“I don’t think she’ll do it until after she has taken us passengers off,” replied Gilbert. “It wouldn’t be right.”
Slowly the warship came closer, and the captain of the steamer watched her eagerly through his glasses.
“She doesn’t look like a Russian,” he said slowly. “But she may be, nevertheless.”
At last all doubts were dispelled, for the flag swung around broadside to the steamer. It was the Union Jack of England.
“Hurrah!” shouted Gilbert. “That lets us down easily.”
“Yes, and I must say I am not sorry,” returned Captain Okopa. “I wish another chance to fight on land.”
Soon the English warship was within hailing distance. She wished to know if the steamer had seen anything of a British merchantman named the Defender.
“Haven’t seen or heard of her,” was the reply. “For what port was she bound?” But the Englishman would not answer this question, and soon the warship swung around and was lost to sight, steaming westward.
“There is going to be great trouble for some merchantmen,” said Captain Okopa to Gilbert. “If they carry contraband of war, they are liable to be sunk.”
“By either nation, I suppose.”