Presently Kapitan von Riesser produced a British Navy List. Somewhat to the British officers' surprise they noticed that it was dated "April 1916", or more than a twelvemonth since the last list had been obtainable by the public. "You have qualified as an interpreter, I see," remarked von Riesser. "For what languages?" "Hindustani, Swahili, and Arabic," replied Denbigh promptly. He did not think it necessary to add that German was amongst his qualifications, and he thanked his lucky stars that the recent Navy Lists do not specify the language in which officer-interpreters are expert. "You are evidently considered a promising young officer," continued the kapitan. He could not refrain from adding, with a thinly-veiled sneer, "I am afraid your services will be lost to the English Admiralty for some time to come." "Perhaps," drawled Denbigh, with such well-feigned indifference that von Riesser glanced keenly at the young officer's clear-cut features. Having subjected Stirling and O'Hara to an examination--in which the Irishman scored more than once by his smart repartees--the prisoners were dismissed. The first meal on board the raider was served in the cabin allotted them. Judging by the nature of the repast provisions were neither scarce nor unvaried. Having finished, they went on deck. No one offered to interfere with them. The seamen affected to ignore them. Once Unter-leutnant Kaspar Klick passed, and gave them such a look that O'Hara afterwards remarked he would like to have a quiet five minutes with the German. "I wonder they haven't searched us," said Stirling in a low voice. "Now I wish I had put my small revolver into my coat pocket. I thought it would have been too risky." "For the same reason I practically emptied my pockets before we left the _Nichi Maru_," declared Denbigh. "And so did I," added O'Hara, "but I took jolly good care to hide that little automatic pistol--you know the one: I collared it from a German officer in that little scrap at Herbertshöhe." "For goodness sake be careful," protested the cautious and level-headed Scot. "I'll try to be," replied O'Hara non-committedly. "Where is the pistol?" asked Denbigh. "Inside the lining of my cap," replied the Irishman. "Can you see any sign of a bulge under the cap-cover?" "Not a trace," declared Denbigh. "Only, old man, remember you are rather hot-headed. Let's hope there won't be a premature explosion." "There won't," said O'Hara emphatically. "Because I've no cartridges." "That's something to be thankful for," remarked Stirling. "But what, might I ask, is the use of an automatic pistol, if you haven't any cartridges?" "You never know your luck," replied O'Hara. "I may manage to pick up some on board. Whist!" Von Langer, the fat ober-leutnant who had been in charge of the boarding-party, was approaching. Possibly at a hint from his chief he had dropped his overbearing manner, for he addressed the prisoners in a mild tone.