“That’s what I am,” “Shine” admitted, with bravado. “I’m a ‘Jigger’ all right, but I ain’t a back-sticker, any more’n half the other fullahs I know--an’ they didn’t ask us before they put up their deal with the Commissioner, if yuh want to know.” The chief’s dignity would not let him discuss such matters with a man in the ranks. He said, “Shut off your nozzles there, now. You’re putting too much water on that deck”--and walked away without further remark. “Shine” said, under his voice, to Cripps: “That’ll hold _him_ fer a while.” Cripps replied, with a convincing oath, “It’s true, too.” A hole had been cut in the hatch below, and a denser smoke rose from it. There was nothing to do now but wait for the six-inch line to drown out the smolder; and Cripps and “Shine” waited, standing with their pipe. “Watch that ladder,” “Shine” whispered. “Doherty’ll be tryin’ to make his sneak while its thick up here.” A moment later, he yelled suddenly: “Yah!” And dropping his pipe, he ran to fling himself on Doherty as the ex-fireman leaped out of the smoke. They rolled together on the deck. “Hold that man,” the chief ordered, as the crew tore the fighting “Shine” from his enemy. They lifted Doherty to his feet and backed him against the winch. “The police’ll want him for interfering with firemen in the discharge of their duties.” He turned to the four “Jiggers.” “I want you men to appear in court against him, understand?... That’ll do _you_,” he said to “Shine.” “Go back to your place.” “Shine” went back to his place, licking his lips, with a venomous grin. The rest of the fire was merely an affair of “standing fast” while the six-inch line flooded the hold; and in half an hour “the job” was done. The German first officer and his men took charge of Doherty and agreed to turn him over to the police as soon as their boat tied up to the pier; and to them was left the work, too, of returning the wild animals to their cages. The firemen were free to pick up their lines and return to the _Hudson_, chaffing “Shine.” “That’s all right,” he swaggered. “I’m a li’n-tamer, all right, all right.” “Yuh’re not much on polar bears,” they told him. He retorted delicately, “Yuh can’t train a brute that’s got no sense. Polar bears are like youse guys. They’re holler in the cocoa.” “It was _you_ that did the hollerin’.” “I was callin’ you fullahs on. I seen yuh was a-scared to come.” “The hell yuh say! Conlin in the lion’s den. Y’ought to set up a show down on Coney.” “Shine” winced at that thrust. “Never mind,” he said, with a curse. “I done fer Doherty!” Cripps drew him aside. “Are yuh goin’ t’ appear against Doherty?” “Well, _am_ I!” he cried. “Watch me! I wish t’ell it was a murder case, that’s all! An’ if you an’ Moore won’t stan’ by me, yuh can go--” “That’s all right,” Cripps put in hastily. “We’ll stan’ by yuh, ‘Shine’.” “Yuh _better_!” “Shine” said. The other men kept discreetly silent, and the boat turned back for the run down the river. XXV