"But what has happened?" inquired Browne, with a sudden sinking at his heart. "Something has gone wrong in the engine-room," replied the captain, "and until it has been repaired it will be impossible for us to get under way."
At that instant the second officer appeared, and touched the captain on the shoulder, saying something in an undertone.
"What is it?" asked Browne. "What else is wrong?"
"He reports that a man-o'-war can be just descried upon the horizon, and he thinks she is a Russian!"
CHAPTER XXVII
The horror which greeted the announcement that a man-o'-war had made its appearance upon the horizon may be better imagined than described.
"By heaven, we have been trapped!" cried MacAndrew, as he ran out of the smoking-room in Browne's wake, and gazed out to sea.
They formed a small group in front of the door: Browne, MacAndrew, Maas, Jimmy Foote, the captain, and the chief-engineer. Day was scarcely born, yet the small black spot upon the horizon could be plainly descried by every one of the party, and was momentarily growing larger. Without doubt it was a man-o'-war. What was more to the point, she was coming up at a good rate of speed. The position was an eminently serious one, and what those on board the yacht had to decide was what should be done.
"If she's a Russian, we're in no end of a hole," said MacAndrew; "and, when you come to think of it, she's scarcely likely to belong to any other nationality."