The foreign ships rode at anchor, so that the bombs and torpedoes could be set off by means of a wire charged with electricity instead of the time fuses.
"They shall all go up together," said the young captain. "It will be the greatest blow-up of the age."
Again he sent word ashore, stating that all Americans must keep away from the water front between the hours of seven and eight o'clock the next morning.
At midnight the Holland began to move around the bottom of Honolulu harbor, adjusting the torpedoes and bombs.
The bombs were concealed in seaweed and floated on top of the water, close beside the ships they were to destroy.
By six o'clock in the morning every instrument of destruction was in position, and all attached to the fatal electric wire.
Those on board of the Holland were exhausted by their work, yet nobody thought of going to sleep.
An early breakfast was had and then the Holland ran out of the harbor as far as the length of the electric wire permitted.
Watching the foreign ships, Captain Oscar saw the sailors stirring and then heard the roll-calls sounding.
The warships were crowded with Chinese, Japanese and Russians.