Mr. Sabin remained by the captain's side, standing with his hands behind him. Mrs. Watson leaned over the rail close at hand, watching the approaching boat, and exchanging remarks with the doctor. In a few minutes the boat was alongside, and an officer in the uniform of the German Navy rose and made a stiff salute. "Are you the captain?" he inquired, in stiff but correct English. The captain returned his salute. "I am Captain Ackinson, Cunard ss. _Calipha_," he answered. "What do you want with me?" "I am Captain Von Dronestein, in command of the _Kaiser Wilhelm_, German Navy," was the reply. "I want a word or two with you in private, Captain Ackinson. Can I come on board?" Captain Ackinson's reply was not gushing. He gave the necessary orders, however, and in a few moments Captain Von Dronestein, and a thin, dark man in the dress of a civilian, clambered to the deck. They looked at Mr. Sabin, standing by the captain's side, and exchanged glances of intelligence. "If you will kindly permit us, Captain," the newcomer said, "we should like to speak with you in private. The matter is one of great importance." Mr. Sabin discreetly retired. The captain turned on his heel and led the way to his cabin. He pointed briefly to the lounge against the wall and remained himself standing. "Now, gentlemen, if you please," he said briskly, "to business. You have stopped a mail steamer in mid ocean by force, so I presume you have something of importance to say. Please say it and let me go on. I am behind time now." The German held up his hands. "We have stopped you," he said, "it is true, but not by force. No! No!" "I don't know what else you call it when you show me a bounding thirty guns and put a shot across my bows." "It was a blank charge," the German began, but Captain Ackinson interrupted him. "It was nothing of the sort!" he declared bluntly. "I was on deck and I saw the charge strike the water." "It was then contrary to my orders," Captain Dronestein declared, "and in any case it was not intended for intimidation." "Never mind what it was intended for. I have my own opinion about that," Captain Ackinson remarked impatiently. "Proceed if you please!" "In the first place permit me to introduce the Baron Von Graisheim, who is attached to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs at Berlin." Captain Ackinson's acknowledgment of the introduction was barely civil. The German continued-- "I am afraid you will not consider my errand here a particularly pleasant one, Herr Captain. I have a warrant here for the arrest of one of your passengers, whom I have to ask you to hand over to me." "A what!" Captain Ackinson exclaimed, with a spot of deep colour stealing through the tan of his cheeks.