British Secret Service During the Great War

Boat-Snowstorms-False Alarm-Danish Profiteers-English Consul Prof

n Norway. The Wilson Line from Hull to Christiania continued to run one weekly boat regularly, which carried mails

ts, and although their accommodation and fittings were far from up-to-date, and travellers had to look after themselves much more than they shou

been laid down. I had simply to visit a certain hotel in a certain town, in a certain country, at a certain hou

my own providing), and as little luggage as possible, I made

d a Swede. One of the former was fortunately taken. It was certainly fortunate, because the latt

there was one Japanese. All were ill with sea-sickness, which was perhaps accentuated by a deadly fear of mines and torpedoes. Few slept, less ate, and as they were charged for the meals t

bird was sighted until the ship emerged from a fog-bank, wherein she had rolled for many

-west of Norway was reached. Cargo was discharged, more cargo was taken on board, and again the chains rattled in the ha

ar scenes repeated, until near midnight the lights o

every land in the hope of picking up money with the least possible exertion expended to earn it, I made my way to a quie

, but no one seemed to be particularly interested in anyone else. I had been there quite a time, and was wondering how I could explain my presence in order to excuse and justify a prolonged lingering, when I observed a small-built,

en for. The unknown was to give me certain orders. Without t

ld overhear his sotto voce, also within range of two or three others who were congregated i

aper out of his coat pocket and proceeded to make himself comfortable on a settee in a remote corner, where he could observe all that

lf on the same settee as the stranger and also became absorbed in a newspaper. Assuring myself that no one was within earshot except the little gentle

a countersign. "For whom does Mr. Jim require it?" I gave the third and final

less an observer had been stationed within a few feet of us, nothing transpired tha

eft his paper on the seat, and in passing me he whispered: "Y

It contained instructions to proceed to another hotel two full days' journey away, where I was to look out

ll I had been given, was already over-exhausted, and travelling in those days of war scares, high freights, and s

rms impeded navigation, whilst again and again the vessel had to lay to for hours at a stretch before her captain dare make any attempt at headway. Wrecks were continually passed, not cheery encouragem

mall Norwegian forage cap, I cautiously negotiated the companion-way. I suspected a German war-vessel had held up the ship. If so, I had no desire to meet any members of a boarding party until I had destroyed the sealed dispatch

ion seemed to the first mate necessary as the only chance of saving his life. The ship had, therefore, run to the neigh

ed that he died the following day i

ps. At one place a couple of Danes rushed over the gangway as it was being dropped preparatory to departure. They had made a record journey across the mountains

thing to concentrate one's thoughts

if further curiosity was to be satisfied. Securing a corner seat I cocked up both my legs on to the settee and buried myself in a book-the Sagas of the North. After ostentatiously appearing to drink a number of small g

so low a tone that not a word could be heard. As the snoring increased they raised their voices. Under the impression that the sleep was

nd on behalf of, or for resale to, the German Government. This business had apparently been going on for some time. Den

n being taken by the British Minister at -- to attempt to veto or

hing seemed to trouble. The other was thin and dyspep

quiet under the thousands we are

of thousands of barrels of herrings to Germany. He is shipping them off now, as fast as he can get them. An

er to remove him?"

And when an English Consul is allowed to rake in a fortune in a few months, supplying the

ed I shall be," grunted the other. "It will take them two d

Some time after this an exceptionally heavy sea struck the vessel, causing her to roll so heavily that everything on the tables was spilt, whilst I w

ts guests included many nationalities. At dinner I spotted three men of military aspect, each of whom might well be the gentleman in question. Cof

elonging to a smart regiment, but it would have been difficult to guess to what country he belonged. A first ventu

, and having selected a local one, settled myself down at ease in a long d

ion of the head, implying that he wished to be followed, slowly left the room and proceeded up the grand stairway. Waiting perhaps a quarter of an hour I also took the same route. The first and seco

did the same. This, of course, was not sufficient. For some little time we talked of trivialities and verbally fenced, and thrust, and parried, the while certain secret passwords were casually introduced and exchanged in a some

"blooded" in the Foreign Secret Servic