The sub's practised eye saw that the two vessels lying just ahead of the "Aphrodite" were not the sternwheelers from Lake Nyassa. He snatched up his binoculars and brought them to bear upon the strange craft.
"Portuguese Government gunboats, by Jove!" he exclaimed. "What's their little game, I wonder?"
"Eh! What's that?" ejaculated Captain Restronguet, overhearing the sub's remark. "Hanging round to see what they can make out of the business, I suppose. Why, there's a crowd of them on shore close to the 'Vorwartz'."
"When Portuguese colonial officials begin buzzing round they're bound to give trouble if you treat them courteously," observed Captain Jones. "I've had experience of them. If you take my advice you'll send them about their business without delay."
"They won't trouble me," replied Captain Restronguet grimly.
"At any rate I'll stand by till they pack," continued the captain of the "Pride of Rhodesia." "We'll descend here. I don't want to bring my craft too close to those gentry."
The airship came to earth at the foot of the little hill on which Kenwyn had been left, and, with the exception of three men who were ordered to remain on guard, the whole of her complement hurried towards the bank of the river.
"Those rogues have been trying to get aboard the prize, sir," exclaimed Polglaze, who had run to meet his captain. "They've given us a stiff job to keep them off. None of us can make head or tail of what that yellow-faced, gold-laced Johnnie was talking about, although he thinks he can speak English."
"Did you come to blows?" asked Captain Restronguet.
"Oh, no, sir; we had to lift one fellow up by his trousers and drop him overboard, but we handled him very gently, although he whipped out a knife."