the inexperience of chief gilbertson 's force was evident in the futile efforts of officers tcheda and stevens to turn back the numbers of those citizens eager to witness for themselves the latest evidence of the fisherman 's insanity ... ah , something , something , then : but this journalist was able to place himself at the heart of the scene , where he felt proud and humbled to serve as the eyes and ears of his readers ... wendell hates to lose such splendid stuff , but he can not be sure he will remember it , and he does not dare to take the risk of being overheard .