* * * * *
The end had not yet come however. The midget fleet must not escape.
So now, although she was somewhat damaged, the Breezy put on all speed in order to meet the Americans as quickly as possible, and hold a conference, and in about an hour's time the two nations, Britain and America, were exchanging salutes.
When Captain Breezy of H.M.S. Breezy went on board the Niagara, he found the Captain of the Delaware there already, and Captain Breezy, wasting as few words as possible, told the whole sad story, and it was unanimously agreed that something must be done at once.
"There is no doubt," said Breezy, "that the Lamoo fleet will get back to their own Sultan as soon as possible, and there is only one way for them to get there, they must cross the bar one by one, and," he continued, "it is better, in my opinion, that we should sail for the mouth of that river and wait their appearance. Their sailing south was only to avoid meeting you. They will make a wide détour after they are out of sight, and come straight for the equatorial coast again."
This was agreed to. A steam launch was sent back to Zanzibar to advise the consuls as to their movements.
They were going on a punitive expedition now--that was the message--they were to be found near to the mouth of the river, and should a torpedo boat or destroyer come in as well as the large man o' war which had been signalled, the former were to come to the river's mouth, the latter to lie at Zanzibar to defend it.
CHAPTER XIX
KEP COMMANDS A DHOW. A DEPOSED SULTAN
The weather was now splendid, and the sea smooth and blue like the sky itself. Just a snow-flake of a cloud here and there, and that was all.