t and was groping in my other pockets
for matches, when a hand (the gloves number 91/2) with outstretched
forefinger reached towards me from behind and the subordinate officer's
excited voice announced:

"A cloud of smoke four points port."

As quickly as lightning the spy-glass was placed to the eye. "Where? Oh,
yes, there. I can see it!"

"As yet, only smoke can be seen. Isn't it so?"

In what a suspense we were now. Leaning forward, and with the glasses
pressed to the eye, we gazed on the little, distant, cloud of smoke. It
curled, then bent with the wind and slowly dissolved in a long, thin
veil-like streak. Nothing but smoke could be seen, a sign that the air
was clear, and one could see all the way to the extreme horizon.

What kind of a ship could it be, which the curved form of the earth
still concealed from our view? Was it a harmless freighter, a proud
passenger steamer, an auxiliary cruiser, or maybe an armored cruiser
jammed with cannon?

It was with a feeling, wavering between hope and fear, that these
thoughts occupied my mind--fear, not for the enemy, because we were
anxious to meet him--but fear that a disappointment would fall on us, if
the ship proved to be a neutral steamer when it came closer. Seven times
we had during three days experienced such disappointment, seven times we
had met neutral ships without contraband on board, and had been
compelled to let them continue on their way.

The distance between us and the steamer had not diminished, so that its
masts and a funnel arose above the horizon, two narrow, somewhat
slanting lines, between which there was a thicker dark spot. A common
freighter, therefore. This we saw at the first glance. I changed our
course northwardly in order to head off the course of the steamer which
was going in an easterly direction. With the highest speed the machine
could make we raced to meet them and the bridge and part of the hull
could already be seen.

"To the diving stations! Artillery alarm. Cannon service on deck! First
torpedo tube ready for fire!"

With loud voice I called down these commands into the boat.

There was a stir in the passages below like when a stone is thrown into
the midst of a swarm of bees. From below it arose, and the men who were
to serve at the cannons crowded on the narrow precipitous ladder, swung
themselves through the tower hatch and leaped on the deck. Now, first,
just once, a deep breath, so that the lungs can draw the ref