at rock. Years ago
there used to be a tramway down to the rock, and they shipped copper
ore by means of derricks into lighters, which were towed across in fine
weather to Swansea. But the mine closed down, the village is now
deserted, and I don't believe there are any fishermen there. They say
that the stream that flows into the port is still heavily charged with
mundic. At all events the water is of a bright-red colour for several
hundred yards from shore, and no fish will stick that."

It was close on the midnight following the disastrous attempt on the
part of U75 to capture the oil-tank. The submarine was running awash,
proceeding very slowly and cautiously towards Port Treherne--Station 41
of the secret petrol depots established by German agents along the
coast of the British Islands.

The lads had been informed of the destination of the submarine, but had
not been told why. Nevertheless it was an easy conjecture that U75 was
going there to pick up stores that she had been unable to obtain in
sufficient quantities at St. Mena's Island.

The Unter-leutnant was in charge of the submarine. Kapitan Schwalbe
had taken the advantage of the opportunity of a few hours' sleep.
Under-officered and undermanned, the strain on the personnel was a
severe one. It was only on rare occasions that Schwalbe could in
future descend from his post in the conning-tower.

At midnight, according to custom, the submarine called up her consorts
by wireless. Judging by the previous attempt it seemed a useless task,
but to the Operator's surprise he received a reply from U77, which was
then lying off the Scillies.

Kapitan Schwalbe, aroused from his sleep, eagerly awaited the decoding
of the message. It was to the effect that the commander of U77 had
received information that H.M.S. _Tremendous_, one of the earlier
Dreadnoughts, was leaving Gibraltar for Rosyth. The _Tremendous_, he
knew, had been engaged in the Dardanelles operations. U77 therefore
suggested that the two unterseebooten should meet at a rendezvous off
The Lizard, and attempt a _coup de main_, the success of which would go
towards atoning for the blunders and losses sustained by the German
submarines in their endeavour to blockade the British Isles.

"Good!" exclaimed Kapitan Schwalbe. "Tell them that I purpose to
rendezvous twenty kilometres S.W. by W. of The Lizard, on Thursday at
10 p.m. I am now about to take in fuel. Will communicate again at
noon to-