One of the warships was supposed to be the Chinese cruiser Green Dragon.
"We'll soon find out if it is the Green Dragon," said Oscar, grimly.
But, alas! just as they wished to crowd on all power, something got the matter with the machinery and they had to lay-to two days for repairs.
It was very hot, for they were not far from the equator, and so they lay on the top of the ocean, with the trap-door open day and night.
By the second night the repairs were almost completed and George Dross announced that they would be ready to continue their voyage by ten o'clock the next day.
All had worked hard over the machinery, especially Oscar and Andy, and were much exhausted in consequence.
The young captain and his lieutenant retired and were soon in the land of dreams, and George Dross, Marney and several others followed, leaving only Walton on guard.
It was a dark night and so close that it made Walton sleepy. He sat on the companionway ladder smoking, but soon his head began to nod, and though he didn't fall asleep he was not as alert as he might have been.
In the meantime from shore there had put off a long Spanish cutter containing ten of the most daring Spanish and Italian naval men and sailors to be found anywhere.
Slowly and silently the cutter crept up to the Holland XI. and the leader of the party, Captain Roquez, stepped on the tiny deck of the submarine craft.