“What you find there will be of no use to you,” he said. “If you seek to prove us guilty of anything unlawful, sir, you are doomed to disappointment.” He spoke in very precise English which might well have deceived his hearer until the latter had viewed the typically German countenance with its rather small gray eyes under heavy brows, its somewhat aquiline nose, high cheeks, carefully waxed mustaches and general expression of arrogance.
“We will let others decide that,” replied the ensign coldly. He bundled the few papers and a small black leatherette-covered book together and placed them with care in the inner pocket of his jacket. Then: “Place these instruments, as many as you can, back in this box, Troy,” he directed. “Hello, what’s the matter with your arm?”
“I think a bullet got me, sir.”
“Let me see. I should say so! Get his sleeve out of the way, Endicott. Better cut it. That’s it.” He made a tourniquet above the wound from which the blood was running freely. “You go on up, lad. Call Masters down to help you.” He turned then to the prisoners. “You will march to the ladder, one at a time, and wait outside. There is no use trying to escape, for a patrol boat is lying off the beach. Besides, you will be shot instantly the moment you make a break. Lieutenant Haegel, you first, please.”
The man started at the sound of his name and two white disks appeared at his cheek-bones. But he bowed, smiled ironically and asked: “I may lower my hands, I presume?”
“Yes. Go first, Staples. Now, then——”
Outside, Nelson, suddenly feeling faint, sat on the sand and tried to keep the trees from swaying. He saw Staples emerge, and then the German addressed as Lieutenant Haegel, but no others, for just then he toppled quietly over on the ground.
CHAPTER V
A CHANCE ENCOUNTER
Many of the subsequent details Nelson failed to see, for he was put aboard the Wanderer and consigned to his bunk, after which Sawyer, machinist’s mate and the nearest thing to a surgeon that the boat boasted, made a fairly neat job of cleansing and bandaging the wound.