"Very well, Count, that is good."
"But why do you keep my men in chains?"
"We want to know where the Seeadler is."
"I want to tell you, sir, that my men will die before they will say anything. They have orders from me not to talk. If anyone is to tell anything about the Seeadler, it is I. You would give your men the same command under the same circumstances, and you would want them to obey as my men are obeying."
"You are the one to ask, Count, about information of the Seeadler?"
"Yes."
"Then tell me where she is."
"Captain, may I sink deep in the earth if I ever betray my crew. I respect you. I would not put such a question to you if you were my prisoner."
"Count," he replied, "your men have set an example to our sailors. I understand and appreciate your attitude. So long as your men show themselves to be disciplined sailors, they will have excellent treatment. And I hope that you, yourself, will have a pleasant stay with us and find nothing of which to complain. Gentlemen," he addressed the judges, "the court martial is over."
My four men were taken back to their island, and Kircheiss and I to ours.