"Mr. Sinclair, will you pipe away the cutter's crew. I want you to take this letter ashore, and your knowledge of their lingo will be useful in case they cannot translate it," said Captain Brookes. "I've told them my requirements, and offer to pay all lawful dock charges and dues. Inform them of events between the two republics, and of our part in the matter." An hour later Lieutenant Sinclair returned with the information that Captain Brookes's requests were favourably received, and that the _Olive Branch_ could go into dock at once. He also bore the intelligence that the alcalde and the commandante of Talcahuano were about to pay a complimentary visit to the cruiser that had, while engaged in the work of settling the differences between Chili and Peru, inflicted a severe loss upon the fleet of the latter republic. "Good," remarked Captain Brookes, gleefully. "Nothing could be better, gentlemen. I mean to make use of both the alcalde and the commandante of the town during our stay here." Without further delay the _Olive Branch_ was warped into dock and shored up. The water was then pumped out, and, as the captain had prophesied, the cruiser was dry-docked before sunset. [Illustration: chapter XIII] CHAPTER XIII TRAPPED DURING the docking of the _Olive Branch_ crowds of townsfolks, soldiers, civilians, and peons flocked around the mysterious visitor, expressing astonishment at her appearance, yet without showing any signs of ill-will. Nevertheless, no precautions were left undone to safeguard the ship. Two of the guns were pointed at the custom-house, the other pairs covered the arsenal, forts, and the principal public buildings, while, being unable to use the Z-rays on account of the possible consequences to the _Olive Branch_, a party of sailors under Lieutenant Sinclair landed and marched up to the telegraph office with instructions to prevent any messages being sent that related to the presence of the proscribed cruiser. "Commandante coming off, sir," announced the officer of the watch, just as dinner was about to be commenced. "Very well, then, turn out the guard of honour," replied Captain Brookes. "Gentlemen, we must postpone the function for a few minutes." So saying he retired to his cabin to don his full-dress uniform, an example that was followed by the rest of the officers. On gaining the quarter-deck Gerald found that the guard of honour had already formed up, while ashore a company of troops with a band in attendance had fallen in on the quayside. The Chilian soldiers were a mixed crowd of whites, half-castes, and blacks, attired in blue coats with scarlet facings, white trousers, and gaudily decorated shakos.