"No one let me out. I picked the lock. Will that suit you?" lied Franz, protecting me.
"What's the lad been and done?" asked the mate of the Lord Summerville.
"I was shanghaied in New York," put in Franz swiftly, "and I demand English justice."
"And you shall get it, my man!" answered the mate proudly, "for you have been assaulted on English ground, as I'll stand witness."
A whistle was blown. Men came running. Soon Franz was outside the jurisdiction of Germany.
The next day Captain Schantze stalked about, hardly speaking to Miller. He was angry and laid the blame at the latter's door.
"Miller, why in the name of God didn't you guard that fellow better? An English court ... you know what they'll do to us!"
Miller spread his hands outward, shrugged his shoulders expressively, remained in silence. The two mates and the captain ate the rest of their supper in a silence that bristled.
The ship was detained for ten days more after its cargo had been unloaded.