"We've been drugged right enough," said Denbigh. "I wonder why? There's some underhand game afoot during the hours of darkness. To-night we'll do without wine at dinner, and see how that acts." Having completed their toilet the three Subs left the cabin, for the door was now unlocked and the metal covering to the jalousie removed. Without stood a seaman on sentry duty. He drew himself up stiffly as the British officers passed, but made no salute, nor did he attempt to bar their progress. At the foot of the companion-ladder a petty-officer stopped them. "Breakfast awaits you in this cabin," he said in German. Neither Stirling nor O'Hara understood, while Denbigh was sufficiently on his guard to feign ignorance of the nature of the announcement. "Der vos a meal for you in dere," announced von Langer, stepping from behind the shaft of a ventilator. "Thank you!" replied the three Subs in unison. "But it's nearly lunch time, isn't it?" added O'Hara. "Dey vos tell me der Englische are very fond of sleep," retorted von Langer with a laugh. "Himmel! I tink dot is very true." The meal over, the prisoners went on deck. Out of curiosity Denbigh walked to the rail and leant over the side. He was not surprised at what he saw. The ship's sides had been painted during the night. The black band still remained, but the yellow paint had been replaced with a coat of blue. Already the tropical sun was blistering the still wet paint, revealing patches of the original hue underneath. The funnels, too, had been redecorated. They were now red with black tops. Some minutes later Kapitan von Riesser descended from the bridge and walked aft. Seeing the British officer he crossed the deck. "You like our new colour scheme?" he asked. Denbigh did not reply to the question. He asked another. "Mr. Stirling and I both lost some gold during the night. Our cabin was entered while we were asleep and the money taken from our pockets. Was the--er--theft committed at your instigation?" For a moment von Riesser hesitated. "There was no theft," he replied. "The gold was taken from you prisoners----" "Contrary to----" began Stirling hotly. "In accordance with my instructions," continued the Kapitan. "Gold is of no use to you. Instead, you will be furnished with Notes to its equivalent as soon as we arrive." "You may as well get your purser to write out a receipt," said O'Hara. "It will come in handy when the _Zwaan_--if that's her proper name--is captured." Von Riesser laughed boisterously. "Captured?" he repeated. "Ach! I don't think there is much danger now. South of the Line there is not a solitary British cruiser that can touch us in speed. There are plenty of them, I admit, but that is your English all over. Three swift vessels would be worth all your East India fleet put together, yet you pack highly-trained crews into slow and out-of-date tubs." "Possibly the captain of the _Emden_ thought the same as you do," remarked Stirling.