dence placed in him, that he was at present engaged in the
finishing of the new gun which was to be a triumph of the British
Navy--a weapon which was far and away in advance of any possessed by any
other nation, or anything ever turned out from Krupp's.

It was ticklish and exciting work, watching the two men and observing
the subtle craftiness of the German, who was trying to get the honest
Englishman into his power. But in our self-imposed campaign of
contra-espionage we had had many stirring adventures, and after all, our
life in Newcastle was not unpleasant. Barker was engaged at his office
all day, and we were then free. It was only at evening when we were
compelled to adopt those hundred and one subterfuges, and whenever the
watching was wearisome and chill we always recollected that we were
performing a patriotic duty, even though it be silent, unknown, and
unrecognised.

One night the pair were together in a bar in Westgate Road, when, from
their conversation, it was made very clear to me that Barker had
advanced his friend one hundred and seventy-five pounds, and that the
deeds of the new house were to be signed next day. Rosser was extremely
grateful to his friend. Half the purchase-money was to remain on
mortgage--a mortgage made over to Barker himself--just as we had
expected.

The men clinked glasses, and it was plain that Rosser had not the least
suspicion of the abyss opened before him. There are some men who are
entirely unsuspecting, and perhaps the British workman is most of all.

When I reported this to Ray and we had consulted together, we decided
that the time was ripe to approach Rosser and expose his generous
friend.

It was now quite plain to us that Barker would quickly bring pressure to
bear upon the foreman fitter to either supply a drawing and rough
specifications of the new gun, or else come face to face with ruin. We
had ascertained that, though an honest workman, Rosser only lived upon
his weekly wages, and had nothing put by for the support of his wife and
four children. The patriotic scruples of a man are not difficult to
overcome when he sees his wife and family in danger of starvation.

On the next evening we followed Rosser from his work up to Dilston Road
and called at his clean and humble home.

At first he greatly resented our intrusion, and was most indignant at
our suggestion that he was about to be made a cat's-paw by the Kaiser's
spies.

But on production of the lette