s as he laid them across
the thwarts. Then, after further conversation, could be heard the
rumble of metal as the tins of petrol were rapidly placed in the boat.

"How many are there?" asked Kapitan Schwalbe eagerly as the men
returned with the first load.

"Forty here, Herr Kapitan. Altogether there are over two hundred."

"Then be sharp and whip them on board. Was there any communication for
me?"

"A bundle of English newspapers, sir, and this letter."

The man drew the documents from the inside of his jumper and passed
them to a seaman, who in turn handed them to the skipper.

"I may have to land, sir," continued the seaman. "The rest of the cans
are in a cove at some distance from the landing-place. Can Max go with
me to mind the boat? There is a slight ground-swell at times, and she
might have a hole through her canvas if she is allowed to grind against
the rocks."

Receiving an affirmative reply, the man told his comrade to get on
board, and once more the boat vanished into the darkness.

Another twenty minutes elapsed, then came the sounds of muffled
footsteps, and of volatile spirit surging inside the petrol cans. Then
one of the men must have slipped, for there was a slight scuffling,
followed by the loud crash of a can clattering over the rocks.

"'Alt! Who goes there?" shouted a hoarse and unmistakably English
voice.

"Freund," promptly replied the German sailor.

It would have been far wiser on his part if he had waited for his
fellow-worker, the German agent, to reply, since his knowledge and
pronunciation of English were almost perfect. But unfortunately it was
the spy who had fallen, and, half-winded by coming in contact with one
of the tins, was gasping for breath and at the same time rubbing a
barked shin.

"Not good enough for me, old sport," rejoined the challenger, and
without further ado he let loose "five rounds rapid".

A loud yell announced that one of the bullets had at least taken
effect. It was the prostrate spy who received a dose of nickel through
the fleshy part of his thigh.

The seaman, dropping his cans, fled for his life. Recklessly he leapt
from the landing-place into the canvas boat, which his comrade had been
keeping at oar's length from the shore. The sudden impetus was too
much for the frail craft. She capsized, and, being only
single-skinned, sank like a stone.

Already men, members of a picket, were hastening to the sentry's
support, their progres