The _Puma_ was a tramp steamer of about 6,000 tons, with two stumpy masts, a black funnel, and towering wall sides that had been but partially painted, for a considerable portion of her hull still showed the priming coat of red lead. From an ensign staff over her taffrail the stars and stripes hung motionless in the sultry air. The _Olive Branch_ flew no colours. "I don't think it's piracy this time," remarked Jack. "The men are not armed." "They seem a well set up lot," said Gerald. "I wonder where they were picked up. Short service naval men and Royal Naval Reserve seamen in all probability." Tregarthen knew a sailor when he saw one, and his observations were correct. The men had for the most part discarded their No. I suits of blue serge, and were dressed in serviceable white canvas. With the utmost alertness and intelligence they executed their orders, which were given with a noticeable lack of bawling and shouting. Smartly the _Olive Branch_ was manoeuvred alongside the _Puma_, large fenders protecting the two vessels from the slight rolling as the latter's derricks were set to work. In less than two hours eight 6in. guns, each weighing nearly seven tons, were transferred from the hold of the tramp to the deck of the cruiser, besides several smaller quick-firers and a quantity of cases and empty shells. Why the projectiles were shipped apart from their cartridges Tregarthen could not understand, though he resolved to make inquiries at the earliest opportunity. The work of transhipping the ordnance having been completed, the skipper, a typical New Englander, came aboard the _Olive Branch_, armed with a sheaf of documents. For half an hour he remained below in the company of Captain Brookes, and on returning to his own ship the hawsers were cast off. Meanwhile Tregarthen noticed that the cruiser's ensign had been hoisted--a device similar to that worn on the seamen's sleeves, evidently representing an olive branch in green on a white field. As the two vessels parted company, the cruiser making off at a decorous seventeen knots, there was a mutual dipping of ensigns, and a quarter of an hour later the _Puma_ was hull down to the nor-west. For the rest of that day all hands were kept busy in mounting the principal armament. The work proceeded with marvellous rapidity, testifying to the splendid mechanical appliances at their command.