"It ought to. They were talking in German."
"Don't understand the lingo," declared the fourth officer. "Besides, what if they did? There are seven German passengers on board; and it's hard lines if they can't speak in their own tongue if they want to, especially if they avoid lacerating the ears of their fellow-passengers with the saw-edged language."
"There's more in it than you imagine, old man. That fellow is an intermediary between the woman and Stone, the greaser. Apparently Stone—referred to by the woman as Hans, although the name he gave is Henry—is holding out for more money for doing something. The woman maintains that he failed to do his allotted task satisfactorily—that he bungled badly over it. She wanted to tackle Stone himself, and the passenger fellow, whose name is Karl, objected. Possibly it was owing to her presence that Stone failed to put in an appearance."
"By Jove, Raeburn, I believe you're on the right track after all!"
"I think I am," replied the third engineer quietly. "At all events we'll keep this to ourselves for a little until we obtain further evidence. If I don't see you before, we'll meet here to-morrow night at seven bells, and trust that Stone will show his hand."
CHAPTER III.
THE DECLARATION OF WAR.
Just before eight bells (4 a.m.) Terence Aubyn was called to prepare for his spell of duty on the bridge. Hastily dressing and donning his pilot-coat—for in spite of being within a few degrees of the line the air was cold compared with the temperature during the day—the fourth officer drank a cup of coffee and hurried on deck.
Exchanging a few words with the officer he was relieving Terence began to pace the bridge. On this occasion there was little to do, since the "Saraband" was not making way. Men were on the watch on the fo'c'sle, and hands were stationed in the crow's-nest in order to report the possible approach of other vessels. The apprentices on duty—termed, by courtesy, midshipmen—made their stereotyped reports, the quartermasters went the rounds and announced that all was correct on and 'tween decks. Not being actually under way the ship did not display her customary red and green navigation lamps. The white light on the forestay was the only one visible. Even the chart-room window had been screened, in order to avoid dazzling the eyes of the officer of the watch.