oh, yes, he come this way. I see him one, two, three time this man while I fish. He not see me, only one time. Maybe he fish. I not know. Plenty fish by Devil River. Oh, yes. Say, look, him come as I say. See? The Death Current take him. So. See?”
He pointed. His narrow eyes were alight with something almost like joy as the bows of the vessel cleared the headland and the doomed ship raced on for the far beach.
“It much big tide. Oh, yes. He go right up to the big rocks. Bimeby the tide fall. Then us go find plenty thing. Food, clothes, blanket. All thing dead white man not need more. So. I——”
“Quit it, you darn thief!” McLagan’s eyes were furious as he turned on his ghoulish henchman. “And you’ll stay right here and not move a step till Mr. Loby and I get back. You’re nothing but a dirty scum of a half-breed. And if I get you near that wreck without my permission I’ll take you right in to Beacon and get you hanged.”
He turned to Peter.
“It’s no good, boy. I can’t stand it. We’ve got to do something. Poor devils, they’re surely doomed! Come on. Maybe we can help some. We’ll go right on down. We’ll get Sasa’s boat and ferry across to where she’ll hit that beach. I——”
“I go too, boss.”
Sasa was no longer contemplating the wreck he had hoped to enjoy. His attitude had suddenly become one of pleading.
“You not mak that crossing without me,” he urged. “I know. Him my boat, an’ I sail him good plenty. You my good boss. You drown sure you sail him, my boat. I come. Yes? I not tak white man’s blankets. His food. His——”