"UNLESS THE GERMAN ENSIGN IS HAULED DOWN ON BOARD THE PELIKAN WITHIN AN HOUR, I OPEN FIRE."
"If you do you must remember that there are many English prisoners on board," declared the ober-leutnant with the air of a man who has thrown down his trump card.
"Within one hour, unless the Pelikan is surrendered in her present state, without further damage to her stores, equipment, and hull, we open fire," was the British officer's mandate. "Return to your ship at once, Herr Leutnant, and inform Kapitan von Riesser that he must take immediate steps to safeguard his British prisoners, either by sending them down the river or else by placing them in a secure shelter on shore. I shall hold your kapitan and officers morally responsible for any of the Myra's crew who may be killed or injured in the forthcoming operations."
"You have yet to find the Pelikan," spluttered the German officer.
"Excuse me, sir, she is found," said Captain Holloway. "To show that I am not in the habit of speaking at random I will produce proofs."
He gave an order to a seaman, who doubled off to the quarter-deck companion-ladder. Presently Denbigh, O'Hara, and Armstrong, who during the interview had discreetly gone below, appeared on deck.
The ober-leutnant's jaw dropped. His podgy cheeks quivered with intense surprise.
"Donnerwetter!" he exclaimed. "This is a colossal shock."