"We can hail her, sir, and demand her surrender. If she refuses we must hang on, call up the other destroyers to our assistance, and take forcible possession of her."
"Do you think they'll open fire, sir?" asked Cardyke, eagerly.
"Hardly likely, you young fire-eater," replied Drake, with a grim smile. "They won't risk going so far. They know we have wireless; but if they thought they could do the trick without witnesses they wouldn't hesitate to try and sink us."
"They didn't sink the Yosen Maru."
"No; that strengthens my opinion that they won't go to extreme measures. There was none of the cut-throat, walk-the-plank style of the eighteenth-century pirate about them. No, I don't anticipate much difficulty but we'll be prepared."
An hour later the Frome was only a mile astern from her chase. The Impregnable's speed was visibly diminishing.
"They've a cool cheek, by Jove!" ejaculated Fielding. "They've actually painted another name on her."
"Yes," agreed Drake, who, like his subordinate, was making good use of his binoculars. "It's Independencia. That's Spanish, I believe."
"They're hoisting their colours," continued the sub. "A Brazilian ensign. Won't do, my hearties. You can't bluff us."
"She's slowed down, sir," exclaimed Cardyke. "Her propellers are going astern."