“American!” he said; then turning to Lieutenant Edwards, added:
“Try her on the wireless!”
“No reply,” came the answer from the wireless room a few moments later.
Still the ships continued to draw nearer to each other.
Suddenly the American flag at the masthead of the stranger fluttered down, and a moment later the German colors were run up in its stead.
At the same moment a loud boom sounded from across the water, and there was a great splash in the water behind the Sylph.
The wireless operator approached Lord Hastings:
“A message from the German, sir!” he said.
Lord Hastings took the slip of paper extended to him, and read aloud:
“Surrender, or we shall blow you out of the water!”