tting her drag.

Fortunately the tide set evenly along the bed of the channel. A
cross-current would have set the submarine upon the jagged rocks of the
hidden West Helwick Ridge. Nevertheless there was always the danger of
being hurled violently against a detached rock, or of fouling a live
mine if by chance the British had laid obstructions in the channel.

Both Ross and Vernon knew the danger, but, manfully concealing their
misgivings, they watched the faces of those of the crew who were "watch
below". Most of the men were Frisians, broad-shouldered,
blonde-featured, and generally devoid of fear. Yet the ceaseless
strain upon the nerves had already begun to tell. As hardy fishermen,
they would not have hesitated to launch their open boats in a storm to
go to the rescue of a hapless vessel aground on the grim sand-banks of
the Frisian shore. As the conscript crew of the submarine, compelled
to keep within the limits of a steel box that almost momentarily
threatened to be their tomb, their natural bravery was quenched.

Many of them sat upon their lockers, stolid-faced men who had already
tasted of the bitterness of death. Others showed unmistakable signs of
excitement, bordering on frenzy. They dreaded their life of modern
piracy. The idea of sinking hapless merchantmen was repugnant to them,
for they understood the brotherhood of the sea. It would be different
if they were called upon to attack an armed British ship of war. They
had no option but to obey their junker officers, who in turn were
compelled to accept the misguided orders of the arch-pirate, von
Tirpitz.

They were disheartened, too, for reports, in spite of the vigilance of
the officers to conceal them, had reached them of the losses inflicted
upon other unterseebooten. Occasionally they heard of a submarine crew
being saved, but generally it was a case of total loss of all on board,
by some hitherto unknown means, at the hands of the British Navy.

A hand touched Ross lightly on the shoulder. Turning, he saw Hans
Koppe standing in a darkened corner of the compartment.

"Can you tell me this, mein herr?" asked the seaman in a low tone. "Is
it true that the English give no quarter to German seamen in
submarines?"

"I shouldn't think that they would refuse to do so," replied Trefusis.
"Of course, I can quite understand that an opportunity doesn't often
occur; but I've heard of several instances in which your U-boats have
surrendered,