Maintaining a bare steerage way the _Olive Branch_ was brought as close to the disabled vessel as was consistent with safety, and by the aid of a megaphone Captain Brookes expressed his intention of giving the tramp a "pluck" into Pernambuco. "Are you Engliche sheep of war?" asked the gold-laced Teuton in command, knowing full well that in that case he would be freed from the obligation of paying salvage. "No," replied Captain Brookes, shortly. "Den how much you want?" continued the German officer, astutely. "The same as if this ship were a British Government vessel--nothing at all. So stand by to get out a hawser." The delighted skipper thereupon asked the name of the cruiser, but Captain Brookes preferred to keep a mysterious silence. Possibly he had ulterior motives in acting the good Samaritan, but Tregarthen was unable to fathom them. It was a hard task to bring the tramp's hawsers aboard the cruiser. Twice they parted like pack-thread, but at the third attempt a strong cable was secured to a stout "necklace" passing round the base of the after-turret. Then, at a steady twelve knots, the _Olive Branch_ headed for Pernambuco, the disabled tramp wallowing astern like a wounded porpoise. [Illustration: Bending over the instrument was a young officer, his head practically covered with a metal cap fitted with receivers.] "We can now complete our tour of inspection," remarked Captain Brookes, "since the presence of yonder craft interferes somewhat with our preparations. Bring Mr. Stockton with you." "Very good, sir," replied Gerald, and in a few minutes the captain and his two _protégés_ were descending the steep iron ladder that communicated with that part of the ship below the armoured deck. Being below the water-line the place was lighted by electric lamps, while every bulkhead and partition was traversed by a maze of wires, hidden by metal casings, each painted in distinctive colours. At length Captain Brookes stopped before a sliding steel door and beckoned Gerald and Jack to enter. The two chums found themselves in a small lobby, their progress barred by a door similar to the one they had just entered. Carefully closing the outermost door their guide proceeded to slide back the other panel, disclosing a small room lighted only by the fitful bluish sparks emanating from an electrical machine. Bending over the instrument was a young officer, his head practically covered by a metal cap fitted with receivers similar to those worn by telephone exchange operatives.