a volume of plans and
reports of defences of the Humber and its estuary, estimates of food and
fodder supplies in the country north of Hull, together with a list of
the foreign pilots and their addresses, as well as an annotated chart of
the river, showing the position where mines would be sunk at the river's
mouth on the alarm of invasion.

But what, perhaps, would have been even more alarming to the general
public, had they but known, was the discovery of several great bundles
of huge posters ready prepared for posting up on the day of
invasion--the Proclamation threatening with death all who dared to
oppose the German landing and advance--a copy of which I have given in
these pages.

It shows, indeed, what careful preparation our enemies are now making,
just as the installation of the secret wireless showed the tactful
cunning of the invader.

For our exertions, Raymond, Murphy, and myself received the best thanks
of the Lords of the Admiralty, at which, I confess, we were all three
much gratified.

CHAPTER XIV

PLAYING A DESPERATE GAME

On the 20th of December, 1908, it rained incessantly in London, and well
I recollect it. After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's
Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who
were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.

The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had
arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among
the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from
her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.

The club was practically deserted save for one or two old cronies. Every
one had gone to country houses, Ray was spending Christmas with Vera's
father at Portsmouth, and in view of the message I had received I felt
dull and alone. It is astonishing how very lonely a man may be at
Christmas in our great London, even though at other times he may
possess hosts of friends.

I had received fully a dozen invitations to country houses, all of which
I had declined, and was now, alas! stranded, without hope of spending "A
Merry Christmas," except in the lonely silence of my own bachelor
chambers. So I smoked on, looking forth into the darkening gloom.

The waiter switched on the light in the great smoking-room at last, and
then drew the heavy curtains at all the long windows, shutting out the
dismal scene.

A man I knew, a har