The Hellenic fleet, consisting of the three battleships Hydra, Psara, and Spetsai, and three modern cruisers built by the Italian firm of Ansaldo, did not hesitate to put to sea, and now at less than seven miles apart the rival fleets prepared for the opening stages of the conflict.
At her utmost speed the Olive Branch dashed in between the fleets, a huge white flag flying from the truck of a forty-foot spar lashed to her diminutive signalling mast. Then, reversing her propellers, she brought up within three cables' lengths of the Turkish flagship, the Azizieh.
All hands on board the Olive Branch were now at their stations, only Captain Brookes, Gerald, Lieutenant Slade, the signal bo's'un, and two yeomen of signals remaining on the bridge or within the conning-tower.
"Make the general signal to both fleets," ordered the captain, and hoist after hoist rose to the yard-arm with the utmost celerity.
From captain of "Olive Branch" to the commanding officers Turkish and Hellenic Fleets:—
Abandon hostilities and return to respective ports. Every vessel disregarding this order by opening fire will be destroyed.
The Turkish admiral was beside himself with rage. He had heard of the Olive Branch, and of her dealings with the Peruvian fleet, but was he, a Mussulman, to be overridden by a Giaour? Slowly the foremast turret of the Azizieh swung round, the muzzle of the 9.2 Krupp pointing menacingly towards the distant Psara. For quite ten seconds the gun remained thus trained, the admiral still hesitating to give the word to fire.
Then, trained by the manual power imparted by a score of toiling seamen, the turret turned till the muzzle gaped straight at the Olive Branch.
"Better take shelter, gentlemen," remarked Captain Brookes, calmly. "The old gentleman yonder seems to be forgetting himself."
Even as he spoke the Krupp opened fire. The Turkish gun-layer, distrustful of the quality of the charge, had allowed for the admitted inferiority of the explosive; but this particular powder was far above the usual standard.