Seated upon chairs abaft the after-turret were the ship's officers, while on either hand were mustered as many of the crew as could be spared from their duties. There was an air of sternness about the assembly, for Taylor, the scientist, was about to be tried on a charge of desertion and treachery.
"Bring in the prisoner!" ordered the captain, and escorted by two armed seamen the culprit was marched on deck and directed to take up a position facing his judges.
"Mark Taylor," exclaimed Lieutenant Palmer, who appeared as prosecutor, "you are accused upon direct evidence of having broken out of this vessel and having sought to obtain a refuge on board the German ship _Afrika_. That in itself is a serious charge; but not content with that breach of discipline you wittingly informed the master of the aforesaid _Afrika_ of the secrets appertaining to the ordnance of this cruiser, the _Olive Branch_. Do you plead guilty or not guilty?"
"Not guilty," replied the accused man, with a forced tone of defiance. "I----"
"That will be sufficient for the present," said the lieutenant. "Your evidence will be taken in due course."
Five witnesses for the prosecution having been called, the prisoner was allowed to speak on his own behalf.
The accused scientist tacitly admitted that he had broken out of the ship, but strenuously denied having given any information regarding the cruiser to the master or any member of the crew of the _Afrika_. At first his speech was delivered in perfectly pure English, but by degrees he waxed excitable and spoke with a decided foreign accent.
"And I claim," he continued, "ze protection of ze German flag, for I am a German by nationality."
"Is that so?" demanded Captain Brookes. "How is it that this fact was concealed when you joined this vessel? And why has it remained a secret till this moment?"
"I am a German," reiterated the prisoner. "My name is Schneider, not Taylor. I told zese gentlemen it was so," indicating Gerald and Jack with a wave of his hand. "I told zem I was a German subject, and zat I was about to run away from ze ship as soon as I was able, and zey know it."
"Then why did you not report this to me, sir?" asked Captain Brookes, turning to Gerald.