The cabin was plainly furnished. In addition to the arm-chair and table there were two sideboards, a large book-rack, and half a dozen cane chairs. On the table lay a pile of Dutch charts. Books for navigation and sailing directions in the same language occupied the shelves in company with a few American novels. Everything German, with one exception, had been studiously eliminated, in order to baffle the curiosity of a British boarding-officer in the event of the supposed _Zwaan_ being held up. The exception was a large oil painting of the Kaiser in the uniform of a German Admiral of the Fleet. The portrait was framed in a massive oak frame securely fixed to the bulkhead between the two cabins. The only other picture was a sepia-toned photograph of the Queen of Holland, in a narrow, plain gilt frame. When it became necessary to hide the features of the All Highest War Lord from the eyes of the strafed English, who had practically contrived to drive the War Lord's battleships from the face of the five oceans, von Riesser took the risk of committing lese majesté by placing the portrait of Queen Wilhelmina over that of the Emperor Wilhelm II. Then, to all appearances, the captain's cabin of the _Zwaan_ was loyally adorned by a photograph of the Queen of the Netherlands in a deep oak frame with a thin gold slip. In the circumstances, however, it was not considered necessary to eclipse the All Highest War Lord, so the three British subs found themselves confronted by the painted features of the modern Attila. The door was thrown open. Von Langer and the two seamen clicked their heels and saluted as von Riesser entered with the dramatic effect of which Prussians are so fond. Gravely saluting the Emperor's portrait and then returning his subordinates' mark of respect the kapitan took his seat. "You know why you are here?" asked von Riesser abruptly, lowering his brows and looking sternly at the three British officers. "We do not," replied Denbigh. "In fact, it is rather unusual to turn a fellow out of his bunk at one in the morning." "Do not bandy words, Herr Denbigh," snapped the kapitan. "You have been causing trouble." "Is it causing trouble to take steps to avoid being gassed or chloroformed?" asked O'Hara. "Yes," almost shouted the kapitan. "If we think it desirable that our prisoners should be put to sleep it is not for them to resist." "In that case there's no more to be said," declared the Irishman. "You are top-dog----" "You call me a dog, you English swine!" almost howled the now infuriated Prussian. O'Hara burst out into violent laughter. Denbigh smiled broadly, while around Stirling's firm lips hovered the suspicion of a grim smile. Their utter indifference to the ravings of their captor took von Riesser by surprise.