"We didn't try, madam," said the captain. "We fired those guns to notify the Pioneer we had encountered the raider."
"Well, why didn't you shoot at her?" demanded Mrs. Wheaton.
Captain Stoneman was about to make an angry retort, but restrained himself with a visible effort.
The raider's boat scraped alongside the Algonquin.
"Throw down a ladder here," said a voice in English, though with a heavy German accent.
Captain Stoneman growled ominously, but he ordered the command obeyed.
A moment later a German naval officer appeared on deck. He was closely
followed by half a dozen other figures. The officer approached Captain
Stoneman.
"You are the commander of this vessel?" he asked.
"I am," was the reply. "What of it?"
"You'd best keep a civil tongue in your head," said the German.
"What's your destination, and the nature of your cargo?"
"Buenos Ayres; oil," growled the captain, answering both questions briefly.