e conclusion that
discretion would perhaps in this case prove the better part of valour,
he laid his hand upon the engine-room telegraph apparatus. A tinkling
of bells in the ship's interior was distinctly heard by those aboard the
_Flying Fish_, and presently the churning of water about the
convict-ship's rudder suddenly ceased, showing that her engines had been
stopped. At the same moment the officer on her bridge called a sailor
to him, and, with a few brief words, undistinguishable to those in the
_Flying Fish's_ pilot-house, dispatched him to the interior of the
vessel.

It is probable that the skipper of the _Ludwig Gadd_ had already been
awakened by the hailing that had passed between the two craft, for in
less than five minutes he emerged from the cabin under the poop, and,
making his way forward, leisurely ascended to the bridge, where he was
at once accosted by the officer in charge. He listened gravely to this
individual's communication, glancing with much curiosity meanwhile at
the strange glittering shape that floated quietly close alongside, and
then, striding to the starboard extremity of the narrow structure upon
which he stood, he hailed, in true nautical fashion--

"Ship ahoy! What ship is that?"

"Are you the captain of the _Ludwig Gadd_?" hailed back the professor,
ignoring the previous question.

"Ay, ay," answered the skipper, waving his hand impatiently. "Who are
you, and what do you want?"

"You have on board your ship a certain Colonel Sziszkinski, who is being
transported as a convict. Is it not so?" answered the professor.

"How do you suppose _I_ should know?" yelled back the skipper, savagely.
"I know nothing whatever about the convicts aboard here. If your
business has to do with any of them, you had better see the officer who
is going out in charge of them."

"Of course," commented Mildmay, when this had been translated to him.
"I ought to have thought of that. Ask him to send for the fellow to
come up on to the bridge."

This was done; and about a quarter of an hour later a man attired in a
green military uniform, with a sword belted to his side, and spurs
screwed to the heels of his boots, ascended to the bridge and was
promptly engaged in conference by the skipper. Presently the latter
came to the starboard end of the bridge, accompanied by the soldier, and
hailed--

"This is Captain Popovski, the officer in charge of the convicts. He
desires to know what is your b