Meanwhile a second sea-plane was registering for the _Crustacean_, her guns being directed upon the piers on which the _Pelikan's_ torpedo-tubes had been placed. Without once coming within sight of her objective the little monitor effected her mission with two shots, blowing both torpedo-stations to smithereens. Nor was the _Eureka_ less successful. A shell fired in front of the crowd of demoralized Germans as they fled through the mangroves literally roped them in. Panic-stricken they doubled back and disappeared in the dug-outs close to the wrecked emplacements, and the _Eureka_, having been accordingly informed, ceased firing. "Now for the _Pelikan_!" exclaimed Stirling, as the sea-plane, having returned, put Denbigh on board the _Crustacean_. "It will be an affair of boats, I suppose," suggested O'Hara. "With the flood-tide and on a dark night she ought to be captured with little loss to the boarding-party." Two of the monitors were lying at anchor in the river. The _Eureka_, having to watch the coast, steamed slowly up and down the lagoon, her progress watched by hundreds of awe-stricken natives. The question of how to deal with the _Pelikan_ was under discussion, for Captain Holloway had convened another council of war at eight bells in the afternoon. The boats carried by the monitors were not fit for cutting-out work, and although a certain means of destruction was at the command of the senior officer, he was reluctant to put his terrible resources into force on account of the presence of the _Myra's_ crew on board the raider. While the discussion was in progress, the majority of officers favouring a suggestion that the light cruisers should be brought up by wireless, a steam launch was reported to be coming down the river. The launch bore a large white flag flying from a staff in the bows. In her stern-sheets was Ober-leutnant von Langer. Received with naval honours, a guard being mounted on the quarter-deck of the senior monitor, von Langer came over the side, and announced himself as the representative of Kapitan von Riesser, of H.I.M. ship _Pelikan_. "Well, sir?" asked Captain Holloway briefly. "I am here to discuss terms," said the ober-leutnant. "Which must be unconditional surrender of men and material," added the skipper of the _Paradox_. "Excuse me," said von Langer. "But we are not yet beaten." "You are precious near it," said Captain Holloway. "Unless the German Ensign is hauled down on board the _Pelikan_ within an hour I will open fire." [Illustration: "UNLESS THE GERMAN ENSIGN IS HAULED DOWN ON BOARD THE _PELIKAN_ WITHIN AN HOUR, I OPEN FIRE."] "If you do you must remember that there are many English prisoners on board," declared the ober-leutnant with the air of a man who has thrown down his trump card.