COUP-DE-MAIN OF VON DER TANN'S VOLUNTEERS. 87 



you know what I shall do? I shall take the two 



nearest Danes and grind them on one another to 

 powder!" That sort of thing did not exactly excite 

 confidence in future heroic deeds. 



The boat - squadron was to pass the fort about 

 half past eleven at night in the utmost stillness and 

 without lights, and then proceed to the blockade-ship 

 for the attack, when a signal given from the fort testi- 

 fied that the hostile ship was maintaining its wonted 

 quiet. The signal was duly given: it was. however, 

 about 1 o'clock before the first boats had reached the 

 fort. Then passed nearly two hours without anything 

 happening, and at last the whole party returned without 

 any order and with loud din. The "Admiral" had 

 at first not been able to find the blockade-ship, then 

 he declared he had observed that the ship was alarmed, 

 and was provided with boarding -nettings, so that 

 clearly the planned attack had been betrayed. With 

 cries of treachery the expedition returned to Holtenau, 

 arid soon afterwards disbanded itself. On the follow- 

 ing morning the ship lay in its accustomed place, and 

 with the strongest telescopes no special armature 

 against the threatened attack was to be observed. 



As von der Tann confided to me, the undertaking 

 had collapsed through want of discipline and too free 

 stimulating potations, and he himself had lost the 

 desire to make a further attempt. I was heartily sorry 

 for the able and amiable Bavarian officers in this 

 fiasco. Yon der Tann remained for several days my 

 guest in the fort, and I have in after years often 



