Evening star., 1918-06-30
by C. J. Cutliffe Hyne I

space, ana tne tdNheT swung oh ""
Now we shan't be long" said Carn-
forth. when he came of watch, and
the pair were for minute alone to-
gether I'm hanged If I can see what
we can do. Have you managed to
pinch a gum"
ITS rather astonishing. sir. but I
don't think there's such thing on
board. They're an amazing lot of hay
makers. We must tackle them. when
the time comes. without that"
Then you have a scheme?"
I've ten, sir, but I don't know yet
which will come into use. We must
wait and see.' as you politicians say
when your heads are empty of ideas" ,
We'll, I'm going to do something.
marines taking it on board. sooner
than she shall go off with it. | sup
pose we shall get killed, but I'm not
going home with nothing done"
I'VE shall not get killed, Mr.. Carn-
forth, sir. and we shall do in the beast
ly Dutchmen all right. I make a point,
sir, of never getting killed. The main
thing that's troubling me is Kettline."
fIs whatT
That mixture of mine that is sdch
death to mildew on roses Lady ket
tie was, as you know. sir, business
lady before knew her. and she's been
business lady most of her life since.
But you know what the sex is when it
comes to bucking gardens. If any one
says how clean our roses are, she'll
think no more about giving away the
recipe than you would about telling
your fellow politicians the name Of,
your favorite throat tabloid
We'll" said Carnforth. impatienSy,
Il don't see that 1t matters"
'It matters all the time. sir. If that
recipe goes to the wrong ear there's
my patent jumped before you can say
slug"
Better ask the skipper for the loan
of the wireless" said Carnforth sar-
castically, land ring up your wife and
tell her to take care"
BY James. sir" said Kettle. that's
a sound idea. The minute we've sunk
that submarine I'll do it. But, for the
time being, the submarine comes first,
before" he added regretfully. before
even roses. Curse these Dutchmen.
They're always getting in the way Of
something. and always will. suppose,
till they're all wiped out. Well, sir,
there are a lot Of vipers knocking
about the world just now, that's one
comfort"
Carnforth was tired and stiff with
his unaccCstomed work. He got up
rustily. "WelI." he said. Cant you
give me something better to go on?'
with iron Delaying pins, and they're
many of them loose. Learn to an
inch where the loose ones are, SO that
you can always lay your hand on the
nearest. either by night or day with
out wink-time's waste. If you have
to hit with one, hit to xiii. Great
James. there's my bell. 1 must 60"
Three times the Gruda changed her
course in answer to the invisible or
ders, which gave hint that the Noat
waiting for them placidly. Once all
heads were drawn to the rail by the
sight of a wrecked trawler's dinghy,
and patch of floating fish boxes, and
another time they streamed through
a decaying, bobbling shoal of drownsdL
cattlemen sailed with the mules as a
sightless guard.
Here were signs enough of the Out
skirts of war, but the Gruda's COM
pany remained placid. They were
neutrals; if a British warship visited
them their papers were all in order:
and. for the rest, it was their full
right to sail the seas and gather
kroner while they might.
Then the wireless spoke again and
the scent grew hotter. Word was
given to the engine room that from
then till the business was over the
fullest head of steam was to be kept
ready for instant use, and the devil
take fuel consumption. Two derrick
booms were swung oversize and their
eted on to the ships plating ready
for them. The booms had lifts and
braces SO that the submarine could
be moored between them, and lie there
snugly alongside without danger of
some sudden western ocean swell
rolling the steamer down on the top
of her. Oil hoses were ranged, pumps
given a trial run, foists rigged and
all made coolly ready.
The Norwegian captain had little to
say in all this. The wireless man
took over complete charge. and the
ships company were given to under
stand that here was the complete
Prussian naval officer who could and
would deal out death. if necessary.
without an afterthought. He, at any
somewhere, and Capt Kettle-the
ships pantryman-puzzled as to
where the man had it slowed. But
the Gruda's crew regarded the Prus-
sian with bovine unconcern.
Suddenly out of the near horizon
the submarine leaped into sight at
nineteen knots. She swooped do~nsl
turning in narrow circle, and made
fast cleverly to the booms that were
waiting for her. Capt. Kettle men
tally took off his cap to the smartness
of her seamanship.
She was an uncouth devil of ves-
sci with low freeboard and ugly ex-
crescences along her decks, especially
amidships. and she bristled with dirty,
scrubble-bearded men who knew ex-
actly what to do and did it at the
double. Six of them came on to the
tanker, all shod with especially heavy
knee boots, which they used merci-
leSsly on the NorWegians-particu