The Long Trick
papers, drawings and charts. He walked across the cabin to the tiled f
aw it, and they're seamen. I didn't see it, and-and I'm called a scientist." He made an
uestion of actual experience," he said. "Experience of this particular
n a piece of paper and stud
s a wonderful invention, and there's no limit to the possibilities of its development-or abuse. Until an effective c
in the North Sea-weather and visibility. And, later on, in the North Atlantic. I'm going over to Ireland next month." His tired eyes followed the blue smoke curling upwards. "Of course, the experiments we tried down South answer
Canute said. Or words to that effec
nes for a day or two and test that new theory-to-morrow if I may. And-while I think of it-I have prom
ut his hand, pressed the button o
*
o discuss sherry and the day's affairs before descending to their cabins to change. It was a cheerful gathering, as
of farmers or elders of the Church, or even Christy Minstrels, would, if thrown together for a sufficient period of time, and utterly dependent on one another for daily intercourse, fall into the places allotted to each by temperament and heredity. Each little community would own a
ing his voice. Working cables on the forecastle in the cold and snowy darkness, when men's faculties grow torpid with cold, and their safety among the grinding cables depends more upon the alert supervision of the First Lieutenant than the mere instinct for self-preservation, "Jimmy the One" was credited with powers allied to those of the high Gods. "'Tween decks," where the comfort and cleanliness of close on eleven hundred men was mainly his affair, they abus
ore recent discovery, Owen Wister's "Virginian." A widowed mother in a Yorkshire dower house was the only relative he was ever heard to refer to, and for her
lend of antagonistic and sympathetic traits of character which binds young men in an austere affection passing the love of woman. One was short and stout, the other tall and le
as that of a deliberate thinker whose thoughts had not led him to an entirely happy goal. Yet his smile when amused had a quality of gratitude to the jester, not altogether without pathos. He had a sligh
ng matter. He had an invalid wife; his means were small, and most of his life had been spent at sea. But misfortune seemed to have but tossed a challenge to his unquenchable optimism and faith in the mercy
et, gentle-mannered, fastidious in his dress and not given to overmuch speech. The Engineer-Lieutenant, whose outlook on life alternated between moods of fierce hilarity and brooding melancholy, according to the tenour of a correspondence with a distracting Red Cross nursing sister exposed to the perils of caring for good-looking military officers in the plains of Flanders. Lastly, the Captain of Marines; he w
ntered the crowded room and crossed over to the door leading t
got a guest to dinner
the Wardro
of the stove warming himself, crossed over to Thorogood
the wassail-bowl, my lad, I should like to remind you that the boat's crew will com
looked up from a game o
Paymaster. "Who've yo
ntroduction of "new blo
rally a matter of in
nalled from the Flagship that he was coming to
arm of the sofa watching the game of
"Is that man of mystery u
ed Thorogood. "Dirt
d college chum Sir William!" Then with a swift change of mimicry he bent in
e and I were lads together-hee-hee-brave lads ... Eton and C
eutenant, laughing. "You aren't a bit funny-in
nt. "Let us see now. What's the penal
ter calmly, with an eye on the sofa where
First Lieutenant, "so i
ely awakened from slumber, dumped on top of him, and his struggles stifled by the bodies of the P
entered into the game with zest, and sprawling across the Surgeon's chest with one m
!" The victim writhed
at donkey! Piff!-you'
o offence-Jimmy, I 'po
ug
roar the door opened a
appe
r," he called. "So
and wiping his face. The dog jumped to the deck and accompa
h his cloak over his arm, entered the a
we've just started training for the Regatta and we're straffing the coxs
her embarrassed grin and shook
chair of Comparative Anatomy-we were at college together-bless me!-a good
d the two men. "There's Mouldy-you remember him?" Mouldy Jakes came over and shook hands gravely. "And this is the rest of the Mess." He included the remainder
ew, "what about a co
nsibility of entertaining this eminent guest. "We've got ra
I came to the parting of the ways more years ago than I care to reme
"Well, Uncle Bill," he said, "what brings you
ying with-with an old friend for a few days, for a change of air," he said. He took the proffered
dy Jakes. "I'm the wine c
announced and they passed th
f the table and winked and glistened against the dark mahogany. Slips of white napery ran down on either side, on which the glasses, silver and cutlery lay. They
ated the glittering trophies. "I see you keep you
, successive ships bearing our name will carry them, you see ... yes, half a glass, please. But all you see here we won at battle practice just before the war, boat-racing and so on.... Incidentally we hope to win the Squadron Re
to on a scroll beneath it. The guest picked it up and examined it. "Wha
animated faces-many of them little more than boys
oncerned an episode of bygone days which appeared to be within the in
er and friendly mischief on certain faces Sir William read an
ights. Musing thus, glancing from face to face, and listening, half uncomprehending, to the laughing jargon, he glimpsed for an instant the indefinable Spirit of the Fleet. Each of these communities, separated by steel and darkness fr
to catch Sir William's eye. His nephew intercepted and interpreted the gesticulations. "Mouldy's recommending the Madeira, Uncl
ed and filled his
dmaster by a Marine waiter, the band in
e violins outside resumed their whimpering melody; coffee followed a second circulation of the deca
he Commander turned sideways to the guest of the evening. "Will you excuse me if I leave you?" he said. "I have to go the rounds." And risi
Which reminds me," he added, "that I met A
ar and contemplated the pal
ied. "Did you by any chance meet
r a moment, and that was in the darkness at the r
to America," re
choed his ne
hool friend. It seems s
rt se
used, "are you going to
going," was her
in silence
on earth did Cecily develop a
a book, I fancy,
Cecily likes-pottering about in old tweeds with a dog, sketching and fishing. I can't see her at Bailey's Beach s
am made n
tage been making love to her? I know he used to follow he
t into the feminine mind. All I know is that she looks rather pale, and she has grown uncommonly quiet. At
e spent a summer leave with us once, and he used to come up to town a good dea
ever remember her saying so. Do you think that would accoun
id James, "but he lost a foot early in
ked the Scien
. And he's frightfully in love with her. You see, a th
fail to see what I am to do. I can't kidnap this young man and carry him to my
Crabpots!" He chuck
ry, as you imply," continued the older man, "it's no us
en't safe enough just now-we'd never forgive ourselves if we let Ceci
abins, there to write letters, read, or occupy themselves in wood-carving and kindred pursuits. At a small table in the comer of
alone remained seate
's move on, Uncle Bill. Would
ke this opportunity of paying a visit to the Gunroom. When you are my age you'll find a pe
arine postman entering with his arms full of letters and papers. "Hullo," he continued, "here's the
end of the table resembled a bee swarm: a babel of voices sounded as those nearest the pile
til the distribution was complete. Then they were seen, an
ght him along here." The Sub laughingly shook hands, and the inmates in his immediate vicinit
"It's all right as long as you don't lean back-but if you do we must prop it against
drink?" queried Kedgeree. "
m smilingl
r form of entertainment. "We've got some perfectly priceless George Robey ones-
he support afforded by the table and leaning bac
gne advanced with a soda-water bottle, a corkscrew and
to throw into the air and catch his miscellany, while the trumpet of the gramo
his eye. "Remarkable!" he said warmly. "A re
ashed something; the gramophone record was palpably cracked; their powers of entertainment were rapidly
rge has called for
ted juggler caught and retained the soda-water bottle,
miling, and took his departure amid polite murmurs of farewell, followed by James. Proof of his appreciation of the entertainment
e said when the door had closed behind the visitors
his forehead, and stepping across to the common bookshelf indicated the back o
other's finger. "Good
splay of my unequalled t
me more sleepless nig
ge Robey been shoutin
. He slit the envelope and sat down in the vacated arm-chair. It was from his sister at school in Eas
up that bet with Harcourt's father at the club. He probably can afford to lose and you can't. There are lots of things that Mother wants that ten pounds would buy. Besides, Harcourt is my best
LL
pale, picked up his sister's let
losed. It had evidently been put in by mistake, because th
the enclosure. It was in Mordaunt's handwriting. But how did i
t came across the mess
er has just sent me this lett
id, "it's one I wrote to my sister for her birthday. And here's
ossession, looked his friend in the eyes and smiled wanly. "I've only j
what's happened. Do you remember that scrap just as we were finishing our letters the other night? Bosh pulled the ta
tter to his father over
end it off to my sister, with a note to explain. There's no harm done! I don't suppose your letter was a matter of vast importance ei
the stove, slowly teari
. "Oh, no ...