The Spectator., 1916-03-24
ITWENTY-FIRST lNSTALLMENT
CHAPTER lxxlIi.
The Encounter at Sea,

The Encounter at Sea.
 Over the sea, up into the stars, sped the distress call of the ship at sea: "S o. S. Gretzhoffen! s. o. s. Gretz- thoffen!"
 Broken, incoherent at times, but i'm perative, the strident vail of the wire less clamoring out into the empty air, asking for ears far away to listen to what it said. And ears did hear-the ears of friends.
 The prime minister of Gretzhoffen, as has been said, had by this time succeeded in making some sort of clearance of the unwelcome guests of the Gretzhoffen palace. He had got the king to bed, some of his officers to horse, and few of his servants to work. AS for himself, he felt him. self unable to establish the broken machinery of the government on any lasting basis. Frederick-Count Fred erick-the man with the strong brain and arm-where was he?
 Bent upon answering for himself this somewhat imperative question, the prime minister made search here and there for some clue to the miss ing nobleman. His agents ran the trail to the dock whence Count Fred erick had sailed so many days ago. He learned that at the time the king s yacht had put out there had been seen the line of smoke of passing steam fD,. hA1n ay-1 tb.A Nf the bay. Apparently the kings yacht had set out with the purpose of inter- cepting this steamer. What then had happened none could tell. Some where out on the sea the nobleman of Gretzhoffen had disappeared.
 Therefore, said the prime minister to himself, it might well be true that Count Frederick, having been gone a certain period of time, might now be ready to return. These long absences were usual with him, but always he had come back. Hitherto that had meant his return by land. Now it must mean his return by sea. It might be quite as well, reasoned the prime minister to have one of the earliest interviews with Count Fred erick on his return. It was well, sure ly, to be well established with those who would take control of affairs in the distracted kingdom of Gretz- hoffen.
 T shall even take our other yacht, the Adelina," said the prime minister to himself, and put myself in the way of the royal yacht. should it now be re- turning" And even so he did.
 The Adelina was a stout little steam ing craft, of good lines, and well enough armed.
 The prime minister did not hasten fin his errand, for indeed he had no definite purpose in view. Only, having put the Adelina into commission, he pushed out quite beyond the bay, un- til he felt the long roll of the Med iterranean under him. Then, as it chanced, at a point not so far from the late shipwreck of the PrinZ Ad- Ter, he slackened speed and kept him. self barely under way. Having noth- ing better to do, he waited.
 It was night now, and the stars were shining brightly above. The gentle airs of the South European sea were soft and languorous. But, to the prime minister, as he restlessly paced the deck of the Adelina, these things were lost. He was engaged in refiec- tions of none too pleasant a nature. Signing. he said to himself: There is ty, ,t | back
 He turned as the boats wireless op- orator hastened to him now, paper in his hand. He had not noticed the crackle of his own wireless masts of late, although from time to time he had sent out signals in the hope of striking somewhere some information regarding the missing craft.
 T beg pardon, sir" said the messen- ger excitedly, but we have just got an S. o. s. Someone is calling the Adelina."
 Calling us--where is it-who is it?" demanded the prime minister.
 They are calling Gretzhoffen and signing Frederick. It is s. o. s. they are in trouble somewhere. Who is it, excellency?"
 The prime minister started as though struck by an electric shock. Frederick! Who but the very man l want--Count Frederick-and calling us. Tell me-what is it that he says"
 Only the same thing. excellency- s. O. S.-Gretzhoffen-Adelina- Frederick. And. yes-he says One hundred and seventy-ive miles south southwest"
 "One hundred and seventy-five miles that, of course, must meau from the port whence he sailed. We are more