The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Riddle of the Sands, by Erskine Childers

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

Title: The Riddle of the Sands

Author: Erskine Childers

Posting Date: October 13, 2010
Release Date: October, 2000 [Etext #2360]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RIDDLE OF THE SANDS ***

The Riddle of the Sands

by Erskine Childers

[Illustration: 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 Bruening

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 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