ABOARD THE STRANGER
It was the steamer Gloucester that the Vaterland had sighted and which had heaved to in response to the Vaterland's shot across her bow. The Gloucester was a small steamer, more on the order of a pleasure yacht than a freight vessel.
In one of the cabins, as the vessel came to, sat a man in an invalid chair. Beside him stood a huge negro.
"See what the trouble is, Tom," ordered the invalid as the ship's engines stopped.
The negro hurried on deck, but was back in a few minutes, breathing excitedly.
"It's the raider, suh," he said. "The Vaterland."
"Good!" said the man in the invalid's chair. "Wheel me on deck, Tom."
The negro did as ordered. There the invalid passed the word for the captain, who came toward him.
"Yes, sir," said Captain Tucker, saluting.
"The vessel ahead, I understand," said the invalid, "is the Vaterland?"