e to be done. Why would she stay on deck?"

He cleared his throat and spat into the sea, after the fashion of
sailors.

The other two said nothing. Silently they obeyed the orders of the
skipper, who made for the mouth of the Schelde again.

They made no attempt to save her. It would have been a useless task.

XXXI

THE STOLEN DOCUMENT

The last ordinary train to Antwerp had gone long before Heideck reached
the station. But a short interview with the railway commissioner
sufficed, and an engine was at once placed at the Major's disposal.
When he had mounted to the stoker's place the station-master saluted and
signalled to the driver to start. For a moment Heideck felt a sharp pain
in his heart like a knife when the grinding engine started. It was
his life's happiness that he was leaving behind him for ever. A dull,
paralysing melancholy possessed his soul. He seemed to himself to be
a piece of lifeless mechanism, like the engine puffing ceaselessly
onwards, subject and blindly obedient to the will of another. All
his actions were decided, no longer by his own resolutions, but by
an inexorable, higher law--by the iron law of duty. He was no longer
personally free nor personally responsible. The way was marked out for
him as clearly and distinctly as the course of the engine by the iron
lines of rails. With tightly compressed lips he looked fixedly before
him. What lay behind was no longer any concern of his. Only a peremptory
"Forward" must henceforth be his watchword.

About six o'clock in the morning he stood before the royal castle on
the Place de Meix, where the Prince-Admiral had fixed his quarters, King
Leopold having offered him the castle to reside in.

In spite of the early hour Heideck was at once conducted to the Prince's
study.

"Your Royal Highness," said Heideck, "I have a report of the utmost
importance to make. These orders of the English Admiralty have fallen
into my hands."

The Prince motioned him to a seat by his desk. "Be good enough to read
the orders to me, Herr major."

Heideck read the important document, which ran as follows:--

"The Lords of the Admiralty think it desirable to attack the German
fleet first, as being the weaker. This attack must be carried out before
the Russian fleet is in a position to go to its assistance in Kiel
harbour. Therefore a simultaneous attack should be made on the two
positions of the German fleet on the 15th of July."

"On the 15th of July