The Riddle of the Sands

by Erskine Childers

  The Riddle of the Sands

  by Erskine Childers

  General Map A, frontispiece.]

  The Riddle of the Sands (1903)

  A Record of Secret Service Recently Achieved

  Edited by

  Erskine Childers

  (1870-1922)

  Contents

  Preface

  I.--The Letter

  II.--The _Dulcibella_

  III.--Davies

  IV.--Retrospect

  V.--Wanted, a North Wind

  VI.--Schlei Fiord

  VII.--The Missing Page

  VIII.--The Theory

  IX.--I Sign Articles

  X.--His Chance

  XI.--The Pathfinders

  XII.--My Initiation

  XIII.--The Meaning of our Work

  XIV.--The First Night in the Islands

  XV.--Bensersiel

  XVI.--Commander von Br?ning

  XVII.--Clearing the Air

  XVIII.--Imperial Escort

  XIX.--The Rubicon

  XX.--The Little Drab Book

  XXI.--Blindfold to Memmert

  XXII.--The Quartette

  XXIII.--A Change of Tactics

  XXIV.--Finesse

  XXV.--I Double Back

  XXVI.--The Seven Siels

  XXVII.--The Luck of the Stowaway

  XXVIII.--We Achieve our Double Aim

  Epilogue and Postscript

  Maps and Charts

  Map A--General Map

  Chart A--Chart to Illustrate the Stranding of the _Dulcibella_, etc.

  Map B--Map of East Friesland

  Chart B--Chart of Juist, Memmert, and Part of Norderney

  Sketch--Memmert Salvage Depot

  Preface

  A WORD about the origin and authorship of this book.

  In October last (1902), my friend 'Carruthers' visited me in mychambers, and, under a provisional pledge of secrecy, told me franklythe whole of the adventure described in these pages. Till then I hadonly known as much as the rest of his friends, namely, that he hadrecently undergone experiences during a yachting cruise with acertain Mr 'Davies' which had left a deep mark on his character andhabits.

  At the end of his narrative--which, from its bearing on studies andspeculations of my own, as well as from its intrinsic interest andracy delivery, made a very deep impression on me--he added that theimportant facts discovered in the course of the cruise had, without amoment's delay, been communicated to the proper authorities, who,after some dignified incredulity, due in part, perhaps, to thepitiful inadequacy of their own secret service, had, he believed,made use of them, to avert a great national danger. I say 'hebelieved', for though it was beyond question that the danger wasaverted for the time, it was doubtful whether they had stirred a footto combat it, the secret discovered being of such a nature that meresuspicion of it on this side was likely to destroy its efficacy.

  There, however that may be, the matter rested for a while, as, forpersonal reasons which will be manifest to the reader, he and Mr'Davies' expressly wished it to rest.

  But events were driving them to reconsider their decision. Theseseemed to show that the information wrung with such peril and labourfrom the German Government, and transmitted so promptly to our own,had had none but the most transitory influence on our policy. Forcedto the conclusion that the national security was really beingneglected, the two friends now had a mind to make their story public;and it was about this that 'Carruthers' wished for my advice. Thegreat drawback was that an Englishman, bearing an honoured name, wasdisgracefully implicated, and that unless infinite delicacy wereused, innocent persons, and, especially, a young lady, would sufferpain and indignity, if his identity were known. Indeed, troublesomerumours, containing a grain of truth and a mass of falsehood, werealready afloat.

  After weighing both sides of the question, I gave my voteemphatically for publication. The personal drawbacks could, Ithought, with tact be neutralized; while, from the public point ofview, nothing but good could come from submitting the case to thecommon sense of the country at large. Publication, therefore, wasagreed upon, and the next point was the form it should take.'Carruthers', with the concurrence of Mr 'Davies', was for a baldexposition of the essential facts, stripped of their warm humanenvelope. I was strongly against this course, first, because it wouldaggravate instead of allaying the rumours that were current;secondly, because in such a form the narrative would not carryconviction, and would thus defeat its own end. The persons and theevents were indissolubly connected; to evade, abridge, suppress,would be to convey to the reader the idea of a concocted hoax.Indeed, I took bolder ground still, urging that the story should bemade as explicit and circumstantial as possible, frankly and honestlyfor the purpose of entertaining and so of attracting a wide circle ofreaders. Even anonymity was undesirable. Nevertheless, certainprecautions were imperatively needed.

  To cut the matter short, they asked for my assistance and received itat once. It was arranged that I should edit the book; that'Carruthers' should give me his diary and recount to me in fullerdetail and from his own point of view all the phases of the 'quest',as they used to call it; that Mr 'Davies' should meet me with hischarts and maps and do the same; and that the whole story should bewritten, as from the mouth of the former, with its humours anderrors, its light and its dark side, just as it happened; with thefollowing few limitations. The year it belongs to is disguised; thenames of persons are throughout fictitious; and, at my instancecertain slight liberties have been taken to conceal the identity ofthe English characters.

  Remember, also that these persons are living now in the midst of us,and if you find one topic touched on with a light and hesitating pen,do not blame the Editor, who, whether they are known or not, wouldrather say too little than say a word that might savour ofimpertinence.

  E. C.

  March 1903

  NOTE

  The maps and charts are based on British and German Admiralty charts,with irrelevant details omitted.