"Where is the crew ?..." Kaledine pointed out to him three old sailors huddled on the prow and a ragged boy.

They were veterans of the Mediterranean, silent and self-centered, accustomed to obey orders mechanically, without troubling themselves as to where they were going, nor who was commanding them.
"Are there no more ?" Ferragut asked.
The count assured him that other men would come to reenforce the crew at the moment of its departure.

This would be just as soon as the loading was finished.

They had to take certain precautions in order not to attract attention.
"In any case, you will be ready to embark quickly, Captain.

Perhaps you may be advised with only a couple of hours' notice." Talking it over with Freya at night, Ulysses was astonished at the promptness with which the doctor had found a boat, the discretion with which she had had it loaded,--with all the details of this business that had been developing so easily and mysteriously right in the very mouth of a great harbor without any one's taking any notice of it.
His companion affirmed proudly that Germany well understood how to conduct such affairs.