On reaching the town, the Salvadore took up her berth a cable's length off the wharf. The submarine, being of light draught, lay to alongside the wharf, and Dick and Glennie went ashore. As soon as they had landed, Carl, who was left in nominal command, backed off for half a cable's length and let go the anchors. It was arranged that a sharp whistle from the shore was to bring the Grampus back to that particular part of the wharf as soon as the mud hooks could be lifted. All on board were to keep awake and remain ready, at a moment's warning, to assume their duties.
When this arrangement was made, none of those concerned in it had the remotest idea of the importance it was to hold in the progress of events. It went to prove that carefully laid plans are always best, even when an excess of care does not seem essential.
Neither Dick nor Glennie knew where their respective consuls were to be found. Happening to meet a soldier from the garrison, however, he directed them.
Having secured their bearings, Dick and Glennie separated. For this Dick was not sorry. The ensign had a number of little mannerisms, entirely unaffected, although they did not seem so, which Dick was far from admiring. Then, again, Dick Ferral had been an apprentice seaman in His British Majesty's navy, and Glennie was a commissioned officer. The fact that Glennie held his commission in the United States and not in the British navy did not seem to lessen the breach that lies between the forecastle and the quarter deck. At least, it did not in Dick's estimation.
Dick was not long in finding the vice-consul's house—and not much longer in discovering that the vice-consul was out of town for a week, having taken a horseback journey into the interior. His affairs, meanwhile, had been left in the hands of the German consul.
"I'll be shot," grumbled Dick, to himself, as he came away from the vice-consul's door, "if I call on any Dutchman. I guess it's up to Mr. Glennie, so here's hoping that he puts his conceit in his pocket and gets the United States consul to do something."
Dick, loitering back along the street, suddenly came face to face with Glennie, who struck into the thoroughfare Dick was following from a crossroad.
"Well!" exclaimed Glennie, recognizing Dick by a street lamp.
"Is it?" returned Dick, none too well pleased by a meeting.
"Is it—what?" queried Glennie.