Still the latter showed no sign of stopping her engines. From her bridge a three flag hoist went up.
"WCX, sir!" reported the Alerte's signalman, as he rapidly turned over the pages of the Code Book, adding as he discovered the message, "Signals not understood, though flags are distinguished."
"More bluff!" ejaculated Captain Cain. "I'll send 'em a message that won't bear misunderstanding. Captain of the gun!" he continued, raising his voice. "Give her one above the waterline. Knock her rudder-head to smithereens."
The quick-firer spat viciously. Considering the gun-layer had had no previous experience with that particular type of weapon, the result was highly creditable to his professional skill.
The projectile struck the Cap Hoorn about ten feet for'ard of the rudder and about four feet above the waterline. It made a clean hole where it entered, but of the devastating effect of the explosive shell there was little doubt. Splinters and slivers of metal flew high in the air. Flames and smoke poured from a jagged hole in the poop. The red, white and black ensign, its staff shattered by the explosion, was whisked fifty yards astern.
Twenty seconds later the Cap Hoorn's propellers were going astern; but owing to the rudder-head being pulverised, the massive rudder swung hard over to starboard. Slowly her head began to pay off towards her antagonist. Men armed with fire extinguishers and hoses were seen running aft. With indecorous haste another German mercantile ensign was hoisted and as promptly lowered in token of surrender.
"Look alive, Mr. Pengelly!" exclaimed the pirate captain. "You know your orders?"
"Ay, ay, sir," was the reply.
A boat was lowered. Into it went Pengelly and half a dozen men, all armed with automatic pistols. By this time Captain Cain had got way off his ship, the two vessels being now about a cable's length apart.
The boat's crew gave way with a will, their comrades, with the exception of the men at the quick-firer, crowding to the side to watch their progress.