But the deputation did not reach the bridge. They were met at the foot of the stairway leading to it by a polite but firm officer who informed them that under no circumstances would the captain tolerate any interference with his method of running the ship.
A third shot, which went wide, closely followed the one that had struck the after funnel. It flew high above them and caused Jack to observe:
"I don't believe they mean to hit the hull, but only to scare the captain into heaving the boat to."
"Looks that way," agreed Bill, "and as for the scare part of it, I guess they've succeeded, so far as everybody is concerned but Captain Rollok and his officers."
"We are gaining on zee cruiser without a doubt," asserted de Garros, whose eyes had been fixed on the pursuing sea fighter for some minutes.
"Yes, but look, there comes another," cried Jack, suddenly, pointing astern. "That must be the one Poffer heard signaling to the _Berwick_."
"We're in for it now," said Bill. "I wish that pig-headed captain would heave to and let them take the gold and the Germans, if that's all they are after."
"Hullo!" exclaimed Jack, suddenly, as they all stood waiting nervously to see the next flash and puff from the cruiser's turret. "I can see a gleam of hope for us. See what's ahead!"
Ahead of them the sea appeared to be giving off clouds of steam as if it was boiling. As yet this vapor had not risen high, but it was rapidly making a curtain above the sunny waters.
"It cannot be too thick for me," said de Garros.
"Perhaps Captain Rollok foresaw this and that was why he refused to halt," said Jack. "Certainly, if we can gain that mist bank before we get badly injured, we'll be all right."
It was now a race for the thickening fog curtains. The cruisers appeared to realize that if the _Kronprinzessin_ could gain the shelter of the mist, there would be but small chance of their capturing her. Increased smoke tumbling from their funnels showed that they were under forced draught. But as their speed increased so did that of the "gold ship."
The gun boomed again on the _Berwick_, the foremost of the pursuers. The projectile struck the stern of the liner and knocked the elaborate gilt work wreathing, her name and port, into smithereens.