"What ship is it?" demanded the young man, so nervous now that he scarcely knew what he was saying. The Dutch officer remained icy and precise: "The ship is the light cruiser _Wyvern_, of the 'Monster' class. Her consorts yonder are the _Hippogriff_ and _Basalisk_--if this information enlightens you, Mr. Guild." "It does not. But I know this much: You can't detain an American! Neither can that British captain take a neutral from a neutral ship! And that settles the matter." "Be good enough to come on deck," said the Hollander in his correct and fluent English. "The captain desires to speak with you." "Very well. I'll follow you in a moment"--and turning to Karen: "Dearest, are you awake?" "Yes, dear." "The captain wishes to see me. I'll be back directly." He stepped out into the corridor, hesitated, excused himself to the officer, and returned to Karen, closing the door and locking it. She was sitting up on the bed, very still and white, and when he came over to her she instinctively laid both chilled hands in his. He held them in a firm and reassuring clasp; but he was terribly disconcerted. "Listen, dear. I think a British officer is coming aboard for us. I don't know whether he has any right to take us off this ship, but I'm afraid that the law in the matter won't worry him. "Now listen to me, dear. If I come back and knock and call to you by name, open. If somebody knocks, and there is no voice--or if it is not my voice, go to that port, open it, untie your satchel, which is hanging outside at a rope's end, take out the papers, and drop them into the sea. And not until you have done this shall you open the door to anybody." "Yes, Kervyn." "Then," he said, "if we've got to go back to England on a warship, we'll go clean-handed." "Yes." "And you had better take these passports, too." He drew them from his breast pocket. "They're forged. Throw them out with the other papers." "Yes, I will." "Then--I'm going.... Don't worry--dear. Don't tremble so, Karen--dear Karen----" "I'll try not to. I'll not be cowardly. It--it has been a long--day.... I'm thinking of Anna, too. You know, if she had any papers, she was bringing them to me. That will be against me." "I forgot that," he said, appalled. Then he squared his shoulders and forced a smile: "Anyway, whatever faces you faces us _both_!... Dear--keep every atom of courage you have. I shall stand by you, always. But I must go now. Do you promise me to keep up courage?" "Yes--dear----"