rocked the fishing boats back and forth, so that the
gaffs and the frames on which the extra nets had been stretched to dry
were swinging and banging.

Countless numbers of sea gulls were flying about close to the flotilla.
With shrill cries and in thick flocks, they swooped down on the sterns
of some isolated boats, and hurled themselves, gliding on their wings,
into the refuse of the last catch which the fishermen were throwing
overboard.

The horizon stood out visibly from the sea all around and seemed to be a
great shining, glittering ring. Not a speck of cloud spotted its bright
edges. Nothing was visible except our fishermen.

Hurrah, this was just the weather for us! A rare and favorable
opportunity had presented itself here to play a trick on the English
fish market.

As a ghost, I suddenly arose behind one of the fishing steamers, pushed
the conning tower hatch up, and jumped up on the tower, holding the flag
of war in one hand and the megaphone in the other.

"Halloo-o-o!"

The fishermen stared at us open mouthed, rooted to the spot as if
paralyzed by fear of us.

"Halloo-o-o-o, Captain!" I shouted for the second time. "I want to talk
to you."

After some time a figure emerged from the crowd, stepped up the
stairway, and shouted some words that were not very clear but which
sounded like:

"Here I am!"

I summoned my best English and told the red-nosed chap that I would have
to sink before sundown the whole fleet of fishing boats, and furthermore
I told him that I had selected him to take the crews of all the others
aboard his steamer. I added he must immediately cut his nets and follow
me at a distance of five hundred meters, and that I would promptly blow
him to pieces if he, of his own accord, attempted to diminish this
distance as I would then surely believe he intended to ram me.

The captain declared he was willing to obey my commands, cut the nets,
and followed me. I ordered full speed ahead and hoisted to the mast the
following signal:

"Leave the boat immediately!"

Then I rushed in among the excited swarm. With flashing eyes, the
sailors were standing by our guns and waiting, lovingly fondling the
shells, ready to begin firing.

First we went right through the crowd of fishing-boats and then along
the edges of the fleet, in order to prevent the escape of the steamers
furthest away. Nowhere did we take the time to stop to sink a ship, but
only drove the crews away from their boats.