“I cannot say yes, nor can I deny it,” he answered.
“Then your name is not really Captain Von Blusen?”
The captain smiled and bowed, but made no reply.
“Captain,” she said quietly, “for by such name only can we know you now, we should, of course, be honored with your confidence, but if you cannot speak at this time, I for one shall ask you no questions.”
Captain Von Blusen took her hand and bent over it gallantly.
“I thank you, Miss Ashton,” he replied quietly. “Some day I hope to be able to confide in you.”
He bowed to the others, and turning sharply on his heel, made his way to the side of the ship and clambered over the rail.
Now the passengers hurried to the side of the ship, and gazed with something like awe at the boat that made swiftly for the German cruiser.
Captain Anderson did not give the signal to get under way until the cruiser’s launch was being hoisted aboard, when there broke out from the cruiser a salvo of guns.