half-doors, Hamerton went on deck. Lying alongside was a grey cutter manned by seamen whose cap ribbons and blue-and-white jerseys, showing between the V-shaped opening of their jumpers, betokened them to be man-o'-warsmen of the Kaiser's navy. In the stern sheets sat two fair-haired officers—their chief characteristics fiercely upturned moustaches.  

"What ship is that?" asked the elder of the two officers, whose gold-lace distinction marks showed that he was a lieutenant-commander.  

"Yacht Diomeda," replied Hamerton promptly.  

"You are foreigners?"  

"Yes, British."  

"Said I not so, Heinrich?" said the senior officer to his companion in a tone of triumph. "Ach! Why have you not your ensign hoisted on the mainmast-head? Why, indeed, are you flying no ensign at all? Do you know this is a forbidden anchorage?"  

To reply to this battery of questions, rapped out with a harsh guttural voice, was a matter of difficulty to Hamerton, whose acquaintance with the German language was somewhat limited. Accordingly he solved the difficulty by answering the last.  

"I did not know this is a forbidden anchorage, Herr Lieutenant. That being so, I will change into more suitable attire, and shift my berth as soon as possible."  

"What does he want, Jack?" asked the American, who had just appeared from the cabin.  

"We've got to clear out. By Jove, we've tumbled into the anchorage off Heligoland!"  

For a glance towards the lofty red sandstone rock, fringed with a belt of dazzling white sand and capped by the brilliant hue of the grass, recalled to the Sub the old Frisian rhyme—  

 —as shown by the colours of the old Victorian postage stamps of the island.  

"Stop!" exclaimed the German officer peremptorily. "You must not go below."  

"Why not?" asked Hamerton coolly. "It is none too warm or pleasant standing out here in——"  

And not knowing the German for "pyjamas", he pointed meaningly at the thin pink-and-white garment he wore.  

"By order. You must not go below," replied the officer. "You will enter this boat, to be taken to be interviewed by the commandant of the fortress."  

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