"On board his ship the captain is supreme," replied the young man, smiling in spite of his indignation. "I myself am a seaman, and would just as little brook interference in such a case." He lifted his cap and bowed, took a step and stopped again. A bright sparkle shone in his blue eyes, and his clear, firm voice quivered a bit as he went on, "It is not a question of real danger. The coast lies before us and the sea is comparatively quiet; I only wished that the moment should not surprise you. Pardon my presumption!" He had bowed again and was quickly withdrawing as if he wished to avoid further questions. "There is no danger," muttered Else; "too bad! I wanted so much to have him rescue me. But father must know it. We ought to prepare the President, too, of course--he is more in need of warning than I am." She turned toward the cabin; but the retarded movement of the ship, slowing up still more in the last half minute, had already attracted the attention of the passengers, who stood in a group. Her father and the President were already coming up the stairs. "What's the matter?" cried the General. "We can't possibly be in Prora already?" questioned the President. At that instant all were struck as by an electric shock, as a peculiar, hollow, grinding sound grated harshly on their ears. The keel had scraped over the sand-bank without grounding. A shrill signal, a breathless stillness for a few seconds, then a mighty quake through the whole frame of the ship, and the powerful action of the screw working with reversed engine! The precaution which a few minutes before would have prevented the accident was now too late. The ship was obliged to go back over the same sand-bank which it had just passed with such difficulty. A heavier swell, in receding, had driven the stern a few inches deeper. The screw was working continuously, and the ship listed a little but did not move. "What in the devil does that mean?" cried the General. "There is no real danger," said Else with a flash. "For Heaven's sake, my dear young lady!" interjected the President, who had grown very pale. "The shore is clearly in sight, and the sea is comparatively quiet," replied Else. "Oh, what do you know about it!" exclaimed the General; "the sea is not to be trifled with!" "I am not trifling at all, Papa," said Else. Bustling, running, shouting, which was suddenly heard from all quarters, the strangely uncanny listing of the ship--all proved conclusively that the prediction of "The Indefatigable" had come true, and that the steamer was aground.