assembled the _Delta_ and _Epsilon_, one on each side of me, I
received the report from Miriam and Var, the respective commanders. Each
had expended twelve torpedoes, and between them they had sunk twenty-two
steamers. One man had been killed by the machinery on board of the
_Delta_, and two had been burned by the ignition of some oil on the
_Epsilon_. I took these injured men on board, and I gave each of the
boats one of my crew. I also divided my spare oil, my provisions, and my
torpedoes among them, though we had the greatest possible difficulty in
those crank vessels in transferring them from one to the other. However,
by ten o'clock it was done, and the two vessels were in condition to keep
the sea for another ten days. For my part, with only two torpedoes left,
I headed north up the Irish Sea. One of my torpedoes I expended that
evening upon a cattle-ship making for Milford Haven. Late at night,
being abreast of Holyhead, I called upon my four northern boats, but
without reply. Their Marconi range is very limited. About three in the
afternoon of the next day I had a feeble answer. It was a great relief
to me to find that my telegraphic instructions had reached them and that
they were on their station. Before evening we all assembled in the lee
of Sanda Island, in the Mull of Kintyre. I felt an admiral indeed when I
saw my five whale-backs all in a row. Panza's report was excellent. They
had come round by the Pentland Firth and reached their cruising ground on
the fourth day. Already they had destroyed twenty vessels without any
mishap. I ordered the _Beta_ to divide her oil and torpedoes among the
other three, so that they were in good condition to continue their
cruise. Then the _Beta_ and I headed for home, reaching our base upon
Sunday, April 25th. Off Cape Wrath I picked up a paper from a small
schooner.

"Wheat, 84; Maize, 60; Barley, 62." What were battles and bombardments
compared to that!

The whole coast of Norland was closely blockaded by cordon within cordon,
and every port, even the smallest, held by the British. But why should
they suspect my modest confectioner's villa more than any other of the
ten thousand houses that face the sea? I was glad when I picked up its
homely white front in my periscope. That night I landed and found my
stores intact. Before morning the _Beta_ reported itself, for we had the
windows lit as a guide.

It is not for me to recount the messages whic