"Of course he does not belong to the ship?"
"Oh no--at least, I think--but speak to him yourself."
The General went up to the "Indefatigable."
"I am told, sir, that you are a sailor."
"I am."
"Navigating officer?"
"Merchant captain: Reinhold Schmidt."
"My name is General von Werben. I should be much obliged to you, sir, if you would give me your opinion, as a sailor, upon our situation; of course in strict confidence. I should be sorry to ask you to give evidence against a comrade, or in any way to shake his authority, which we may still possibly stand much in need of. Is the captain, in your opinion, to blame for our mishap?"
"Yes and no, General. No, because the charts by which, according to rule, we must be guided, show a channel in this place. The charts were right, too, till within the last few years. Since then there has been a great deal of silting up, and also, in consequence of the west wind which has prevailed for some weeks, the water has been constantly falling. More prudent men avoid this spot on that account. I, for my part, should have avoided it."
"Good! And what do you think of our situation? Are we in danger? or are we likely to be in danger?"