When the court reassembled it was merely to conclude proceedings. The prisoners were found guilty and sentenced to five years' close confinement in the fortress of Heligoland.
A confidential report drawn up in Von Wittelsbach's own handwriting was dispatched to the Admiralty at Berlin, and an official account of the trial sent to the Press. The latter had been carefully censored by the commandant. He felt tolerably safe, except for the fact that the _Diomeda_ was not back in South Haven at Heligoland. His secret was shared by five men only: the others present in the court were, owing to their inability to understand English, ignorant of the material facts of the case. Each of those five he thought he could rely upon, since their career depended solely upon the commandant's periodical reports to the German War Office.
And strangely enough his motives were actuated by a hatred of the British Empire; his deep reluctance to swerve from a resolution once formed, and an overwhelming desire to serve the Fatherland, completely overruled all sense of fair play.
"THANK goodness we are on board at last!" exclaimed Octavius Smith, as the two chums entered the companion-way of the _Diomeda_. "Those Dutchmen seem the essence of honesty. As far as I can see not a thing is missing."
"Of course; but I mean since the yacht was picked up. We'll have an overhaul to make sure."
"Strikes me I am not setting the Thames on fire over this business," remarked Stirling ruefully. "I've sent off three separate reports, but, between you and me, they are not startling enough to merit the expense of sending me out here. I suppose I lack journalistic ability to put the finishing touches to a rather bald account of the accident."
"Conjecture ought to be the journalist's sheet-anchor."
"Unless his theories are contradicted in the next issue, my dear chap. Then there's a breeze. But when do you propose sailing?"
"As soon as we get a fair slant of wind. I've no mind to go plugging against a south-wester for a week on end."
"I hope to goodness we get a fair breeze before that, or my leave will be up. But let's to work! We'll examine everything carefully and make an inventory of all that belongs to the late charterers. We'll turn out the contents of that rack first."