The Riddle of the Sands | Page 3

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Riddle of the Sands
by Erskine Childers

[Redactor's Note: This text is in ISO 8859-1, the "Windows: character set. However it should also be useable with DOS browsers as there are only a few high order characters. Italics are preserved by surrounding with the "_" character.
Maps are in separate "TIFF" files, which may [not at this time. . .] or may not be available at PG. "Riddle" is said to be one of the best spy and sailing yarns ever written.
An HTML version of "Riddle" (the basis of this text)is available at http://eldred.ne.mediaone.net/ along with a biography of Erskine Childers. The story reflects on an earlier time when men and guns crossed easily across frontiers and the most important thing to take on a cruise besides a "prismatic compass" was a pound of your favorite pipe tobacco.]

The Riddle of the Sands (1903)
A record of Secret Service Recently Acheived
Edited by
Erskine Childers
(1870-1922)
Contents
* Preface
* 1 The Letter * 2 The Dulcibella * 3 Davies * 4 Retrospect * 5 Wanted, a North Wind * 6 Schlei Fiord * 7 The Missing Page * 8 The Theory * 9 I Sign Articles * 10 His Chance * 11 The Pathfinders * 12 My Initiation * 13 The Meaning of our Work * 14 The First Night in the Islands * 15 Bensersiel * 16 Commander von Br��ning * 17 Clearing the Air * 18 Imperial Escort * 19 The Rubicon * 20 The Little Drab Book * 21 Blindfold to Memmert * 22 The Quartette * 23 A Change of Tactics * 24 Finesse * 25 I Double Back * 26 The Seven Siels * 27 The Luck of the Stowaway * 28 We Achieve our Double Aim
* Epilogue and Postscript
Maps and Charts
* Map A -- General Map * Chart A -- Stranding of the Dulcibella * Map B -- East Friesland * Chart B -- Juist, Memmert, 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 my chambers, and, under a provisional pledge of secrecy, told me frankly the whole of the adventure described in these pages. Till then I had only known as much as the rest of his friends, namely, that he had recently undergone experiences during a yachting cruise with a certain Mr 'Davies' which had left a deep mark on his character and habits.
At the end of his narrative--which, from its bearing on studies and speculations of my own, as well as from its intrinsic interest and racy delivery, made a very deep impression on me--he added that the important facts discovered in the course of the cruise had, without a moment's delay, been communicated to the proper authorities, who, after some dignified incredulity, due in part, perhaps, to the pitiful inadequacy of their own secret service, had, he believed, made use of them, to avert a great national danger. I say 'he believed', for though it was beyond question that the danger was averted for the time, it was doubtful whether they had stirred a foot to combat it, the secret discovered being of such a nature that mere suspicion of it on this side was likely to destroy its efficacy.
There, however that may be, the matter rested for a while, as, for personal reasons which will be manifest