Next moment they marched out with marvellous coolness and soon reached the boat.
Breezy took out his watch.
"A quarter to twelve," he said. "By a quarter to one the men will have finished dinner, and then for business, for I expect no answer from that fellow."
The forts, although the guns were good, were badly positioned, and the little fleet lay just round the bend of the river in a most commanding situation.
Now this Sultan--Said Hassam to name--was the most unpopular man on the coast at this time, and his own people were only waiting for an excuse to depose him.
It was half-past twelve when a magnificently adorned gondola-looking barge swept round the corner, and three richly dressed Arabs requested audience of Captain Breezy.
The interview took place aft on the upper deck, and was just as brief as it was important. One a very old man, who looked like a prophet, Kep thought, told the Captain, through Kep, that they had been opposed to the sending of an expedition against Zanzibar, but were over-ruled by the Sultan himself, and that the city had been about to rise and depose him even had the ships not arrived.
"This is very satisfactory if true."
"You have our word of honour."
"We shall have to be paid a large indemnity, which my Government," said Breezy, "must fix."