He hastened upon deck.
The cruiser had come up within gunshot and had sent a summons to heave-to. There was no alternative but to obey or fight or go to the bottom.
For a moment Poole considered seriously the question of a fight. He would gladly have accepted it had the conditions been anywhere near equal.
But the cruiser had heavier guns and more men. There was no other course but to heave-to.
So the schooner came up to the wind, her mainsail slacked, and the two vessels drifted within speaking distance.
“Ahoy, the schooner!” came the hail in Spanish. The Cuban flag was seen to be flying at the yard of the cruiser.
“Ahoy!” replied Poole.
“What craft is that?”
“The Meta; pleasure yacht, under the United States flag,” replied Poole.
For a time there seemed to be a consultation held aboard the cruiser. Then another hail came: