"He's not one of the officers of the ship, of course?"
"O no! That is—I believe—but just speak to him!"
The General went up to "The Indefatigable." "Beg your pardon, Sir! I hear you are a seaman?"
"At your service."
"Captain?"
"Captain of a merchantman—Reinhold Schmidt."
"My name is General von Werben. You would oblige me, Captain, if you would give me a technical explanation of our situation—privately, of course, and in confidence. I should not like to ask you to say anything against a comrade, or to do anything that would shake his authority, which we may possibly yet need to make use of. Is the Captain responsible, in your opinion, for our accident?"
THE LAST DAY OF A CONDEMNED MAN
Permission Ch. Sedelmeyer, Paris
Michael von Munkacsy
"Yes, and no, General. No, for the sea charts, by which we are directed to steer, record this place as navigable. The charts were correct, too, until a few years ago; since that time heavy sand deposits have been made here, and, besides, the water has fallen continually in consequence of the west wind which has prevailed for some weeks. The more prudent, therefore, avoid this place. I myself should have avoided it."