on our side, the great new machine
revolved a turn or two uneasily, it is true that the naval spur-wheel
was not itself entirely free of grit. The naval officers, who drilled us
down, were at first distant and superior; masters were a class,
forgotten since sail went out, who had now no prototype in His Majesty's
Service; there was no guide to the standard of association. Having
little, if any, knowledge of merchant-ship practice, naval officers
expected the same many-handed efficiency as in their own service. Crew
troubles were practically unknown in their experience; all coal was
'Best Welsh Navigation'; all ships, whatever their lading, turned, under
helm, apace! Gradually we learned--as they did. We saw, in practice,
that team work and not individual smartness was what counted in convoy;
that, be our understanding of a signal as definite and clear as the loom
of the Craig, it was imperative, for our own safety, that the reading of
out-wing and more distant ships should be as ready and accurate. In
this, our convoy education, the chief among our teachers were the
commodores, R.N. and R.N.R., who came to sea with us, blest, by a happy
star, with TACT!

[Illustration: A CONVOY CONFERENCE]

So, we learned, and now sit to listen, attentively and with respect, to
what the King's Harbour Master has to say about our due and timely
movements in forming up in convoy. On him, also, the happy star has
shone, and we are conscious of an undernote that admits we are all good
men and true and know our work. One among us, a junior by his looks,
dissents on a movement, and not all-friendly eyes we turn on him; but he
is right, all the same, and the point he raises is worthy the discussion
that clears it. Our ranks are evidence of a world-wide league of
seafarers against German brutality. While his frightfulness has barred
the enemy for ever from sea-brotherhood, it has had effect in banding
the world's seamen in a closer union. We are not alone belligerents
devising measures of warfare; in our international gathering we
represent a greater movement than a council of arms. British in
majority, with Americans, Frenchmen, a Japanese, a Brazilian--we are at
war and ruling our conduct to the sea-menace, but among us there are
neutrals come to join our convoy; peaceful seamen seeking a place with
us in fair trade on the free seas. Two Scandinavian masters and a
Spaniard listen with intent preoccupation to the lecture--a recital in
Engli