The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Riddle of the Sands, by Erskine Childers
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Title: The Riddle of the Sands
Author: Erskine Childers
Posting Date: October 13, 2010
Release Date: October, 2000 [Etext #2360]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RIDDLE OF THE SANDS ***
The Riddle of the Sands
by Erskine Childers
[Illustration: General Map A, frontispiece.]
The Riddle of the Sands (1903)
A Record of Secret Service Recently Achieved
Edited by
Erskine Childers
(1870-1922)
Contents
Preface
I.--The Letter
II.--The 'Dulcibella'
III.--Davies
IV.--Retrospect
V.--Wanted, a North Wind
VI.--Schlei Fiord
VII.--The Missing Page
VIII.--The Theory
IX.--I Sign Articles
X.--His Chance
XI.--The Pathfinders
XII.--My Initiation
XIII.--The Meaning of our Work
XIV.--The First Night in the Islands
XV.--Bensersiel
XVI.--Commander von Bruening
XVII.--Clearing the Air
XVIII.--Imperial Escort
XIX.--The Rubicon
XX.--The Little Drab Book
XXI.--Blindfold to Memmert
XXII.--The Quartette
XXIII.--A Change of Tactics
XXIV.--Finesse
XXV.--I Double Back
XXVI.--The Seven Siels
XXVII.--The Luck of the Stowaway
XXVIII.--We Achieve our Double Aim
Epilogue and Postscript
Maps and Charts
Map A--General Map
Chart A--Chart to Illustrate the Stranding of the 'Dulcibella,' etc.
Map B--Map of East Friesland
Chart B--Chart of Juist, Memmert, and Part of Norderney
Sketch--Memmert Salvage Depot
Preface
A WORD about the origin and authorship of this book.
In October last (1902), my friend 'Carruthers' visited me in my
chambers, and, under a provisional pledge of secrecy, told me frankly
the whole of the adventure described in these pages. Till then I had
only known as much as the rest of his friends, namely, that he had
recently undergone experiences during a yachting cruise with a
certain Mr 'Davies' which had left a deep mark on his character and
habits.
At the end of his narrative--which, from its bearing on studies and
speculations of my own, as well as from its intrinsic interest and
racy delivery, made
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