The Long Trick

or conversation, sleep, or convivial song. When the possibilities of these abs

re long coats of duffle or sheepskin provided by a maternal Admiralty in view of the severe weather conditions in the far North. The British bluejacket is accustomed to wear what he is told to wear, and further, to continue wearing it until he is told to put on something else. Hence a draft

as an ideal prelude to a hearty breakfast. Yet the cheerful, sleepy-eyed crowd of apparently par-boiled Arctic explorers that invaded t

ance (a woman once likened his face to that of a cherub looked at through a magnifying glass), stood at the door of his carriage and exchanged morning greetings with travellers of his acquaintance. Then the guard's whist

ed. "His name is Mouldy Jakes, and he can't speak for himself because his mouth is too full of bacon; but he wishes me to say that he's awfully sorry he forgot. He was

young lady from the buffet, who had emerged to wave farewell to a bold, bad Engine Room

id the young lady from the

collie rallying a flock of sheep. A Lieutenant-Commander of the Reserve, in a tattered monkey-jacket, was superintending the unstowing of bags and hammocks by a party of ancient mariners in whi

There were evidences of a carefully planned, wisely executed organisation in the speed with which the great crowd of blue-jackets and marines of all ranks an

Navy!" he observed to the India-rubber Man, while Thorogood went in search of food. "Good old firm! Father and mot

made for the adjoining platform, where the train

down in their compartments. They represented all ranks of the British Navy; a Captain and two Commanders were joined by the Naval Attaché of a great neutral Power on his way to visit the Fleet. An Engineer Commander and a Naval

ge of the base. The King's Messenger climbed into his carriage and the journey was resumed. Along the shores of jade-tinted lochs, through far-stretching dee

and change of companionship. The occupants of each compartment settled down grimly to endure the m

he window for familiar landmarks that recalled spells of leave in pre-war days, when he tramped on two feet throu

occupied the other corner. Conversation, stifled by ham sandwiches, restarted fitfully, and flagged from train weariness. Darkness pursued the whirling landscape and blotted

e if I never smelt whisky again," he confided to his vis-à-vis, "but I

thinned

r Reserve man appreciatively, pourin

, grinned and applied himself

tone, such as a professional might extend to the enthusiasm

South of Iceland…." He indicated with a nod the young gentleman in the corner, who was r

deep-sea sailor-men. That is to say, you could shu

kade across the trade routes of the Far North: "fancy" sailor-men do not apply for jobs in one of these amazons of the North Sea, and i

We hove to, trying to rig a jury mast, when up popped a Fritz."[1] The speaker laughed, a pleasant, deep laugh of complete enjoyment. "I thought we were in for a

tion, because he was a man of refined tastes and ra

g distance, and a little pipsqueak of a Lieutenant, nervous as a cat,

r of the wind-jammer?"

rning. You can't please everybody, it seems, when you start out to act mad in a submarine. Well, this lad examined our papers through a glass and I chucked him a cigar…. He

ke. There was something in his alert, intent expression reminiscen

these is the Submarine Hunter. The Reserve man belonged to this type, which is simply a reversion to the most prim

Sorry I wasn't there. I'd have thrown him somet

t, working with crazy drifters manned by East Coast fishermen. There was a retired Admiral in charge, as tough an old terror as ever pulled on a sea boot-and half a dozen of us all together, some Active Service and some Reserve like me. Navy? Bless you, we were the Navy, that old Admiral and us six." The speaker raised his voice to make plain

ing." He paused and contemplated his hands resting on his knees. Scarred by frost-bite they were, with huge bones protruding like knuckle-dusters. "Coaxing, mind you," he repeated. "I've been chief of an Argentine cattle-boat for f

when and where it suited their inclinations, to put to sea in the top-hats of their ancestors and return to harbour as weathe

air as if stroking something. "Then after a while we moved 'em on to something else-the Game itself, in fact-and my merry men tumbled to it in no time. It was in their blood, I guess. They'd hunted so

ned understandingl

es there then, so I knew our friend wasn't far off…." The Submarine Hunter mused for a moment, staring at his clasped hands, with the faint blue tattoo-marks showing under the tan. "We got him at dawn-off a headland…. Oh, best bit of sport

escribe the clearing of an enemy traverse, you will u

e up there. There are one or two dodge

r filled and

eutral colours without the possibility of her hoisting the German ensign and slipping a torpedo into you. That's why we intr

said the other. "Frit

at a red flag hoisted by one of our merchant cruisers is the signal to heave to instantly, and that brings her up well out of range. Then we drop a boat and steam off and signal her to close the boat,

contr

astward bound, that is. Also the passengers are scrutinised for suspects, and so on; it's a big job, one way and another. That

rchant-cruisers. He spoke of grim stern-chases under the Northern Lights, of perils from ice and submarin

of job, though, on the

he public, most of 'e

to come and visit us

ay into the illu

ne Hunter. "That's the way to wo

he speed slackened. The Reserve Man lowered the window and peered out in

e here. Bless me, how the tim

rose and hel

usive clubs, one in London and the other in New Yo

ook the proffered hand

verpool Shipping Federation generally knows my address. And the girls

muscular great throat above his colla

uck!" h

g!" replied

g, sonny, shake the sleep out of your e

d men's faces. Hoarse voices and the tramp of heavy boots through the slush heralded the passage along the platf

moment to accustom his

voice out of the darkness surrounding a pile of l

s he did so a passing lantern flashed on the fac

voice." He stepped towards the speaker and rested his ha

arkness at the face of the Volunteer Lieutenant. "

aughed. "Great Scott!" he exclaimed. "Were

"but I heard your voice and re

ht. Hard at work on some comi

man he wants for that experiment of his. I'll write to him, though. Now I must go and find my l

f turned away. An afterthought appeared

ded, "how's Miss Ce

," was the reply. "I'll

ou say I-I am looking forward to seei

oved away int

akes, panting behind a barrow. "

'em," replie

er of

Bill's, and as rich as Croesus. Amateur deep sea yac

-near-the-rose' business. Heave that suit-case over-unless you can find any more of your cousin's admirers sc

e King's Messenge

have supper with me a

u'll get on terra firm

car waiti

ices of a superannuated porter drifting past in the darkness. The King's Messenger

y Jakes abruptly as he and the India-rubber Man

sh. "A lad called Joe

er-before you were engaged, I

-rubber M

t down to Osborne College once and s

rkly in the direction o

feeling like that lad Joe. Useful

Subm