"Whereas, we, the company known as the Nine Men of Cadiz, have been placed by universal decree outside the law, and whereas it is against our desires that such decrees of outlawry should exist against us, both from the point of view of our own personal comfort and safety, and from the point of view of the free exchange of commercial (_sic_) relationships.
"That unless an immediate free pardon be granted to each and every man on board the _Maria Braganza_ and liberty be given to him to go his way peaceably without arrest or fear of molestations (sic), the owners and crew of the _Maria Braganza_ will declare war upon the commerce of the world. It will loot and destroy such shipping as may with advantage be so looted and destroyed, and in the end will fight to the last against its aggressor.
It is no exaggeration to say that the publication of this manifesto caused a panic, not only in shipping circles, but throughout the civilised world. The sea held a hidden danger, neither life nor property was secure.
That the fears of the community were justified was proved by the story of the _Taglan Castle_, and within a fortnight came the story of the North Atlantic outrage.
The _Caratana_, the fastest mail-ship afloat, as well as being nearly the largest, was sixty hours out of New York with 350 passengers on board, when she came up with a strange warship flying a red flag. The warship hoisted an unintelligible signal, which the captain of the _Caratana_ did not understand. It was followed by one of which there could be no mistaking the meaning:
The captain of the Atlantic liner knew all that was known about the _Maria Braganza_, and at once realised his danger. If he did not realise it, there came a shell from the warship which passed astern. Fortunately, there was a mist on the water, which grew heavier every minute--a dense bank of fog, not usually met with so far east.
The captain of the _Caratana_ decided upon the course of action he would take. Very quickly he signalled "I surrender," and rang his engines to "stop." The men on the warship seemed satisfied with his action, and no further demonstration was made against the liner. Such was the "way" on the big ship that, although her propellers had ceased to revolve, she continued her course--nearer and nearer she grew to a thick patch of the fog that lay ahead of her. The _Maria Braganza_ may have suspected the manoeuvre, for she signalled "Go astern."