The ober-leutnant had not the faintest desire to go as far as the Mediterranean. He was firmly convinced that the tramp would be captured by an Unterseeboot before she was well clear of the Bristol Channel, in which case he would declare his identity to the kapitan-leutnant of the U-boat and be taken on board the representative substitute of the German High Seas Fleet.
Hour after hour, day after day, the eight-knotter steamed sedately on her course, but not a single U-boat was to be seen. Off Cape de Roca the "Andromeda" was ordered into harbour to ship mules for Egypt, but Portuguese territory offered von Loringhoven no inducement to desert. He might have made his way into Spain; but then the fact still remained that hostile country separated him from the Fatherland.
Off Gib. the tramp was received by British patrol boats and shepherded through the U-boat infested Straits. One hundred and fifty miles east of Algiers the condensers gave trouble, and the old tramp had to be towed into Bona for repairs that took the best part of six weeks.
Von Loringhoven stuck it gamely. He had no option. There was nothing to entice him to desert in Algerian territory, while in order to keep up his rôle he applied himself diligently to whatever task was allotted him, hoping that in the Eastern Mediterranean, where German and Austrian U-boats were showing great activity, the fate of the "Andromeda" would be sealed.
At length the tedious journey was resumed.
On the fifth day after leaving Bona the tramp sighted a felucca-rigged vessel flying Greek colours and proceeding on a course that would put her athwart the "Andromeda's" bows.
For a quarter of an hour both vessels held on in their respective directions, until, in accordance with the rule of the road, the tramp's master ordered the helm to be ported to enable the steamer to pass under the stern of the sailing craft.
Von Loringhoven, who with others of the crew was engaged in splicing a wire hawser that had been "nipped" during the "Andromeda's" stay at Bona, regarded the felucca with languid interest. He had seen feluccas many times before. At first sight this one seemed much the same as the others. The nondescript crew in motley garb looked the picture of Near Eastern indolence as they sprawled in various attitudes. Even the helmsman seemed almost too languid to exert any pressure upon the long tiller.
Presently von Loringhoven's interest quickened. Never before had he seen a Levantine craft with spotless decks nor the ropes neatly flemished. Amidships was a double-ended boat with high bow and stern posts. Over her an awning had been thrown to prevent the rays of the sun opening her seams. In these days of unrestricted piracy such a precaution was necessary, since the crew might have to take to the boat at five minutes' notice. So there was nothing extraordinary about the canvas-covered boat; but when an eddying wind lifted one corner of the awning the ober-leutnant's curiosity was fully on the alert, for plainly revealed was the rubber-shod shoulder piece of a quick-firer.
Half an hour later the felucca was out of sight. It was now von Loringhoven's watch below, and having fed on fo'c'sle fare he turned into his bunk.