ng demand for the fresh product.

Gregory's bank balance began to mount. The financial sky was unclouded.
Success loomed bright upon the horizon.

In the hey-day of prosperity, no one noticed the faint clouds which
crept upward from the sky-line. Storm-signals fluttered feebly and were
passed by unheeded. Then Mr. Dupont, of Winfield & Camby, sounded the
warning.

"You're not getting enough fish," he exclaimed on one of his periodical
visits to Legonia. "I'm building up a demand for your product which is
fast becoming national. The way things are going now, you will not be
able to supply it. Then I'll be out of pocket for my advertising. I'm
cutting into your surplus every day. In two weeks you'll be down to
bed-rock. What are you going to do about it?"

As Gregory considered the question, Mr. Dupont answered for him: "You've
got to have more boats. If you haven't the money to tie up in them right
now, I'll back you and take a mortgage on your plant. I'm willing to
stick by you and back you to the limit. But you've got to furnish the
goods."

Gregory made up his mind quickly. Dupont was right. Things were coming
his way with a rush. What was the use of losing all he had gained by
pursuing a policy of playing safe and "shooting nickels"? Men who made
fortunes on the sea had to take chances. It grayed their hair and seamed
their faces with premature lines. But that was part of the game,--the
toll which the sea demanded.

"All right," he said. "Let's get down to business. I'll go back to the
city with you and we'll fix things up. I know of some boats I can lease
while Barrows is building the others. Let's go."

From the arrival of the new craft which went to make up the greater
cannery fleet, misfortune stalked grimly in its wake. Fishing was
universally poor. The boats were forced to cruise wide areas in order to
supply fish enough for the cannery and Service Market. Areas which
placed them beyond reach of the radio and gave Mascola his chance. The
Italian struck without warning. Angered by the loss of his prestige,
strengthened by his augmented fleet, he began to hector the extreme
outposts beyond reach of the wireless.

Then ensued a long period of stormy weather. Owing to new and
inexperienced crews and the increasing interference of Mascola's men, a
number of Gregory's vessels were wrecked on the island shores and
salvaged with great difficulty and expense. With the extended radius of
his operations, overhea