t far enough to see that the ocean was black, and that across the
black of it the white patches were flying--dead white patches leaping
high in the night.

The fleet was in direct column ahead, or should have been. Some were
surely having their troubles staying there. This steaming close behind a
ship, with another ship close behind you--and you have to be close up to
see from one to the other on such a night--made me think as I stood
under the bridge that night: "Give me all the submarines in the world
before this with a fleet that has not had a chance to practise
evolutions."

There was not a steaming light of any kind, not even one shaded little
one in the stern, which an enemy might see and, seeing, swing in behind
it. Rather than show even the smallest little guiding light, our fellows
preferred to steam this way in the night.

The glad morning came, glad for the reason that an almost warm, bright
sun came with it. The sun showed three ships gone from the column. There
was more than one of us who wished that we too had gone from the column
about six hours ago. We would have slept better. Still, it was a good
experience to have--behind you. Wind and sea went down; all hands felt
better--especially the lookouts. Those who came down from the crow's
nest looked as if the grace of God had suddenly fallen on them.

By and by we picked up the drifters. They were looking just as hard for
us as we were for them; and later that day we ran into our escorts from
the other side. Everybody at once felt as if the trip was as good as
over. The fact was that the worst part of the war zone was ahead of us.
All hands were still turning in with life-belts handy, and most of them
with clothes on, but there was a feeling that now it was up to these new
escorts.

Before we reached France on this run we were in a U-boat fight, which I
shall tell of later. What I want to say now is that the submarine fight
had an enjoyable side to it, but as for that night run of our troop-ships
in gale and sea--a big ship just ahead, a big ship just behind, big
high-bowed ships plunging down at fourteen knots an hour from roaring
waters in the dark--there was no fun in that!

Of the scores of devices the fleet used to beat the U-boats on that run
across, a man can say nothing here. But to get back: our naval officer
stuck to his bridge until one most beautiful morning he took his ship
into a most beautiful port on a most beautiful shore. I never bef