Baron Von Eulaw had been indulging the previous night in deep potations, and was, consequently, so belated that the carriage containing the baroness and himself did not reach the Coronado wharf until the _Siva_ had steamed away, and was being followed by the other vessels in the order described. The launches and small steamers, with the guests apportioned among the different vessels of the fleet, had also left the wharf, and two-thirds of the vessels which were to accompany the _Siva_, with their steam up and whistles blowing, were impatiently awaking the signal to move, and were uneasily churning into a foam the placid waters of the harbor. Hastily summoning a boat lying at the wharf, the baron escorted the baroness on board, and, seating himself beside her, directed the crew to row for “that ship,” pointing to the _Esmeralda_. It will never be known whether this direction was the result of accident or design, for the _Esmeralda_, in size and general appearance, strongly resembled the _Wilhelm II._, which was anchored just ahead of her in the stream, and it was the _Wilhelm II._ to which the Baron Von Eulaw, as one of the representatives of the German Empire, had been assigned. Arrived at the _Esmeralda_, however, the anchor of which was then being hoisted, the baron was politely informed by the officer in charge of the deck that no arrangements had been made to receive guests on board the vessel, as she was destined to destruction. The baron, with real or affected dismay, remarked that the _Wilhelm II._ was already under way; that it would be impossible for him now to gain her deck, and, unless permitted to board the _Esmeralda_, and remain upon her, they would lose altogether the great spectacle they had, by designation of his imperial majesty Wilhelm II., come all the way from Berlin to San Diego to attend. He would be in lasting disgrace at home if compelled to admit that, through his own negligence and error, he had not witnessed the destruction of the _Esmeralda_ at all. Might not the baroness and himself, under the circumstances, be suffered to trespass upon the hospitalities of the officers of the _Esmeralda_ until the time came for abandoning the vessel, when they could join the officers and crew on the steam launch, and be placed on board the _Wilhelm II._, or one of the other vessels of the fleet, or return on the launch to San Diego, as might be most convenient? With some hesitation, the deck officer of the _Esmeralda_, after brief consultation with his superior, consented to the request of Von Eulaw, and, apologizing for the condition of the cabin, which, in anticipation of the destruction of the vessel, had been stripped of everything save the standing furniture and a few chairs, he invited them to make themselves as comfortable as circumstances would permit.