I shall insist upon you signing a
paper that your ship held us up."

"You can send the paper to my ship for such a signature from my
captain," said the Russian, evasively.

By this time four of the jackies of the small boat had come on board.
All were armed and they lined up at the rail, close to the rope ladder.
They were good-natured sailors and grinned broadly at the hands on the
_Columbia_. Not one could speak a word of English, so conversation with
them was impossible.

Captain Ponsberry led the way to the cabin of the _Columbia_ and the
young Russian officer followed. Getting out such papers as had been
prepared for the occasion, the master of the schooner passed them over.

"These are correct so far as they go," said the Russian, after an
examination lasting ten minutes had been made. "But----" he paused. "You
have no further papers?"

"Those are my papers, sir," answered Captain Ponsberry, briefly.

"Then I will look at a specified list of your cargo."

"I haven't such a list," was the answer, which was true, as the list had
been burnt up just a short while before.

At this statement the young Russian frowned. "Every ship carries such a
list."

"Still, I haven't any."

"In that case, I shall have to order an inspection of the cargo."

"Sir, you are going too far!" said Captain Ponsberry, sternly, yet he
knew he had no right to expect anything else.

"If I am going too far, I am able to take the consequences," returned
the Russian, who was acting strictly under orders.

"Very well, sir; you can look the cargo over," answered Captain
Ponsberry. "But I shall hold Russia accountable for the outrage."

The Russian naval officer bowed and hastened up to the deck. He spoke in
his native tongue to one of the jackies who carried several small flags
under his arm. At once the Jackie began to wig-wag to the warship for
further instructions.

"Search the ship," came back the order, and in a few minutes more
another small boat left the side of the _Pocastra_, containing an
officer and a crew of eight.

"We are in for it now, that is certain," observed Larry. "They are not
going to let us go until they are sure we are O. K."

The second boat was soon alongside of the schooner, and the officer in
charge and four men came up on the deck and joined the other Russians
already there. An earnest conversation was held between the two
officers.

"We'll take a general look at the cargo," said the one who had jus