[1] Jack hit nearer the truth than he realized at the time. The _BanRigh_ had, in fact, awakened the suspicions of the English authorities,and the attention of the custom officers was directed to her by theplacing of a searchlight on her foremast. An examination disclosed thefact that parts of guns and gun-mountings had been stowed away belowdeck, where passages had been cut to allow the crew to move about withfacility. She was released and permitted to leave port because theColombian official in London claimed that she was being fitted out forthe service of his government. Sailing ostensibly for Colon, shecalled at Antwerp, where she was loaded with 175 tons of Mausers and180 tons of ammunition, besides field guns, billed as "hardware,musical instruments and kettledrums." She also took on here a Frenchartillery captain, a doctor, and two sergeants. The guns were mountedbefore she reached Martinique, and while there a sham sale was made.So it will be seen that Jack and the young engineers had ample reasonfor mistrusting the vessel whose career reads like a chapter fromromance rather than the actual history of a ship that, possibly, didmore to foment international disputes concerning the Venezuelan warthan anything else.--AUTHOR.
Where Duty Called; or, In Honor Bound Page 3
