The Riddle of The Sands By Erskine Chiders

Oldtuberadio

Saturday-Night Theatre: The Riddle of the Sands Sat 8th Jan 1994, 19:50 on BBC Radio 4 FM  Erskine Childers's classic story, with Laurence Kennedy as Carruthers and Charles Simpson as Davies. Dramatised by Roderick Graham  Two young men go sailing for pleasure, unaware that they're sailing into the greatest danger they will ever know.  Director Jane Morgan  Carruthers: Laurence Kennedy Davies: Charles Simpson Dollman: Frederick Jaeger Clara: Jo Unwin Von Bruning: Wolf Kahler Grimm: Michael Wolf Bohm: Gertan Klauber Bartels: John Baddeley Kiel Clerk: Colin Pinney Hawkins: Simon Treves  When Charles Carruthers accepts an invitation for a yachting and duck-shooting trip to the Frisian Islands from Arthur Davies, an old chum from his Oxford days, he has no idea their holiday will become a daredevil investigation into a German plot to invade Britain.  Out of context, the story of Erskine Childers's The Riddle of the Sands sounds like a bog standard thriller, but that's because so many books are pale echoes of this exceptional novel.  Published in 1903, it predicted the threat of war with Germany and was so prescient in its identification of the British coast's defensive weaknesses that it influenced the siting of new naval bases.  It is also credited as an inspiration to everyone from John Buchan to Ken Follett. The writing is gripping and it's a marvel that Childers manages to make the minutiae of sailing and navigation so engrossing. … The Guardian, 2009

Transcript

00:00:00The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers, dramatized by Roderick Graham, with Lawrence

00:00:19Kennedy as Carruthers and Charles Simpson as Davis.

00:00:23The Riddle of the Sands.

00:00:30I was finding London in the September of 1903, a dull place.

00:00:41All of my friends were out of town, shooting in Scotland or on the Riviera, and I was at

00:00:46a loose end, a very loose end indeed.

00:00:49I had been led for a few evenings into the shady haunts of Soho, and had even ventured

00:00:55as far east as the Ratcliffe Highway, where I had sat next to a portly female, who at

00:01:01frequent intervals refreshed herself and her infant from a bottle of tepid stout.

00:01:08Therefore, I now confine myself to dining at my club, or rather, I should say, at a club

00:01:13which, since mine was being painted and refreshed during the summer, acted as my host.

00:01:18In truth, it was a sorry place and hardly worth dressing for.

00:01:23I could not know that my boredom and indolence was soon to be replaced by the greatest adventure

00:01:30of my life.

00:01:34More boiled cod, sir?

00:01:36Hawkins?

00:01:37I think not.

00:01:39Carruthers?

00:01:40No, for me.

00:01:41Very good.

00:01:42Could you bring us the Havanas and a decanter of brandy in this making room?

00:01:45Certainly, sir.

00:01:46I know it's bad form to speak ill of one's host, but this is a truly awful club.

00:01:53I'm surprised to find you here, Carruthers.

00:01:54I thought you'd be out of town.

00:01:56I didn't much care for the invitations I got, and didn't get the invitations I would have

00:02:00cared for.

00:02:01So, the Foreign Office gets my undivided attention, for a change.

00:02:06What on earth do you find it do all day?

00:02:09Right boring precy from the Lesser Consulate.

00:02:12Ah, I smoke cigarettes, mainly.

00:02:14Shall we go through to the smoking room?

00:02:16Hmm.

00:02:27So, things were a bit bleak socially.

00:02:31No shooting, no yachting parties.

00:02:33As a matter of fact, something has turned up.

00:02:35Do you remember a chap called Davis when we were up at Oxford?

00:02:39On our staircase.

00:02:41Red law.

00:02:42Quiet sort.

00:02:43I just remember him.

00:02:45I'm a bit scruffy.

00:02:46Not in our set.

00:02:47Missed about with boats a lot, I recall.

00:02:49That's the chap.

00:02:50I saw a bit of him when I came down, but we drifted apart.

00:02:53Your brandy and cigars, sir.

00:02:55Ah, thank you.

00:02:56Cut us a pair of Romeos, if you will.

00:02:58I'll cope with the brandy.

00:02:59Very good, sir.

00:03:01Well, he wrote to me yesterday.

00:03:03Invited me to a cruise in the Baltic.

00:03:05The Baltic?

00:03:07And in September?

00:03:08I can't say I'd be too keen.

00:03:10Anyway, I don't know a soul in the Baltic.

00:03:12I thought the Admiralty had friends everywhere.

00:03:18We do draw the line somewhere, you know.

00:03:20And the Baltic's a bit odd.

00:03:22So is Davis's letter.

00:03:24Have a look.

00:03:25Oh, come on.

00:03:30Can't say the notepaper's too impressive.

00:03:31I think this is some kind of oil.

00:03:34Dear Carruthers, I dare say you'll be surprised at hearing from me,

00:03:38as it's ages since we met.

00:03:40So I'm merely right on the off chance to ask if you would care to come out here

00:03:44and join me in a little yachting.

00:03:45And I hope duck shooting.

00:03:47My pals have had to leave me, and I'm badly in want of another,

00:03:51as I don't want to lay up yet for a bit.

00:03:53If you can come, send me a wire to the post office here at Flensburg.

00:03:57Bring your gun and lots of number fours.

00:04:00And would you mind getting mine out of Lancaster's and bringing it?

00:04:03Bring some oil skins, too.

00:04:05Better get the eleven shilling sort of jacket and trousers, not the yachting sort.

00:04:08I know you speak German like a native, and that will be a great help.

00:04:14Forgive this hail of directions, but anyway, I hope you and the F.O. flourish.

00:04:18Goodbye.

00:04:19Yours ever, Arthur H. Davis.

00:04:21P.S.

00:04:22Would you mind bringing a pound of raven mixture, a prismatic compass, and a number three ripping-gill stove?

00:04:30Quite a shopping list.

00:04:31You going?

00:04:32I've got some leave due.

00:04:34So I saw my boss this morning.

00:04:35You remember him?

00:04:36Yes.

00:04:37Well, I cleared it with him.

00:04:39It all sounded a bit of a lark.

00:04:40So why not?

00:04:42Why no yachting trousers?

00:04:44And what on earth is a ripping-gill stone?

00:04:46Very large and heavy indeed.

00:04:49I got all his stuff at the stores today.

00:04:52There was a queue.

00:04:53But I'm off tomorrow night.

00:04:55More brandy.

00:04:56By 8.30, I had shaken off the dust of London from my feet.

00:05:05And at 10.30, I was, thanks to a prompt railway train, pacing the deck of the flushing steamer,

00:05:11adrift on this fatuous holiday in the far Baltic.

00:05:14An air from the west, cooled by a midday thunderstorm, followed the steamer as she slid through the calm channels of the Thames estuary,

00:05:24past the cordon of scintillating lightships that watch over the sea roads to the imperial city like a sleeping army,

00:05:32and slipped out into the dark spaces of the North Sea.

00:05:36An irresistible sense of peace and detachment, combined with that delicious physical awakening that pulses with a nerve-sick townsman

00:05:50when city airs and bad routine are left behind him,

00:05:54combined to provide me with a solid background of resignation.

00:06:00If the weather held up, my night powers are not intolerable a fortnight with Davis.

00:06:06I settled this programme, and then turned in.

00:06:15From Flushing eastward to Hamburg, and then northward to Flensburg,

00:06:20I shall cut short the next day's sultry story, past dyke and windmill and still canals,

00:06:25onto blazing stubbles and roaring towns,

00:06:28at the last, after dusk, through a quiet level region,

00:06:32where the train pottered from one lazy little station to another.

00:06:36And, at ten o'clock, I found myself, stiff and stuffy,

00:06:41on the platform at Flensburg, exchanging greetings with Davis.

00:06:46Davis! I say, Davis!

00:06:49Oh, Roberts! My dear chap!

00:06:51It's awfully good of you to come!

00:06:53Not at all. It was very good of you to ask me.

00:06:55I'm afraid I'm not fit to be seen, but, well, this time of night doesn't matter.

00:06:59I've been painting hard all day, just got it finished.

00:07:02I say, you've got a good deal of stuff.

00:07:04You've gave me a good many commissions.

00:07:06Oh, I didn't mean those things.

00:07:08Thanks for bringing them, by the way.

00:07:09No, it's that portmanteau.

00:07:12You couldn't do with just the Gladstone, I suppose, could you?

00:07:14Well, I see, the dinghy, um...

00:07:16And then there's the hatchway.

00:07:20Oh, anyhow, let's try.

00:07:21I'll take this, sir.

00:07:22Aren't your crew here?

00:07:23Crew?

00:07:25Well, perhaps I should have told you.

00:07:26I never have any paid hands.

00:07:28It's quite a small boat, you know.

00:07:30I do hope you didn't expect luxury.

00:07:32Come on, let's go.

00:07:33Isn't it rather late to go aboard?

00:07:35I think I'd rather sleep at an hotel tonight.

00:07:37Of course, you can do that if you like.

00:07:39It probably seems worthwhile to cart all this stuff to an hotel and back to the boat tomorrow.

00:07:44Surely there are porters.

00:07:45Not at this time of night.

00:07:46But don't worry, the dusk is quite comfortable, and if you're tired, you're sure to sleep well.

00:07:50Anyway, I shall have to go aboard.

00:07:52I never sleep on shore.

00:07:55Heavily loaded, we stumbled over wet and treacherous railway lines,

00:08:00and came on a stairway, whose weedy steps disappeared below into the gloom of the dock.

00:08:06Gingerly, I descended, holding as a guide a sodden painter,

00:08:10which ended in a very small boat,

00:08:13conscious that I was collecting slime on cuffs and trousers.

00:08:17Having once sat down with one foot in the water,

00:08:21I climbed richly into the dinghy and awaited events.

00:08:24Now, uh, make fast at that ring down there.

00:08:28Any knot will do.

00:08:31Right.

00:08:32Here comes your portmanteau.

00:08:33Stay dead amidst it.

00:08:38All right?

00:08:38Got it.

00:08:39Does she fit?

00:08:40Yes, but it's...

00:08:41Careful, now for the rest.

00:08:44Scratching at the greasy wall to keep the dinghy close to it,

00:08:48I received in succession our stores,

00:08:50and stowed the cargo as best I could,

00:08:54while the dinghy sank lower and lower in the water,

00:08:58and its precarious superstructure grew higher and higher.

00:09:02Catch!

00:09:03Oh!

00:09:04Oh, be careful of that!

00:09:06This is blood!

00:09:07Yes, I know, it's meat.

00:09:09Right.

00:09:12She's rather deep.

00:09:14I think we'll manage, sir.

00:09:15Now, you sit right aft, and I'll row.

00:09:18Oh!

00:09:18All right.

00:09:23I'm lying a little way down the fjord, you see.

00:09:26Hate to be too near a town.

00:09:27There's a carpenter handy, too.

00:09:31There she is.

00:09:32We'll be alongside in a jiffy.

00:09:34Get our gear unloaded.

00:09:36In a moment, he rode us out to his boat,

00:09:39jumped on deck, tied the painter,

00:09:41and was round at my end.

00:09:42Hold her steady.

00:09:44It was a laborious task,

00:09:46but when the stack was transferred,

00:09:48to the deck, I followed it,

00:09:50tripping over the flabby meat parcel,

00:09:52which was already showing dusty signs of disintegration.

00:09:55Try not to stand up, old man.

00:09:58What was that?

00:10:00Hazily, there floated through my mind

00:10:02my last embarkation on a yacht.

00:10:04What a contrast with this sordid midnight scramble over damp meat and littered packing cases.

00:10:26The bitterest touch of all was a growing sense of inferiority and ignorance,

00:10:33which I had never before been allowed to feel in my experience of yachts.

00:10:38Welcome aboard the dulcibella.

00:10:43I'll just show you around below first,

00:10:45and then we'll stow things away and get to bed.

00:10:48Ow!

00:10:49Oh, mind your head.

00:10:50I'll light a candle and you can look around.

00:10:53Right-o.

00:10:56Hold on a second.

00:10:58There we are.

00:11:00See?

00:11:01Plenty of room to sit upright.

00:11:02Some people make such a fuss about headroom,

00:11:04but I never bother much about it.

00:11:06Oh!

00:11:07My sins again!

00:11:08Aye, that's the centreplate case.

00:11:10The dulci's a flat-bottomed boat,

00:11:12drawing very little water without the centreplate,

00:11:14so that's why there's a little headroom.

00:11:16For deep water, you can lower the plate,

00:11:18so in one way or another you can go practically anywhere.

00:11:20You sit there, I'll boil some water, and we'll have some grog.

00:11:25My eyes were used to the light now,

00:11:27and I took in the rest of my surroundings.

00:11:30Two long cushion-covered seats flanked to the cabin,

00:11:33bounded at the aft end by cupboards,

00:11:36one of which was cut low to form a sideboard,

00:11:39with glasses hung in a rack above it.

00:11:40The deck overhead was very low at each side,

00:11:45but rose shoulder-high for a space in the middle,

00:11:47where a coach-house roof with a skylight

00:11:50gave additional cabin space.

00:11:52Just outside the door was a fold-up washstand.

00:11:56On either wall were long net racks,

00:11:59holding a medley of flags, charts, caps, cigar boxes,

00:12:05hanks of yarn and such like.

00:12:07Across the forehead bulkhead was a bookshelf,

00:12:10crammed to overflowing with volumes of all sizes,

00:12:14mainly on yachting and naval warfare,

00:12:16some upside down, some coverless.

00:12:19Below this was a pipe rack,

00:12:22an aneroid,

00:12:23and a clock with a hearty tick.

00:12:26All the woodwork was painted white,

00:12:28and to a less jaundiced eye than mine,

00:12:31the interior might have had a look of enticing snugness.

00:12:34I'm afraid your portmanteau's too big to go down the skylight.

00:12:40I've started unpacking on the deck.

00:12:42You can chuck your things down as you want them.

00:12:43I say, Davies...

00:12:45By the way,

00:12:46I doubt if there's going to be room for them all.

00:12:48I don't suppose you could...

00:12:49No, I couldn't.

00:12:50No, I rather thought not.

00:12:52Well, if you can come up on deck...

00:12:53If you go out,

00:12:54I shall be able to get out too.

00:12:56All right.

00:12:57I pushed past, mounted the ladder,

00:13:02and in the expiring moonlight,

00:13:03groped in my belongings,

00:13:05shorting some into the skylight

00:13:06with the same feeling that nothing much mattered now.

00:13:10There she goes!

00:13:11Then I sat down on my white elephant and shivered,

00:13:15for the chill of autumn was in the air.

00:13:16How it came about,

00:13:21I do not know.

00:13:23Whether it was one of those instants of clear vision

00:13:26in which our separate selves are seen divided,

00:13:29or whether it was the impalpable air of mystery

00:13:32that pervaded the whole enterprise.

00:13:35Whatever it was,

00:13:36in a flash my mood changed,

00:13:39and I saw my silly egoism

00:13:41in contrast with his simple, generous nature.

00:13:44The crown of martyrdom disappeared,

00:13:48and there was left

00:13:49a fashionable and disheveled young man

00:13:52sitting in the dew and the dark

00:13:54on a ridiculous portmanteau.

00:13:58The grog's ready!

00:14:03I found, to my astonishment,

00:14:05that all trace of litter

00:14:06had miraculously vanished,

00:14:08and a cosy neatness reigned.

00:14:10Glasses and lemons were on the table,

00:14:12and the fragrant smell of punch

00:14:14had deadened all previous odours.

00:14:19There's your new stove, you see?

00:14:21I chucked the old one overboard.

00:14:22I rather like chucking things overboard.

00:14:24It all looks, well, very comfortable.

00:14:27It is comfortable, isn't it?

00:14:27Yeah.

00:14:28Shall we have our grog in bed?

00:14:30The bunks are through here.

00:14:34Mind your head.

00:14:35Are you all right if I stow some stuff on this shelf?

00:14:40It's not a shelf, that's your bunk.

00:14:42Oh, there's a blanket.

00:14:45It seems to be a bit damp.

00:14:47What's the dew, I expect?

00:14:48I did a lot of caulking yesterday,

00:14:50must have missed that bit.

00:14:51Well, I'll mop it up for you.

00:14:52Oh, you've had your hand.

00:14:53The bandage?

00:14:54Oh, that was...

00:14:55No, it's nothing.

00:14:56Just a sprain.

00:14:57That reminds me of the new compass

00:15:00which jolly is useful.

00:15:01What do you mean?

00:15:02Oh?

00:15:02What reminded you about the new compass?

00:15:05I say, try this grog.

00:15:06It's jolly good.

00:15:09I dozed, but fitfully,

00:15:11before I reached the stage of torpor

00:15:13with which such slumber merges.

00:15:16That was finally broken

00:15:18by the descent through the skylight

00:15:19of a torrent of water.

00:15:21I started up,

00:15:22bumped my head hard against the decks

00:15:24and blinked leaden-eyed upwards.

00:15:26Sorry, I'm scrubbing the decks.

00:15:29Come up and bathe.

00:15:31Slept well?

00:15:32Fairly well.

00:15:35I stumbled up the ladder,

00:15:38dived overboard,

00:15:39and buried bad dreams,

00:15:42stiffness, frowsiness,

00:15:43and tormented nerves

00:15:45in the loveliest fjord

00:15:47of the lovely Baltic.

00:15:48A short and furious swim,

00:15:50and I was back again,

00:15:52searching for a means of ascent

00:15:53up the smooth, black side

00:15:55which, low as it was,

00:15:57was slippery and unsympathetic.

00:15:59Here you are.

00:16:01Grab hold of this robe.

00:16:02Got it.

00:16:02Now, hand over hand.

00:16:04Mind the paint.

00:16:05It's fresh.

00:16:09That was a magnificent swim.

00:16:10I feel a new man.

00:16:11You've got paint

00:16:12all over your knees and elbows.

00:16:13It's all right.

00:16:14I don't mind.

00:16:14I've only just finished

00:16:15painting those bits.

00:16:17Oh.

00:16:17Now, you get some togs on

00:16:19while I finish breakfast.

00:16:21Bacon smells wonderful.

00:16:24As I dressed in white flannels

00:16:26and blazer,

00:16:27I was able to take in

00:16:28my surroundings,

00:16:29hitherto hidden by darkness.

00:16:31The dulcibella seemed very small.

00:16:34In fact, she was seven tons,

00:16:36some thirty feet by nine,

00:16:37suitable for weekends

00:16:38in the Solent.

00:16:40But that she should have come

00:16:41from Dover to the Baltic

00:16:42suggested a world

00:16:43of physical endeavor

00:16:44of which I had never dreamed.

00:16:47In the distant past,

00:16:49she had been a lifeboat

00:16:50built with immense strength

00:16:52of two diagonal skins of teak.

00:16:54And the addition of deck,

00:16:56saloon, and extra spars

00:16:58gave her, in the matter of looks,

00:17:00all the hybrids' failings.

00:17:02Many signs of recent refitting,

00:17:05a new rope or two,

00:17:06and a diminutive mizzen mask,

00:17:08had given her the appearance

00:17:09of a respectable woman

00:17:11of the working classes

00:17:12trying to dress above her station

00:17:13and soon likely to give it up.

00:17:16Breakfast ready?

00:17:18Wonderful.

00:17:19The smell's been torturing me.

00:17:21My, you do look smart.

00:17:23Dulci's not used to yachting rigs.

00:17:24First thing that came to hand.

00:17:26Well, I expect you'll sort it

00:17:27all out in time.

00:17:28There now.

00:17:29Fresh bread, milk,

00:17:31bacon fried eggs.

00:17:32Have some.

00:17:34Mmm.

00:17:35Delicious.

00:17:36Rare luxury.

00:17:38Eggs?

00:17:38Rare?

00:17:39No one has to go ashore for them.

00:17:40I loathe going ashore.

00:17:42Tea?

00:17:44You must have had some exciting adventures

00:17:46on your cruise from England.

00:17:48I wish you'd tell me.

00:17:49Well, there's a wind now.

00:17:49It mustn't waste it.

00:17:50I'll tell you later.

00:17:52You finish that while I start washing up.

00:17:53Then we can get on the way.

00:17:54Uh, uh, right-o.

00:17:57Thenceforward, events moved with bewildering rapidity.

00:18:05Davis was everywhere,

00:18:06darting swiftly to and fro

00:18:08between tiller and jib sheets,

00:18:09while the dulcibella

00:18:10bowed a lingering farewell to the shore

00:18:13and headed for the open fjord.

00:18:16I became a new and unexpected obstacle

00:18:19in his round of activity,

00:18:20for my knowledge of a yacht

00:18:22was of that floating and inaccurate kind

00:18:24which is useless in practice.

00:18:26I say, Grothers,

00:18:27are you sure you're quite comfortable?

00:18:28Well, I...

00:18:29Hang on to the tiller, Frigid.

00:18:31But, uh, Davis, I've never...

00:18:32Here you go.

00:18:34Cushions.

00:18:35But you're still tired.

00:18:37I say,

00:18:38can't I be of any use?

00:18:39Do you mind having a look at that chart?

00:18:41You see, Flensburg,

00:18:42we're just here.

00:18:44Got it.

00:18:44Which side of that buoy do we pass?

00:18:46Clifid.

00:18:46Oh, never mind.

00:18:47I'm pretty sure it's all deep water around here.

00:18:49In a minute or so,

00:18:51we were passing the buoy in question

00:18:52on the wrong side,

00:18:54I was pretty certain,

00:18:55for weeds and sand

00:18:56came suddenly into view below us

00:18:58with uncomfortable distinctness.

00:19:00There's never any siege here

00:19:02and the plate's not done.

00:19:03The best of these Schleswig quarters

00:19:04is that a boat of this size

00:19:06can go almost anywhere.

00:19:07There's no navigation required.

00:19:10Aren't we aground?

00:19:11Oh, she'll blow over.

00:19:13Come on.

00:19:16There, you see?

00:19:18Now, we're going to have to jibe.

00:19:20You take the helm, will you?

00:19:21I'll mind the main sheet.

00:19:23Oh, I'm ready.

00:19:25Now, tell pod over.

00:19:27Mind your head.

00:19:33I have rude notions of steering,

00:19:35but jibing is a delicate operation.

00:19:38No yachtsman will be surprised to hear

00:19:40that the boom saw its opportunity

00:19:42and swung over with a mighty crash.

00:19:45The main sheet entangled around me

00:19:47and the tiller.

00:19:49Ah!

00:19:50Die door's standing.

00:19:52She brought her out of the wind.

00:19:53See?

00:19:53Look at the bird, gee.

00:19:55Um,

00:19:55it's just that you're not used to her yet.

00:19:57She's very quick on the helm.

00:19:59I think she's catching the wind now.

00:20:00Where am I to steer for?

00:20:01Never mind.

00:20:02I'll take her now.

00:20:03I'm an utter duffer of sailing.

00:20:07I'm afraid there's always been a crew.

00:20:09Crew?

00:20:10Well, the whole fun of the thing is to do everything oneself.

00:20:12Well,

00:20:13I've felt in the way all the more.

00:20:15I'm awfully sorry.

00:20:16It's just the other way.

00:20:18You may be all the use in the world.

00:20:22Uh,

00:20:22let's have lunch.

00:20:23A vision of iced drinks,

00:20:27tempting salads,

00:20:29white napery,

00:20:30and an attentive steward

00:20:31mocked me with past recollections.

00:20:35You'll find bottled beer under the floor in the bilge

00:20:37and a tongue in the locker.

00:20:39Aye.

00:20:40I opened a locker,

00:20:42reached down,

00:20:43and grasped a sticky body,

00:20:45which turned out to be a pot of varnish.

00:20:47I tried the other one

00:20:48and a medley of damp tins of various sizes

00:20:51showed in the gloom.

00:20:53Exuding a mouldy odour.

00:20:56Faded legends spoke of

00:20:57soups,

00:20:59curries,

00:21:00beefs,

00:21:01potted meats,

00:21:02and other hidden delicacies.

00:21:04I picked out the tongue,

00:21:05re-imprisoned the odour,

00:21:07and explored for beer

00:21:08among the slimy ballast in the bilge.

00:21:11How are you getting on?

00:21:13The tin opener's hanging up on the bulkhead

00:21:15and the plates and knives are in the cupboard.

00:21:17The plates and knives met me halfway,

00:21:20the cupboard being on the weather side.

00:21:22Its contents slid affectionately into my bosom

00:21:24and overflowed with a clatter and a jingle onto the floor.

00:21:28That often happens.

00:21:30Never mind.

00:21:31There are no breakables.

00:21:32I'm coming down to help.

00:21:33I think I'll come on deck.

00:21:35Why in the world,

00:21:36we couldn't go ashore

00:21:36and save this infernal pandemonium of a picnic.

00:21:39Where's the yacht going to,

00:21:40meantime?

00:21:41I'm covered in varnish and mud.

00:21:43My trousers are ruined.

00:21:44You can always chuck them overboard.

00:21:46There goes the beer.

00:21:48Well, never mind.

00:21:49It'll drain into the bilge.

00:21:50But you go on deck and keep her as she's going.

00:21:53I'll finish getting ready.

00:21:54All right.

00:21:55Soon, I forgot petty squalors

00:21:57and enjoyed things.

00:21:59The coy tremble of the tiller

00:22:01and, with somewhat chastened rapture,

00:22:04the lunch which Davis brought up to me.

00:22:07Later, after we had anchored,

00:22:09dined on stakes with slight traces of yesterday's newspaper

00:22:12and washed up,

00:22:14Davis produced a selection of German,

00:22:16Dutch and Belgian cigars.

00:22:23When did you leave England, exactly?

00:22:26Uh, August 6th.

00:22:28We made a good run to Ostend.

00:22:29Ostend in August can be fun.

00:22:31Ah, filthy hole.

00:22:32And anyway, uh...

00:22:33You hate going ashore.

00:22:34Exactly.

00:22:36So then you came directly here?

00:22:37Up the Dutch coast, yeah.

00:22:39Very dull.

00:22:40Nearly always in sight of land.

00:22:42Could I see your log?

00:22:44Oh, but you'll find it very dull reading.

00:22:46If you could read it at all.

00:22:47Just short notes about winds and bearings.

00:22:50Well, I sailed up to the first of the German islands.

00:22:53Look at the chart there.

00:22:57It's called Borkum.

00:22:59Ah, I got it.

00:23:01What's all this stuff marked here?

00:23:03Those are sands.

00:23:05These are the channels, you see.

00:23:06They're very badly charted,

00:23:08so it's a splendid sailing ground.

00:23:10Wasn't this all a bit dangerous?

00:23:11Not with the Darcy Bella.

00:23:12She's perfect for this sort of work.

00:23:14And she doesn't really look that bad either.

00:23:17Anyway, I don't go in for looks.

00:23:20Didn't you ever take a pilot?

00:23:21But the whole point of the thing...

00:23:23Well, I did take one once.

00:23:26Later on.

00:23:27And?

00:23:28He ran me a grind.

00:23:30I wonder what the weather's doing.

00:23:32What's it look like?

00:23:34Uh, it looks like rain.

00:23:36Perhaps we'd better turn in.

00:23:37I slept practically the whole afternoon.

00:23:40Tell me more about your trip.

00:23:42It's a longish haul to here, though.

00:23:45Hmm.

00:23:45About 70 miles direct?

00:23:46Direct?

00:23:47Then you put in somewhere.

00:23:48Well, I stopped once, anchored for the night.

00:23:51The whole place is pretty deserted.

00:23:52Let's go through to Baird.

00:23:54Did you never see another yacht?

00:23:56Another yacht?

00:23:57Well, yes, I did see another yacht.

00:23:59Just the one.

00:24:01Um, yes, just the one.

00:24:03Good night, Carothers.

00:24:05Good night, Davis.

00:24:06I'll just, uh, see my cigar out.

00:24:08If you don't mind.

00:24:10I was intrigued by this conversation.

00:24:13And, feeling like a thief,

00:24:16I took down the log of the Dulcibella.

00:24:18As he had said,

00:24:20it was pretty dull stuff,

00:24:21full of kedging off and boom-dodging.

00:24:24Until September the 9th,

00:24:26where it stopped abruptly,

00:24:28leapt over three days,

00:24:29and restarted on September the 11th.

00:24:33Quite simply,

00:24:34the relevant page had been torn out

00:24:36and the edges picked clean.

00:24:38But dissimulation was not Davis's strong point,

00:24:40and a child could have seen that a leaf was missing.

00:24:43I was on the point of calling to Davis

00:24:45and chaffing him with a breach of maritime law,

00:24:47but I checked myself

00:24:49and returned the book to the shelf

00:24:52and made my way to my bunk.

00:24:55Davis was sleeping like a child,

00:24:57but I did not find Morpheus for some hours.

00:25:00Ahoy!

00:25:06The Dulcibella!

00:25:08Ahoy!

00:25:09Pottles!

00:25:10Well met, Captain!

00:25:14Where are you bound this time?

00:25:16Where have you come from?

00:25:17Have some coffee.

00:25:18I took some apples to Capellon,

00:25:20and now I sail to Kiel and then Hamburg.

00:25:22But, ah, you are no longer alone.

00:25:25Oh, I quite forgot.

00:25:26This is minor friend, Herr Carothers.

00:25:28Carothers, this is Shipper Bartles,

00:25:30captain of the Galliard Johannes.

00:25:31How do you do, Captain?

00:25:32Herr Carothers.

00:25:34If I'll get some coffee.

00:25:36And the schnapps, huh?

00:25:38Ah, it's good that the captain is no longer alone.

00:25:42He's a fine young man,

00:25:43but he is too brave, too reckless.

00:25:45It will be good for him to have a friend.

00:25:47Where was it you met?

00:25:48In an ugly place and in ugly weather.

00:25:51I came just in time.

00:25:52Really?

00:25:53But he has not told you.

00:25:55Ah, what are you two talking about?

00:25:58I was asking how you met.

00:26:00Oh, he helped me out of a bit of a mess in the North Sea.

00:26:02No, it was nothing.

00:26:04But I see you've replaced the mizzenmast.

00:26:07The rather was nothing much,

00:26:08but it was well that it held to friends' work.

00:26:11You could have died.

00:26:13She is strong and good, your little ship,

00:26:15and heaven she had need to be.

00:26:17Coffee.

00:26:18Ja.

00:26:19Danke.

00:26:20Davis plied his friend with coffee and schnapps

00:26:23and kept up the talk gallantly.

00:26:26Bartles ended with an invitation to join him at Kiel

00:26:28and, with suave farewells,

00:26:31disappeared into the fog.

00:26:32Ah, let's go below.

00:26:40What did he mean?

00:26:42You could have died.

00:26:44Well, it's been fearfully on my mind.

00:26:47Perhaps you'll be able to help me,

00:26:48but it's for you to decide.

00:26:51It began near Norderney.

00:26:52How did you guess that?

00:26:54I feel a bit of a cad,

00:26:55but I must confess I read your log.

00:26:57Ah.

00:26:59You're a bad hand of duplicity.

00:27:01Go on.

00:27:03Well, I was anchored off Norderney.

00:27:06That's the easternmost of the islands.

00:27:08There's a town there where the Germans go seabathing in the summer.

00:27:12When I saw this yacht,

00:27:14she was called the Medusa,

00:27:15about 50, 60 tons, very smart,

00:27:18varnished all over and flying the German ensign.

00:27:22The locals had told me the owner was a keen shot,

00:27:24so one evening, after dinner,

00:27:26I sculled over in the dinghy,

00:27:28hailed the sailor, said who I was,

00:27:29and waited on deck.

00:27:31Then a steward came and showed me down to the saloon.

00:27:34It was horribly gorgeous.

00:27:36All mahogany and plush.

00:27:38Quite awful.

00:27:40Exactly.

00:27:41A crystal and silver on the table,

00:27:43wine and fruit.

00:27:44The owner, Herr Dolman, was at his coffee...

00:27:47Slowly, slowly.

00:27:48What was this Dolman like?

00:27:50Oh, tall, thin chap,

00:27:52evening dress, about 50.

00:27:54Gray hair, huge eyebrows.

00:27:56There was something about him, I don't know.

00:27:59He spoke English, but with a heavy accent.

00:28:03Good evening, Herr Davies.

00:28:05Willkommen to the Medusa.

00:28:07May I present my daughter, Clara?

00:28:08Herr Dolman.

00:28:09Fraleine Dolman.

00:28:11Just a minute.

00:28:12Davies, you didn't mention a daughter.

00:28:15The story gets much more interesting.

00:28:17What was she like?

00:28:18Oh, she seemed a very nice girl.

00:28:20And what brings you and your little boat to these waters?

00:28:23It's just a holiday.

00:28:24I thought there might be some duck shooting.

00:28:26Oh, not here.

00:28:27You're too late in the season for ducks.

00:28:29Oh, please, sit down and have a glass of wine.

00:28:32Oh.

00:28:36Cheers.

00:28:40Well, you are also on holiday.

00:28:43I had some business here.

00:28:45But, yes, I have been enjoying a short holiday.

00:28:48Tell me, now, since you have no ducks, what will you do?

00:28:52You would have better shooting in the Baltic, you know.

00:28:54Well, I suppose I'll just potter about here.

00:28:57Well, these waters are dangerous for pottering, you know.

00:29:01Oh, exactly.

00:29:02And the charts are unreliable, so it makes it all great fun.

00:29:05Oh, Davies, are you not afraid of being, oh, I'm sorry, my English is not good, of being shipbroker?

00:29:13A ship wrecked.

00:29:16Not at all, no.

00:29:17It's all part of the fun.

00:29:18Finding channels in the sands when the charts say there are none.

00:29:22These sands are dangerous for strangers.

00:29:24A veritable labyrinth, are they not?

00:29:27Indeed.

00:29:28But I think I'm solving it.

00:29:29Ah, you are making new charts?

00:29:31Well, hardly that.

00:29:32But I am making a lot of notes.

00:29:34What did you say to that?

00:29:36Nothing much.

00:29:37I stayed about three days, visited a couple of times, and then decided to push on.

00:29:41And where will you push on to?

00:29:44Tomorrow I mean to go further east.

00:29:46Look at the other islands.

00:29:47I know these banks well, and I'm going east to the Elba.

00:29:50Perhaps I can lead the way.

00:29:52Act as your pilot.

00:29:53That would be very kind.

00:29:54With a fair wind and an early start,

00:29:56it should be an easy day's sail.

00:29:58Ah, I look forward to it.

00:29:59Farber, head on.

00:30:02And that was it?

00:30:04Not by long, Jork.

00:30:05All went well until that evening when it started to blow up.

00:30:09It meant nothing for his powerful old tub that I had to shorten sail and I fell behind.

00:30:13I could still see him,

00:30:15and he seemed to be taking a short cut across the mouth of the estuary.

00:30:19Now, two tides meet there, and I could hear breakers ahead.

00:30:23I should say the wind was now a full gale,

00:30:25and I knew if I went aground,

00:30:27the wind and the tides could break up the dulcie.

00:30:30By now, I was just getting glimpses of the Medusa in gaps in the rain.

00:30:36You asked me once if I ever took a pilot.

00:30:39Well, that was the only time.

00:30:40I saw a great ball of surf across the horizon shutting us in,

00:30:45but the Medusa went at it like a horse at a fence.

00:30:47I was having all sorts of trouble handling the dulcie on my own,

00:30:50and then the oddest thing happened.

00:30:52Now, I heard Dolman shouting at me.

00:30:54I could swear he shouted,

00:30:55Follow me.

00:30:57Several times he shouted it,

00:30:59and then he seemed to go about,

00:31:00but I lost her in the score.

00:31:02I tried to keep my course,

00:31:04but I went bow first into a sandbank,

00:31:06broadside onto the gale.

00:31:07She was broaching,

00:31:08and with the centre plate up,

00:31:09it was only a matter of time before she went over.

00:31:12Mercifully, I took a huge wave aft,

00:31:14and she ground her away over the bank.

00:31:16It took most of her rudder off,

00:31:18and I had jammed my hand on the tiller,

00:31:19but, well, I was in calmer water now.

00:31:25That was when Bartles turned up.

00:31:27He put out a ground anchor and lashed me alongside.

00:31:31A couple of days later,

00:31:32I got to Flensburg and rode to you.

00:31:34So what do you think of that?

00:31:35What happened to Dolman?

00:31:36Well, you remember?

00:31:37I thought I saw him go about.

00:31:38Yes.

00:31:39I believe he didn't think I'd see that.

00:31:41And if I'd just followed him as he shouted,

00:31:43I'd have gone straight into a mile-long bank

00:31:46and broken up for shore.

00:31:47I'd have drowned.

00:31:48Dolman was trying to kill me.

00:31:50Are you sure?

00:31:51I'm pretty sure.

00:31:52At first, he was hoping I'd go for the Baltic

00:31:54and he'd see me off.

00:31:54Then the wind came up,

00:31:55and he saw another opportunity.

00:31:57Everything was in his favour,

00:31:58and I'm certain he thinks I'm dead.

00:32:00But why?

00:32:01A German finds an Englishman

00:32:03exploring the German coast.

00:32:05Does he think you're a spy?

00:32:06I don't know, but I'm sure he is.

00:32:09But you see, he's not a German.

00:32:11He's an Englishman.

00:32:13What on earth makes you think that?

00:32:15He apologised for his English,

00:32:16and he had a heavy accent,

00:32:17but his grammar was perfect.

00:32:20He said things like a veritable labyrinth, remember?

00:32:23Then in a storm,

00:32:24when he called me to follow him,

00:32:26he had no accent.

00:32:28I tell you,

00:32:29he's as English as you or I.

00:32:31What about his daughter?

00:32:32I don't think English is her native language,

00:32:34but perhaps she was just brought up in Germany.

00:32:37There was talk of a stepmother in Hamburg,

00:32:39but I'm convinced he's in the German service.

00:32:42Now, that night on the Medusa,

00:32:44he had a friend,

00:32:45a German naval officer,

00:32:47Commander von Brüning.

00:32:49He had a torpedo gunboat moored nearby.

00:32:52You met this man?

00:32:54Yes.

00:32:55He was a really good sort,

00:32:56seemed a splendid officer.

00:32:57Clara took me up...

00:32:58Clara, no.

00:33:00Fräulein Dorman took me up on deck

00:33:02to show me the ship,

00:33:03and von Brüning and Dorman

00:33:04had a long chat alone.

00:33:06Now, I'm sure she'd been told

00:33:07to get me out of the way.

00:33:09Do you see what I'm driving at?

00:33:11A rough idea.

00:33:13Go ahead.

00:33:14The Germans are a really great people.

00:33:16A huge empire stretching half across Europe.

00:33:19Now, they've lit the French and the Austrians,

00:33:21but they've got no sea power to speak of.

00:33:23They're building like mad.

00:33:25That emperor of theirs is a splendid chap.

00:33:27But for their colonies,

00:33:28they're going to need control of the sea.

00:33:31Now, their coastline is absurdly short,

00:33:33just from Denmark to Holland

00:33:35with big river estuaries

00:33:36easily blockaded by an enemy.

00:33:37But these islands are something different.

00:33:41Surrounded by shifting sands

00:33:42and badly charted.

00:33:44Perhaps there are forts and coastal defences,

00:33:47and Dorman didn't want you to see them.

00:33:49No, no, there are no forts.

00:33:51But suppose we were at war with Germany.

00:33:54These sands would be a magnificent place

00:33:56for small torpedo boats.

00:33:58They could harass all the shipping

00:34:00in the big estuaries

00:34:01if they knew the channels.

00:34:03And Dorman found me exploring them

00:34:05and tried to drown me.

00:34:07Well, what do you think?

00:34:08I'm willing to take a good deal for granted,

00:34:11but it's incredible

00:34:13that the murder of an Englishman

00:34:14should be connived at

00:34:15by the agent of a friendly

00:34:17and civilized government.

00:34:19Oh, I believe Dorman did it

00:34:20off his own bat.

00:34:22Well, I believe you.

00:34:24At least until we find out more.

00:34:27Find out?

00:34:28You mean you'll come?

00:34:31Nothing will stop me.

00:34:32Good fellow.

00:34:34But why did you write to me?

00:34:35Well, I should apologize for that,

00:34:37but I knew you spoke good German,

00:34:39and it's a job for sharp wits.

00:34:41Of course, I should have told you

00:34:42what you were in for,

00:34:43and when you came aboard, I...

00:34:45Well, it...

00:34:46It wasn't quite what you expected,

00:34:48so I couldn't bring myself

00:34:49to tell you about my plan.

00:34:50What is your plan?

00:34:52Get back to Nordenai,

00:34:53find Dorman,

00:34:54and discover what he's up to.

00:34:56It's a bit delicate.

00:34:58Hang it all.

00:34:58The man's an Englishman,

00:35:00and if he's in with the Germans,

00:35:01he's a traitor to us,

00:35:02and as Englishmen,

00:35:03we have a right to expose him.

00:35:05I love the sea,

00:35:06and those chaps at the Admiralty

00:35:07want waking up.

00:35:08Quite right.

00:35:09Now, the fog's lifting.

00:35:12Let's start the keel.

00:35:13We can meet up with Bartles there,

00:35:14and go through the canal with him.

00:35:17This is splendid.

00:35:19Let's get the Dulce's canvas up.

00:35:25I had signed on for good or ill.

00:35:28Not for the first time,

00:35:29a sense of the ludicrous

00:35:30came to my assistance.

00:35:32Finding as an arch-conspirator

00:35:33her guileless and warm-hearted friend

00:35:35who called me clever

00:35:36and invited me to talk German

00:35:38in a little secret service

00:35:40in the high seas.

00:35:42But close to humor

00:35:43came romance,

00:35:45and I knew it was the rustle

00:35:46of her robes that I heard

00:35:48in the foam beneath me.

00:35:49I knew that it was she

00:35:51who handed me the cup

00:35:52of sparkling wine

00:35:53and bade me drink.

00:35:55It was the purest

00:35:56of her pure vintages,

00:35:59instilling the ancient inspiration

00:36:01which quickens thousands

00:36:02of better brains

00:36:03than mine,

00:36:04but whose essence

00:36:05is always the same.

00:36:07The pursuit

00:36:07of a perilous quest.

00:36:09We reached the Kiel Canal

00:36:25at night,

00:36:27passed the dark shapes

00:36:28of warships

00:36:28and cargo steamers,

00:36:30paid our dues,

00:36:31and waited

00:36:31while the great gates

00:36:33of the largest canal

00:36:34in the world

00:36:35opened

00:36:35to receive

00:36:36the dulcibella.

00:36:39Pass me those trousers.

00:36:40You've got them

00:36:41a bit paint-stained.

00:36:42We could always

00:36:43chuck them overboard.

00:36:43I'll hang on to them

00:36:44for a bit

00:36:45if you don't mind.

00:36:47And I've got

00:36:47all this new stuff,

00:36:48much more practical.

00:36:49Is there a telegraph,

00:36:50is it, Kiel?

00:36:51Oh, yes,

00:36:51everything.

00:36:53Up on the harbour,

00:36:54master,

00:36:54to say.

00:36:56Very much.

00:36:57Telegraph my chief.

00:37:00Get an extension

00:37:01on my leave.

00:37:02I say, Carruthers,

00:37:04isn't this canal

00:37:05splendid?

00:37:06He's a fine fellow,

00:37:07that German emperor.

00:37:09Indeed.

00:37:09He's made Germany

00:37:10a thundering great nation.

00:37:12Do you think

00:37:13we'd ever go to war

00:37:13with them?

00:37:14It'd be touch and go

00:37:15if we did.

00:37:17If there were a war,

00:37:18we wouldn't be ready.

00:37:19We don't face that way.

00:37:21And we've already

00:37:22given her Heligerland.

00:37:24Suppose she'd call us Holland.

00:37:26In our talk

00:37:27about strategy,

00:37:28we felt we were

00:37:29Bismarcks and Rodneys.

00:37:31Whereas, in fact,

00:37:32we were two young gentlemen

00:37:33in a seven-ton pleasure boat.

00:37:35But not that Davis

00:37:36ever doubted.

00:37:38It was his chance.

00:37:40All secure, Carruthers.

00:37:42Right-o.

00:37:46There ought to be more chances

00:37:48for chaps like you,

00:37:49without the accident

00:37:50of a job like this.

00:37:51As long as I get it,

00:37:52what does it matter?

00:37:53I know what you mean.

00:37:55There must be hundreds

00:37:56of fellows like me,

00:37:57and they ought to make

00:37:58some use of us,

00:37:58some sort of naval reserve.

00:38:01You want a man like this Kaiser

00:38:03who doesn't wait to be kicked,

00:38:04who works like a Trojan

00:38:05for his country

00:38:06and sees ahead.

00:38:08Ah, never mind, old fellow.

00:38:09Let's find the telegraph office.

00:38:18Thank you, Herr Carruthers.

00:38:19I will send you a message

00:38:20and notify the post office

00:38:22at Norton High

00:38:23to hold the reply

00:38:24till you arrive.

00:38:26Herr Davis,

00:38:27you are captain

00:38:28of the Dulcibella.

00:38:30Yes, yes.

00:38:30There was an inquiry

00:38:31for your friend

00:38:32in a big yacht.

00:38:34Going to Hamburg?

00:38:35No.

00:38:36Returning to the islands.

00:38:37Stay before yesterday.

00:38:39Pity the message.

00:38:40Oh, not a hymn.

00:38:42A younger lady.

00:38:43Oh, dear God.

00:38:44So difficult to please.

00:38:47I had to search

00:38:47all the books.

00:38:49She wanted to be sure

00:38:50you had passed through

00:38:51to Flensburg.

00:38:52I found your passage

00:38:54in the books,

00:38:54and she went away happy.

00:38:56Perhaps we'll meet her

00:38:57at Norton High.

00:38:59Viel Glück.

00:39:00Gut Arise.

00:39:00Pardon.

00:39:08So we set off

00:39:09for Norton High,

00:39:10busying ourselves

00:39:11with charts,

00:39:12marking passages,

00:39:14and directly encountering

00:39:15no other boats

00:39:16on the way,

00:39:17but being aware

00:39:18of one local boat

00:39:19following our course

00:39:20with remarkable accuracy.

00:39:23I hardened to the life,

00:39:25gruesome,

00:39:26tough,

00:39:27and tolerably alert,

00:39:29and more than once

00:39:29I gave thanks

00:39:30to the stout skins

00:39:31of the dulcibella,

00:39:33knit together

00:39:33by honest labour.

00:39:36Outside

00:39:37Bonacile Harbour,

00:39:38we beached for the night

00:39:39so that Davis,

00:39:40untypically,

00:39:41could go ashore

00:39:41to fetch more supplies.

00:39:43I was dozing lightly

00:39:45when I heard a sound

00:39:46as of a man

00:39:47stepping in a puddle.

00:39:50Davis?

00:39:51Is that you, Davis?

00:39:52I knew in a flash

00:39:55it was not,

00:39:56for I could hear

00:39:57the footsteps

00:39:57going round the hull,

00:39:59and then

00:40:00the scrape of a match

00:40:01as he read the name

00:40:02on the stone.

00:40:03A pause,

00:40:05then a vibration

00:40:06as hands grasped

00:40:07the gunwale

00:40:07and my visitor

00:40:08was on deck.

00:40:10Then,

00:40:10the beam from the

00:40:11riding light

00:40:12was obscured

00:40:12as he came

00:40:13to the companionway

00:40:14and I lunged at him.

00:40:15I grasped

00:40:19something damp

00:40:20and greasy.

00:40:21There was tugging

00:40:21and heavy breathing

00:40:22and I was left

00:40:23holding a big sea boot

00:40:24whose owner I heard

00:40:25jump onto the sand

00:40:26and run off.

00:40:32I think you did

00:40:33jolly well.

00:40:34I asked some questions

00:40:35in the village.

00:40:36Apparently,

00:40:37the boat that we felt

00:40:38was following us

00:40:38is called the Cormoran.

00:40:40She's involved in

00:40:41trying to raise

00:40:42some treasure

00:40:42from a wreck at Eust.

00:40:44That's the next island

00:40:45after Nortonite.

00:40:46What could our visitor

00:40:47have wanted?

00:40:48Well, our charts

00:40:49with all our corrections

00:40:50in the log

00:40:50would have given

00:40:51the game away

00:40:51and my naval books.

00:40:53But they're innocuous enough.

00:40:55Falcon and the Baltic,

00:40:57sailing tours,

00:40:58a guide to the Solent.

00:40:59Let me see that

00:41:00guide to the Solent.

00:41:02Something about

00:41:03by Lieutenant Dodgson R.N.

00:41:06My God!

00:41:08Look at the frontispiece!

00:41:09Yes?

00:41:10It's Dolman!

00:41:11The shape of the head,

00:41:12those eyebrows,

00:41:13I'd know them anywhere.

00:41:15Published 16 years ago.

00:41:17He looks about 30-odd in this.

00:41:20You say he's now

00:41:20in his 50s?

00:41:21Right, yeah.

00:41:22So 16 years ago,

00:41:23he's still an officer

00:41:25in His Majesty's Navy

00:41:26and at some time

00:41:27between then and now,

00:41:28I suppose,

00:41:29he came to grief.

00:41:31Disgrace.

00:41:32Flight exile.

00:41:33How old is Clara?

00:41:35Uh, 19, 20.

00:41:37So she may have

00:41:38talked German

00:41:39since a child.

00:41:40Is this book well known?

00:41:41I've never seen

00:41:41another copy.

00:41:42I picked it up

00:41:43on a second-hand stall

00:41:44for threepence or something.

00:41:45Did he ever come on board

00:41:46the Dolcebella?

00:41:47Only once.

00:41:48If he spotted this,

00:41:49once would have been enough.

00:41:50It explains a lot.

00:41:52If he thought the jig was up...

00:41:54He must be into something

00:41:55pretty deep

00:41:56to try and murder.

00:41:56That is, well,

00:41:57our latest visitor

00:41:58didn't find this.

00:41:59But we can't be any threat.

00:42:01We don't even know

00:42:02what we're looking for.

00:42:03Well, the...

00:42:04These islands

00:42:06guard the coast

00:42:07and the channels

00:42:08between them and the coast

00:42:09were largely unmarked.

00:42:10But there's nothing

00:42:11on the coast.

00:42:12Just tiny villages

00:42:13and canal sluices.

00:42:14It's a riddle,

00:42:15I admit.

00:42:17Let's get to sleep.

00:42:18We'll go into

00:42:19Bernersil tomorrow.

00:42:19All right.

00:42:23Guten Morgen, gentlemen.

00:42:25My name is Grimm.

00:42:27I'm the diving overseer

00:42:29on board the Cormoran.

00:42:30Good morning, Herr Grimm.

00:42:31Good morning.

00:42:32I have a message

00:42:33from Herrn von Brüning.

00:42:34Yes?

00:42:35He asks that you join him

00:42:37at the inn

00:42:38at twelve o'clock

00:42:39for some refreshment.

00:42:40Please tell von Brüning

00:42:41that he is very kind

00:42:42and that we will be delighted.

00:42:44Very good.

00:42:47What do you make of that?

00:42:48Never mind.

00:42:49What do you make of Herr Grimm?

00:42:50Quick.

00:42:50Look at his feet.

00:42:51What do you mean?

00:42:51He's wearing shoes.

00:42:53A diving supervisor

00:42:54without sea boots?

00:42:55Perhaps because

00:42:56he's only got one left.

00:42:57Exactly.

00:42:58So it was the Cormoran

00:42:59who was following us.

00:43:00And now von Brüning

00:43:01wants to see us.

00:43:02What do we tell him?

00:43:03I say,

00:43:04I'd rather funk this interview.

00:43:05It's not my line.

00:43:06Just be yourself.

00:43:07If you have to,

00:43:08tell him just the one lie

00:43:09about how Dorman

00:43:10tried to trick you.

00:43:15Commander von Brüning

00:43:16gave us a hearty welcome

00:43:17and I am bound to say

00:43:19I liked him at once

00:43:20as Davis had done.

00:43:21But I feared him too

00:43:23for he had honest eyes

00:43:26that abominably clever was.

00:43:30Herr Dolman is still away,

00:43:32I think.

00:43:33Were you thinking of

00:43:33looking him up again?

00:43:35Yes.

00:43:36Yes, I'm sure he's away.

00:43:38But his yacht is back,

00:43:40I believe,

00:43:40and Fräulein Dolman.

00:43:42We can call on

00:43:42Fräulein Dolman,

00:43:43at least.

00:43:44Herr Dolman will be back soon,

00:43:46I expect.

00:43:48But you have seen him

00:43:49later than I have,

00:43:50have you not?

00:43:51Didn't you sail

00:43:51to the Elbe together?

00:43:53Only part of the way.

00:43:54He out-sailed me.

00:43:56Gave you the slip, did he?

00:43:58Well, he had the better

00:43:58of the wind.

00:44:00Upon my word,

00:44:01Herr Carruthers,

00:44:02your friend amuses me.

00:44:03It's impossible

00:44:04to get him to spin a yarn.

00:44:10I'm surprised you didn't

00:44:11sail for England last night.

00:44:13There was a fair wind.

00:44:14But no pilot to follow?

00:44:15Well, certainly none

00:44:17with a charming daughter,

00:44:18no?

00:44:18Quite.

00:44:19So, what are your plans?

00:44:22Nothing specific, really.

00:44:24Take care of your

00:44:26Dolce Benner now.

00:44:27The folk around here

00:44:29are as honest as any,

00:44:30but they come from

00:44:31a long line of pirates

00:44:33and wreckers.

00:44:34We heard there was

00:44:35the wreck of a treasure ship

00:44:36near here.

00:44:38Uh, quite right.

00:44:39The Corrine.

00:44:41She went down

00:44:42off Mehmet in 1811,

00:44:45with a million

00:44:46and a half

00:44:47in gold bars.

00:44:49Your Lloyds of London

00:44:50are still disputing

00:44:51the title,

00:44:51but there is a small

00:44:53local company

00:44:54trying to raise her.

00:44:55Herr Dolman

00:44:56is a partner,

00:44:57and I have a few

00:44:59shares myself.

00:45:00We use an old

00:45:01depot on Mehmet

00:45:02as a base.

00:45:03Found in a gold jet?

00:45:05It's very difficult.

00:45:06The sands shift,

00:45:07you know.

00:45:08I hope we haven't

00:45:09been asking

00:45:10indiscreet questions.

00:45:11Oh, not at all.

00:45:14This is your

00:45:15first visit

00:45:16to Germany,

00:45:17Herr Carruthers?

00:45:18No, I studied here.

00:45:20Uh, for your

00:45:21profession, no doubt.

00:45:23Yes, I am.

00:45:24I am with

00:45:26the Foreign Office.

00:45:28Ah, so.

00:45:29The Government Service.

00:45:32When must you return?

00:45:34Pretty soon.

00:45:35But I'm expecting

00:45:36a telegram

00:45:36giving me an extension.

00:45:38However,

00:45:39the season is late

00:45:40for yachts,

00:45:41and all your ducks

00:45:42have flown.

00:45:42Now, you must

00:45:45excuse me.

00:45:46I have some

00:45:46business in easence.

00:45:48A fellow

00:45:48caught poaching.

00:45:50I'm really just

00:45:51a policeman, you see.

00:45:53Will you travel

00:45:54on to another night

00:45:55today?

00:45:55Without a decent

00:45:56wind, we could be

00:45:57stuck in the harbour

00:45:58for days.

00:45:59I'll give you

00:45:59a tow out.

00:46:00A tow?

00:46:01Oh, no, I don't

00:46:02want to.

00:46:02He objects to

00:46:03towage on principle,

00:46:04but we'll accept

00:46:05your kind offer.

00:46:06Be alongside

00:46:07at six.

00:46:10Um, excuse me,

00:46:12Herr Davies.

00:46:13Herr Caruthers.

00:46:14A word, if I may.

00:46:15Certainly.

00:46:18A little tick.

00:46:19Right, eh?

00:46:26About your friend.

00:46:28He's a splendid chap,

00:46:30but perhaps

00:46:31too honest

00:46:32and straightforward.

00:46:34You have known

00:46:35him long?

00:46:36Since we were

00:46:37at university together.

00:46:38Oh, so he is

00:46:39your sailing companion.

00:46:40Not exactly.

00:46:41But he invited me

00:46:42to come out here

00:46:43for some sport.

00:46:44And since I was

00:46:45at a bit of a loose end,

00:46:46I joined him.

00:46:47The sport has been good?

00:46:48Oh, I assure you,

00:46:50Commander,

00:46:50the sport has been

00:46:52excellent.

00:46:53These are fascinating

00:46:54waters.

00:46:55Oh, indeed,

00:46:55dangerous for those who do

00:46:58not know them.

00:46:58No?

00:46:59Oh, certainly.

00:47:00But then,

00:47:01a bit of danger

00:47:02makes a holiday

00:47:03much more an adventure.

00:47:05I'm sure you agree.

00:47:06Indeed, we are

00:47:07very similar,

00:47:08I think, Herr Caruthers.

00:47:10But,

00:47:11Herr Davies has perhaps

00:47:12found another adventure.

00:47:14One of the hearts.

00:47:14Fräulein Dolman.

00:47:16Precisely.

00:47:17And it is about this

00:47:18that I wish to speak

00:47:20to you alone.

00:47:21It was very rude of me,

00:47:22but I felt it necessary.

00:47:24You see,

00:47:25there might be

00:47:26a difficulty

00:47:27with her father.

00:47:28Difficulty?

00:47:29The salvage affair

00:47:31is not his only interest.

00:47:33He has many interests

00:47:34in Hamburg

00:47:35and elsewhere.

00:47:37And we,

00:47:38the authorities,

00:47:39you understand,

00:47:39are not entirely happy

00:47:41with some of them.

00:47:42He is,

00:47:43how do you put it in English,

00:47:45sailing dangerously.

00:47:48Sailing close to the wind.

00:47:49And two young

00:47:51English gentlemen

00:47:51becoming involved

00:47:52with his affairs

00:47:53might be in some difficulties.

00:47:55Of course,

00:47:56I'm sure it's nothing.

00:47:58Just silly policeman

00:47:59being too suspicious.

00:48:01Herr Dolman is well respected

00:48:02in these parts,

00:48:04but you would do well

00:48:05not to renew

00:48:06your acquaintance with him.

00:48:08I've never met him,

00:48:10you know.

00:48:10Oh,

00:48:10but Herr Davis

00:48:12and Fräulein Dolman,

00:48:14even though I'm certain

00:48:15she is in no way involved,

00:48:18you could perhaps

00:48:19discourage him.

00:48:21It would not be wise

00:48:23to seek out the Medusa.

00:48:25Herr Davis

00:48:25will make up

00:48:26his own mind,

00:48:27but I will tell him

00:48:28what you've said,

00:48:29and I thank you

00:48:30for your advice.

00:48:31It is always useful

00:48:32to have as much information

00:48:33as possible,

00:48:34don't you think?

00:48:35I'm sure you are

00:48:36very good at gaining information,

00:48:38just like your foreign office.

00:48:41Auf Wiedersehen,

00:48:42Herr Carabas.

00:48:43Auf Wiedersehen,

00:48:44Commander.

00:48:49What was all that about?

00:48:50Just warning us

00:48:51off the dolmens.

00:48:52Von Brüning

00:48:53spun me a yarn

00:48:54about his business affairs

00:48:55not being all they might be,

00:48:56and to avoid

00:48:57getting mixed up in them.

00:48:58The fellow's a traitor

00:48:59and a murderer.

00:49:00We must find out

00:49:01what he's up to

00:49:01and scotch him.

00:49:02But since they don't want us

00:49:03to have contact with him,

00:49:05we can only think

00:49:06he's their weak link.

00:49:08Oh, and Von Brüning

00:49:09seemed to think

00:49:09his daughter's not involved.

00:49:11I was sure about that.

00:49:12Makes me feel a bit caddish

00:49:13about the whole affair.

00:49:15Let's get back to sea.

00:49:16Anyway, the problem is

00:49:17they're sure we're on to them,

00:49:20or at least close

00:49:21to whatever they're up to,

00:49:23and we have not

00:49:23the slightest idea

00:49:24what that might be.

00:49:26Just a moment.

00:49:27Look at that dike.

00:49:28Well, yes?

00:49:29It goes all the way

00:49:30along the coast.

00:49:32You don't think

00:49:32this coast could be

00:49:33invaded by whale, do you?

00:49:34I thought of that, no.

00:49:36No transport

00:49:37could get behind the islands,

00:49:38and the dikes

00:49:39are only broken

00:49:40by the sluice gates.

00:49:41No, whatever it is,

00:49:42it's not defensive.

00:49:43I'm sure of it.

00:49:44It's the water

00:49:45that's the answer.

00:49:46I'm sure of that.

00:49:48Davis swallowed

00:49:49his objections to toage,

00:49:50and Von Brüning

00:49:51was as good as his word,

00:49:53and took us

00:49:53to a safe anchorage

00:49:54where he bade us farewell

00:49:56with a promise

00:49:57to do anything he could

00:49:58to help us

00:49:58if we so wanted.

00:50:01When I awakened,

00:50:02not seeing Davis,

00:50:03and as yet

00:50:04not having mastered

00:50:05the murky mysteries

00:50:06of the ripping girl

00:50:06number three,

00:50:07I went on deck.

00:50:10Davis was staring

00:50:10fixedly through

00:50:11the binoculars,

00:50:13and to my astonishment,

00:50:14trembling violently.

00:50:16Davis?

00:50:17Are you all right?

00:50:19That boat's there,

00:50:20coming towards us.

00:50:22Yes?

00:50:23It's the Medusa's dinghy,

00:50:24and that's her,

00:50:26Clara.

00:50:27She's coming to meet us.

00:50:28Splendid.

00:50:29Carruthers,

00:50:30when she comes aboard,

00:50:31please remember

00:50:31that she's outside

00:50:32this business.

00:50:33It's your affair this time.

00:50:35Run it as you like.

00:50:36All right.

00:50:37As Davis helped her aboard

00:50:39and introduced her

00:50:40as Fräulein Dalton,

00:50:41I saw that every syllable

00:50:43of her name

00:50:44was a lie.

00:50:45Two honest English eyes

00:50:47were looking up

00:50:48into mine,

00:50:49and an honest English hand.

00:50:52Is this insular nonsense?

00:50:54Perhaps so,

00:50:55but I will stick to it.

00:50:57A brown,

00:50:58firm hand.

00:51:00No,

00:51:01not so very small,

00:51:03my sentimental listener,

00:51:04was clasping mine.

00:51:07You've seen

00:51:08the Dulce before,

00:51:09haven't you?

00:51:09I haven't been aboard before.

00:51:12It's very small,

00:51:13but she looks strong.

00:51:14How did you manage

00:51:15alone that day?

00:51:16Oh,

00:51:17it was quite safe.

00:51:17Yes,

00:51:18father said it would be safe.

00:51:20You're sailing to Norderney?

00:51:21Of course,

00:51:22and I'd like to see

00:51:22your father again.

00:51:23My father?

00:51:24Yes,

00:51:24I'm sure he'd be glad

00:51:25to see you.

00:51:26He returns tomorrow

00:51:27by train,

00:51:28and then he takes

00:51:29the ferry to Mehmet.

00:51:30Mehmet?

00:51:31It's another island.

00:51:32He has business there.

00:51:33Ah, yes,

00:51:33the gulp.

00:51:34Is there Medusa

00:51:35in harbour at Norderney?

00:51:36Ah, yes,

00:51:37but we're not living on her.

00:51:38We're in town

00:51:39at our villa

00:51:39in the Schwanallee.

00:51:41Merci below.

00:51:42Delighted.

00:51:43I'm afraid

00:51:44it's a bit of a mess.

00:51:45It's very snug.

00:51:47So many books.

00:51:49Well,

00:51:49Carruthers and I

00:51:50will make some cocoa.

00:51:54Well,

00:51:55isn't she the most

00:51:56splendid girl?

00:51:57Absolutely.

00:51:58And I'm certain

00:51:58she's not German either.

00:52:00Just look at her.

00:52:01I mourn certain

00:52:02she knows nothing of this.

00:52:03I wonder what she knows

00:52:04of her father's past.

00:52:05She can't expect us

00:52:06of anything.

00:52:07Otherwise,

00:52:07why visit us?

00:52:08Mynheeran,

00:52:09please,

00:52:10no cocoa.

00:52:10It's late

00:52:11and I must go now.

00:52:12Oh,

00:52:13but don't...

00:52:13No,

00:52:14I'm sorry.

00:52:14Herr Carruthers

00:52:15can help me

00:52:16to beding you.

00:52:16All right.

00:52:17Well,

00:52:17of course.

00:52:22Herr Carruthers,

00:52:23I made a mistake

00:52:24just now.

00:52:25It's no use

00:52:26your calling

00:52:26on us tomorrow.

00:52:27Why not?

00:52:28I thought your father

00:52:29was coming back.

00:52:29Oh,

00:52:29he will be very busy

00:52:31and the weather

00:52:31is fine.

00:52:32It would be a pity

00:52:33to lose the chance

00:52:34of a smooth voyage

00:52:35to England.

00:52:35It was wrong

00:52:36of me to come aboard.

00:52:38Please say goodbye

00:52:39to Herr Davis for me.

00:52:40Certainly.

00:52:41And had nothing

00:52:42better be said

00:52:43about this meeting?

00:52:44It must never be known.

00:52:45Goodbye,

00:52:46Herr Carruthers.

00:52:48Bye.

00:52:48Carruthers?

00:53:01She's rowing off.

00:53:02What on earth

00:53:02happened?

00:53:03She was startled

00:53:04by something.

00:53:06I'd swear she was

00:53:06trembling when she

00:53:07got back in her dinghy.

00:53:08Let's look below.

00:53:09All right.

00:53:15Oh,

00:53:16she's standing

00:53:16on me.

00:53:17Oh,

00:53:17yes.

00:53:18Here,

00:53:19the book.

00:53:20She's dropped

00:53:21her father's book.

00:53:22She must have realized

00:53:23that we know,

00:53:23but will she tell

00:53:24her father?

00:53:24I don't think she can,

00:53:26without admitting

00:53:26that she's met us.

00:53:28He probably still

00:53:29thinks you're dead.

00:53:31Let's get to Norderney

00:53:32and see if he arrives.

00:53:37There's the ferry

00:53:38for a minute,

00:53:39and the passengers

00:53:40are boarding now.

00:53:41So where's Dorman?

00:53:42Um,

00:53:43there he is,

00:53:44with the cigar.

00:53:45Who's that new

00:53:46fellow with him?

00:53:46No idea.

00:53:47But there's Grimm.

00:53:49Oh,

00:53:49so all three

00:53:50are bound for their

00:53:51depot on Memmert.

00:53:52A meeting of some sort.

00:53:53Looks like it.

00:53:54Let's go and get our letters.

00:53:55All right.

00:53:55Two letters.

00:54:03One saying,

00:54:03go ahead and take

00:54:04an extension of leave.

00:54:06The second one

00:54:06is from my boss

00:54:07saying roughly,

00:54:08come back on time

00:54:09or don't come back at all.

00:54:10Oh,

00:54:11don't worry.

00:54:12I shall claim

00:54:13the second letter

00:54:13never arrived.

00:54:15But I sent a telegram

00:54:16to a friend

00:54:17in the Admiralty.

00:54:18He can check

00:54:18Dodgson,

00:54:19or rather,

00:54:20Dolman,

00:54:20for us.

00:54:21Well,

00:54:21hear that?

00:54:22We'd better get back

00:54:23to the Dorset Bella

00:54:24while we can still find it.

00:54:25Yeah.

00:54:25If this floor comes,

00:54:27I wouldn't half mind

00:54:28having a look

00:54:28at their depot.

00:54:30Can we get there?

00:54:31Well,

00:54:31the depot's marked

00:54:32on the chart.

00:54:33It'd be about

00:54:34six miles sailing

00:54:36and then another

00:54:36two in the dinghy.

00:54:38But you're right.

00:54:39With this fog,

00:54:40they'd never spot us.

00:54:41And if we muttled

00:54:42the rocks,

00:54:42we could get the dinghy

00:54:43choppy close

00:54:44without them

00:54:44even hearing us.

00:54:46If we can find our way

00:54:47across the sands

00:54:48in the fog,

00:54:49that's pretty near impossible.

00:54:52Come on.

00:54:52It's going to be great.

00:54:53Right.

00:55:01Davis was in his element.

00:55:02Taking bearings

00:55:03in the fog

00:55:04where we could

00:55:04and then anchoring

00:55:05by a line of marker posts.

00:55:07Together,

00:55:08we rode with Davis

00:55:09like a link boy

00:55:09in a London fog

00:55:10bearing the prismatic compass

00:55:12until,

00:55:13exhausted,

00:55:14we fetched up

00:55:15on a sandbank.

00:55:21Where are we?

00:55:22A quarter of a mile

00:55:23across the sandbank

00:55:24from the depot.

00:55:25Well done, Davis.

00:55:26I'll go on from here alone.

00:55:27But why not both of us?

00:55:28If anything happens to me,

00:55:29you'll still be able to tell

00:55:30what little we know.

00:55:32Perhaps the Admiralty

00:55:32will make some sense of it.

00:55:35What's that?

00:55:36That's the Mammoth Foghorn.

00:55:38Now,

00:55:38keep aiming for it

00:55:39on the way out

00:55:40and keep it behind you

00:55:41on the way back.

00:55:42You got your watch?

00:55:43Matches?

00:55:44Knife?

00:55:44No knife.

00:55:45Take mine.

00:55:46And the compass.

00:55:48Now,

00:55:48never budge from the shore

00:55:49without using it.

00:55:50And lay it on the ground

00:55:51for accuracy.

00:55:52You'll pass a big beacon

00:55:53east of here

00:55:54on the shore.

00:55:55I'll meet you there

00:55:56in one hour

00:55:56and a half.

00:55:57What if I'm late?

00:55:58Well, you can't be.

00:55:59The tide's rising

00:56:00and we must be back

00:56:01at harbour

00:56:01before the fog clears

00:56:02and we're missed.

00:56:03Now,

00:56:04if you can't find me,

00:56:05blow the whistle

00:56:05and I'll answer.

00:56:06What was that now?

00:56:07It's our ship's bell.

00:56:09Uh,

00:56:10six bells

00:56:10in the afternoon watch.

00:56:12Now go

00:56:12and good luck.

00:56:13Thanks.

00:56:21I advanced

00:56:22in stages

00:56:22of ten yards or so,

00:56:24always checking

00:56:25that the sea

00:56:25was on my left

00:56:26until I fell headlong

00:56:28over a half-hidden

00:56:29iron bar.

00:56:30My visibility

00:56:31was no more

00:56:31than a yard or so

00:56:32and it took me time

00:56:33to see that it was

00:56:34the signal beacon

00:56:35Davis had mentioned.

00:56:36I laid the compass down

00:56:38and found the bearing

00:56:39north-west to the depot

00:56:42so it would be

00:56:43south-east coming back.

00:56:45I tried to memorise

00:56:46what I met on the way.

00:56:48An anchor,

00:56:49then a heap of rusty cable,

00:56:51then an upturned boat

00:56:52with a filthy old pipe

00:56:53lying on it.

00:56:55Now I could smell tobacco

00:56:56and hear coughing.

00:56:58Then I met the wall

00:57:00of the depot

00:57:00and heard footsteps,

00:57:02thankfully going away from me.

00:57:05Round the corner

00:57:06someone opened a window

00:57:07throwing out a cigar.

00:57:09I crawled along the wall

00:57:11and peered in

00:57:12at the window.

00:57:13They were all there.

00:57:16Von Brüning,

00:57:17Grimm,

00:57:18the third man

00:57:18from the harbour

00:57:19and Dolman

00:57:20with his chair

00:57:21propped up at the window.

00:57:23I ducked down

00:57:23as Grimm looked out

00:57:24the window

00:57:25and pulled the curtain.

00:57:27The third man

00:57:29asked Dolman

00:57:30for his report

00:57:30and Dolman

00:57:31uttered the single word

00:57:32Chatham

00:57:33before the window

00:57:35was shut.

00:57:35I could hear no more

00:57:38but just managed

00:57:40to force the blade

00:57:41of Davis's knife

00:57:42into a crack.

00:57:43Good man, Davis.

00:57:44I made out very little more

00:58:03except a string of statistics

00:58:05and letters

00:58:05and then

00:58:06it was high time

00:58:07for me to go.

00:58:09Southeast,

00:58:09I managed to remember.

00:58:10running over the dunes

00:58:12past the boat

00:58:13and the anchor

00:58:14and then I was

00:58:15at the shoreline

00:58:16but no beacon.

00:58:18I had got myself lost

00:58:20in less than 20 yards.

00:58:23Going left

00:58:24would only have taken me

00:58:24back towards the hut.

00:58:25I was conscious

00:58:27that this was wasting time

00:58:28so in desperation

00:58:29I blew my whistle.

00:58:32Davis answered

00:58:32but from my right

00:58:34and in four minutes

00:58:36I was back in the dinghy

00:58:37and we were pulling

00:58:37with all our might.

00:58:40There was no time

00:58:41for chat with Davis

00:58:42until we retraced

00:58:43our route

00:58:43to the dulcibella.

00:58:45He was engrossed

00:58:46with the compass

00:58:46in one hand

00:58:47and the tiller

00:58:48in the other

00:58:48but around the tight

00:58:50set of lips

00:58:50I fancied

00:58:51I could discern

00:58:52the joy of satisfaction

00:58:53in the impossible

00:58:55achieved.

00:58:55When we got in sight

00:58:58of the dulcibella

00:58:59our hearts

00:59:01leapt into our mouths

00:59:02as we saw

00:59:03von Brüning's launch

00:59:04alongside

00:59:04and two men

00:59:06standing on the after deck.

00:59:08Good God!

00:59:10How did they get here?

00:59:11That launch of von Brüning

00:59:12has got three times

00:59:13our speed.

00:59:14Are you sure

00:59:14that no one saw you

00:59:15on them at?

00:59:16Pretty sure.

00:59:17Anyway

00:59:17the only thing for it

00:59:18is to brazen it out.

00:59:20I only wish we had

00:59:20some ducks

00:59:21to bear out our story.

00:59:22I only wish

00:59:23I was any good

00:59:23at this sort of thing.

00:59:24Ahoy there!

00:59:27To the board!

00:59:29Is that you

00:59:29Herr Davies?

00:59:31We wondered

00:59:31where you two

00:59:32had got to.

00:59:33Just rowing about

00:59:34since the fog cleared.

00:59:35You had no

00:59:37riding lights

00:59:37we came aboard

00:59:39to set it.

00:59:40We took it with us

00:59:43to sea

00:59:45to shoot by

00:59:46and you muffled

00:59:47your oars

00:59:48so as to creep up

00:59:49on the ducks?

00:59:50I would like you

00:59:51to be my guests

00:59:52for dinner this evening.

00:59:53We shall be delighted.

00:59:55You are in

00:59:56the Chonelet

00:59:56are you not?

00:59:57In an hour then.

00:59:59Ask him to stay

00:59:59while we dress.

01:00:01Herr Dolman

01:00:02why not keep us

01:00:03company while we change?

01:00:04With pleasure.

01:00:06Come along Dolman

01:00:07you'll just be

01:00:09in the way.

01:00:10We'll see you

01:00:10both later.

01:00:11Yes sir.

01:00:18What was that about?

01:00:20I'd call it a draw.

01:00:21They haven't got

01:00:22any proof

01:00:23of what we're up to.

01:00:24On the other hand

01:00:25they certainly

01:00:25don't altogether

01:00:26believe our story.

01:00:27I'm not surprised.

01:00:27We must seem

01:00:28a bit shifty.

01:00:29And von Bruning

01:00:30is as sharp as a tack.

01:00:31But they don't

01:00:32altogether trust

01:00:32Dolman on his own

01:00:33either.

01:00:34I thought as much.

01:00:35But if he's

01:00:36at the centre

01:00:36of it all

01:00:37why on earth not?

01:00:38Because as we

01:00:39now know

01:00:39he's a turncoat

01:00:40and he could

01:00:41as easily

01:00:41turn back.

01:00:43As far as

01:00:43the enemy

01:00:43camp may be

01:00:44necessary

01:00:45but it's

01:00:45a dirty business

01:00:46and no one

01:00:47will ever

01:00:47quite trust them.

01:00:48That's why

01:00:49von Bruning

01:00:49has been so

01:00:50keen to keep

01:00:51us away

01:00:51from Dolman.

01:00:53Now

01:00:53I wonder

01:00:54what they did

01:00:54here.

01:00:55Let's have

01:00:56a look

01:00:56below.

01:00:56Right.

01:01:02Nice.

01:01:03The logbook's

01:01:04been moved.

01:01:05First thing

01:01:05they'd look

01:01:05for.

01:01:06And then

01:01:06they'd leave

01:01:07it lying

01:01:07around so

01:01:07that we

01:01:08know they're

01:01:08checking our

01:01:08every move.

01:01:10And Dolman's

01:01:11books under

01:01:11these cushions

01:01:12that's odd.

01:01:13There's no

01:01:13earthly reason

01:01:14why they

01:01:14should hide

01:01:15it.

01:01:16But Dolman

01:01:16might want

01:01:17to keep

01:01:17his past

01:01:18obscure.

01:01:19This means

01:01:20he knows

01:01:21we've found

01:01:21his real

01:01:22name.

01:01:23It's going

01:01:24to be a

01:01:24fascinating

01:01:25dinner party.

01:01:26What did

01:01:26you find

01:01:26at the

01:01:27depot?

01:01:28I'll tell

01:01:28you while

01:01:28we change.

01:01:32I think

01:01:33my dress

01:01:33togs might

01:01:34still be

01:01:34wearable.

01:01:35I'd have

01:01:35guessed

01:01:36you'd

01:01:36bring

01:01:36white

01:01:36tie.

01:01:38Firstly

01:01:38the new

01:01:39chap's

01:01:39called

01:01:40Boma.

01:01:41He seems

01:01:41to be

01:01:41some sort

01:01:42of government

01:01:42boss.

01:01:44Anyway they

01:01:44all deferred

01:01:45to him.

01:01:46Now secondly

01:01:46there's seven

01:01:48of them

01:01:48around here.

01:01:49I overheard

01:01:49them using

01:01:50letters from

01:01:50G to

01:01:51A.

01:01:51Islands.

01:01:52The German

01:01:53islands.

01:01:53There are

01:01:53seven of

01:01:54those.

01:01:54Could be.

01:01:56There's

01:01:56someone

01:01:56important

01:01:57coming on

01:01:57the night

01:01:58train on

01:01:58the 25th.

01:02:00Someone who

01:02:00has more

01:02:01right than

01:02:02anyone else

01:02:02in Germany.

01:02:04You mean

01:02:04the man at

01:02:04the centre

01:02:05of it all

01:02:05who's

01:02:05planned it?

01:02:06More than

01:02:07that.

01:02:08It had

01:02:08been explained

01:02:09to him.

01:02:10So he's

01:02:10above all

01:02:11that.

01:02:12When he

01:02:12was mentioned

01:02:12they all

01:02:13went very

01:02:13quiet.

01:02:15I'm not

01:02:15sure of

01:02:16course.

01:02:17But it

01:02:17sounded as

01:02:17if he was

01:02:18the very

01:02:18top man.

01:02:19The Kaiser

01:02:20himself?

01:02:21It sounded

01:02:21very like

01:02:22that.

01:02:23Anyway whoever

01:02:23it is is

01:02:24coming on

01:02:24the night

01:02:24train on

01:02:24the 25th

01:02:25to Easton's.

01:02:26But that's

01:02:26a guess.

01:02:27Now try

01:02:28this.

01:02:29There was

01:02:29a lot of

01:02:29talk about

01:02:30pilots and

01:02:31tongues.

01:02:32Then they

01:02:32said one

01:02:33load half

01:02:34full and

01:02:35the tide

01:02:35serves.

01:02:36High tide

01:02:37on the

01:02:3725th to

01:02:38be about

01:02:3811 at

01:02:38night.

01:02:39That fits

01:02:40with the

01:02:40night train.

01:02:40Good man.

01:02:42It's like

01:02:42trying to

01:02:42do a

01:02:43jigsaw when

01:02:43you don't

01:02:43know what

01:02:44the final

01:02:44picture is

01:02:44supposed to

01:02:45be.

01:02:45But we're

01:02:46getting close.

01:02:47Snaggy as

01:02:48they're on

01:02:48to us

01:02:48now.

01:02:49And they

01:02:50think we

01:02:50know more

01:02:51than we

01:02:51really do.

01:02:52All we

01:02:53know for

01:02:53sure is

01:02:53that the

01:02:54dolman is

01:02:54a traitor

01:02:54and they're

01:02:55frightened of

01:02:56what else

01:02:56we may

01:02:56know.

01:02:57Is this

01:02:57tight straight?

01:02:58Yes,

01:02:58yes.

01:02:59But how

01:02:59do we

01:02:59find out

01:03:00more?

01:03:01We've

01:03:01got them

01:03:02off balance.

01:03:03We've

01:03:03got to

01:03:03play on

01:03:03that.

01:03:04We must

01:03:05get away

01:03:05on our

01:03:05own again.

01:03:06I vote we

01:03:07spit up for

01:03:07a bit and

01:03:07throw them

01:03:08off the

01:03:08scent.

01:03:09I'll say

01:03:09I've been

01:03:09recalled.

01:03:10It's only

01:03:11the truth.

01:03:12If they're

01:03:12as worried

01:03:12as I

01:03:13think,

01:03:13then they'll

01:03:13have two

01:03:14trails to

01:03:15follow.

01:03:15No need

01:03:16to make

01:03:16it easy

01:03:16for them.

01:03:17We must

01:03:18meet that

01:03:18night train.

01:03:20You go

01:03:21off for a

01:03:21potter and

01:03:22we meet

01:03:22again on

01:03:23the 25th

01:03:23at Aesons.

01:03:25Damn,

01:03:25I've only

01:03:25brought back

01:03:26cufflinks.

01:03:27Never mind

01:03:27your cufflinks.

01:03:28What about

01:03:28the Dulcy?

01:03:29Aesons is

01:03:30in land for

01:03:30pity's sake.

01:03:31Oh, come

01:03:31on, Davis.

01:03:35Your Objections

01:03:36and anchor

01:03:36the Dulcy

01:03:37nearby.

01:03:39Burmaseal?

01:03:39Well, do

01:03:40splendidly.

01:03:41Now, let's

01:03:42go and enjoy

01:03:43the hospitality

01:03:44of a traitor.

01:03:48So, he

01:03:49sailed free

01:03:49and I thought

01:03:50I would be

01:03:50left on the

01:03:51sands holding

01:03:52the damn

01:03:52catch.

01:03:54My dear fellow,

01:03:55I would never

01:03:55have left you.

01:03:57But now I

01:03:57hear you are

01:03:58to leave us.

01:03:59I'm afraid so.

01:04:00I collected

01:04:01my letters

01:04:01this morning

01:04:01and amongst

01:04:02them was

01:04:03a summons

01:04:03to return.

01:04:04Oh, our

01:04:05acquaintance has

01:04:05been very

01:04:06short, my

01:04:07herrn.

01:04:07Fraulein

01:04:08Dolman,

01:04:08when the

01:04:09foreign office

01:04:09calls, I

01:04:10must obey.

01:04:11You leave

01:04:12tomorrow?

01:04:13There's a

01:04:13ferry to the

01:04:14railway station

01:04:14at 815, I

01:04:15believe,

01:04:16Herr Bomer.

01:04:16No, that

01:04:17is good.

01:04:17We should

01:04:18be companions.

01:04:19I'm going

01:04:19to Bremen.

01:04:20So we will

01:04:21be together

01:04:21as far as

01:04:22there.

01:04:23It was a

01:04:23short stay

01:04:24here, then,

01:04:24Herr Bomer.

01:04:25As usual.

01:04:26I visit the

01:04:27work at

01:04:27Mehmet once

01:04:28a month.

01:04:30Mehmet.

01:04:34Do tell us

01:04:34more about

01:04:35Mehmet.

01:04:36We're

01:04:37dying to

01:04:37know, aren't

01:04:37we,

01:04:38Davies?

01:04:38I don't

01:04:39know.

01:04:40Commander

01:04:40von

01:04:40Brüning was

01:04:41very discreet.

01:04:42And now

01:04:42you've

01:04:43pumped me.

01:04:43It's all

01:04:44von

01:04:44Brüning's

01:04:44fault.

01:04:45My fault?

01:04:46Of course.

01:04:47You told

01:04:48us you

01:04:48did not

01:04:49know when

01:04:49Herr Dolman

01:04:50was returning,

01:04:51but today you

01:04:52all came

01:04:52aboard having

01:04:53been at

01:04:53Mehmet.

01:04:54So you

01:04:55must have

01:04:55known of

01:04:56Herr Dolman's

01:04:56movements to

01:04:57arrange the

01:04:57meeting.

01:04:58But why

01:04:59should I

01:05:00want to

01:05:00deceive you?

01:05:01That's just

01:05:01what I want

01:05:02to know.

01:05:03Come now.

01:05:04Confess it.

01:05:05You've

01:05:05found the

01:05:05gold.

01:05:07I cannot

01:05:07assist you,

01:05:08I'm afraid.

01:05:08I'm merely

01:05:09a shareholder.

01:05:10Herr Bomer?

01:05:11As an engineer,

01:05:12I cannot speak in

01:05:13front of the

01:05:13chairman of the

01:05:14company.

01:05:15And I must

01:05:16protect the

01:05:17interests of the

01:05:18shareholders.

01:05:19They're all

01:05:19against us,

01:05:20David.

01:05:20Oh,

01:05:20chuck it,

01:05:21Carruthers.

01:05:21Herr Carruthers,

01:05:22I can assure you

01:05:23there's nothing

01:05:24there but mud.

01:05:26Otherwise we

01:05:26might have had a

01:05:27picnic party there.

01:05:28Impromptu parties

01:05:29are always the

01:05:30pleasantest and

01:05:31this one is

01:05:31exceptionally

01:05:32pleasant.

01:05:33As my

01:05:33hostess,

01:05:34I thank you.

01:05:35But I bet I

01:05:36know its origin.

01:05:38Didn't you

01:05:38discuss us at

01:05:39Mamet?

01:05:40And didn't you

01:05:41come aboard the

01:05:41Dolcebella to

01:05:42look us over?

01:05:44I warned you,

01:05:45Burma.

01:05:46Indeed,

01:05:46we owe you

01:05:46both apologies.

01:05:48Don't mention

01:05:48it, please.

01:05:49What did you

01:05:49take us for?

01:05:51Perhaps we

01:05:51take you for

01:05:52it still.

01:05:53Then when I

01:05:54get back to

01:05:55London, I

01:05:55shall go straight

01:05:56to Lloyd's.

01:05:56I haven't

01:05:57forgotten about

01:05:57that flaw in

01:05:58the title.

01:05:59Gentlemen,

01:06:00we must come

01:06:01to terms with

01:06:02this formidable

01:06:02young man.

01:06:04Now, what

01:06:05are your

01:06:05demands?

01:06:07Take me to

01:06:07Mamet.

01:06:08But you said

01:06:09you were

01:06:09leaving for

01:06:09England tomorrow.

01:06:10If I change

01:06:11my mind, it

01:06:11is my affair.

01:06:12Now, will

01:06:13you take me

01:06:14to Mamet?

01:06:14He is

01:06:15invincible.

01:06:16He concedes.

01:06:17Tomorrow we'll

01:06:18show you

01:06:18everything.

01:06:19If you don't

01:06:20object to a

01:06:21diver's dress.

01:06:22Victory.

01:06:23We've won our

01:06:24point, Davis.

01:06:25And now,

01:06:26gentlemen, I

01:06:27don't mind

01:06:27saying that

01:06:28as far as

01:06:28I'm concerned,

01:06:29the joke's

01:06:29at an end.

01:06:30In spite of

01:06:31your kind

01:06:31offer, I

01:06:32must start

01:06:33for England.

01:06:34Well played,

01:06:35Herr Carruthers.

01:06:36As Fralline

01:06:36Clara has

01:06:37said, you

01:06:38would have

01:06:38seen only

01:06:39mud.

01:06:39But I

01:06:40would like to

01:06:40go to

01:06:41Mamet.

01:06:42I thought

01:06:42you were

01:06:42sailing for

01:06:43England.

01:06:44Perhaps

01:06:44Fralline

01:06:45Dorman would

01:06:45like to

01:06:46accompany me

01:06:46for a

01:06:47picnic

01:06:47party.

01:06:48Thank you,

01:06:48but I

01:06:49think I

01:06:49will not

01:06:50be sailing

01:06:50again.

01:06:51The season's

01:06:52getting too

01:06:52cold.

01:06:53And it

01:06:53is also

01:06:53getting

01:06:54late.

01:06:55Fralline

01:06:55Dorman,

01:06:55I must

01:06:56thank you

01:06:56for a

01:06:56most

01:06:57delightful

01:06:57dinner.

01:06:58And you,

01:06:59gentlemen,

01:06:59for an

01:06:59excellent

01:07:00game of

01:07:00wits.

01:07:01Come,

01:07:02Davis,

01:07:02they will

01:07:02wish to

01:07:03talk us

01:07:03over.

01:07:06Through a

01:07:06haze of

01:07:07wine, we

01:07:07made our

01:07:08farewells and

01:07:09were in the

01:07:09streets again,

01:07:10under a

01:07:10silver,

01:07:11breathless

01:07:11night,

01:07:12dizzily footing

01:07:13the greasy

01:07:13ladder and

01:07:14into the

01:07:15cabin, where

01:07:16I collapsed

01:07:17on the bench

01:07:18just as I

01:07:18was, and

01:07:19slept such a

01:07:20deep and

01:07:20stringent sleep

01:07:21that von

01:07:22Brüning's

01:07:22men might

01:07:23have handcuffed

01:07:24and trussed

01:07:24and carried

01:07:25me away

01:07:25without

01:07:26incommoding

01:07:26me in the

01:07:27least.

01:07:31Davis,

01:07:32wake up.

01:07:34Come on,

01:07:34Davis, get

01:07:35in here.

01:07:36What's the

01:07:37matter?

01:07:38What time

01:07:39is it?

01:07:39Never mind

01:07:40the time.

01:07:41It's about

01:07:41Dolman, or

01:07:42Dodgson, we

01:07:42should call him.

01:07:43I've had an

01:07:44answer to my

01:07:44telegram.

01:07:45Listen to

01:07:45this.

01:07:46Dodgson resigned

01:07:47commission to

01:07:48avoid scandal

01:07:49read confidential

01:07:50papers, stop.

01:07:51Wife dead

01:07:52three years

01:07:52previous, fled

01:07:53with only

01:07:54daughter, stop.

01:07:55Believed working

01:07:56with not

01:07:56west deutsche

01:07:57shipping line, stop.

01:07:58Power duck, stop.

01:07:59Hawkins.

01:08:00There you are.

01:08:01So I was

01:08:01right.

01:08:02But he's our

01:08:03man, all right.

01:08:03What do we do

01:08:04now?

01:08:04Carry on with

01:08:04our plan.

01:08:05We still don't

01:08:06really know what

01:08:07they're up to, but

01:08:08I'll stake my

01:08:08life it's treacherous.

01:08:09And Clara?

01:08:10I'm sure she's not

01:08:11involved.

01:08:12Look, I've got to

01:08:13go and meet

01:08:13Burma now, but

01:08:14I'll be back to

01:08:15meet you in

01:08:15Aesons at

01:08:1610.30 on the

01:08:1725th.

01:08:17Lie low till

01:08:18then.

01:08:19Good luck.

01:08:20Good luck,

01:08:21Davis, old chap.

01:08:22See you at the

01:08:23station.

01:08:34I left Davis on

01:08:36the quay, bare

01:08:37headed and

01:08:38wearing his old

01:08:39Norfolk jacket

01:08:39and stained grey

01:08:40flannels, as at

01:08:41our first meeting

01:08:42at Flensburg

01:08:43station.

01:08:44There was no

01:08:45bandaged hand

01:08:46this time, but

01:08:48he looked pinched

01:08:49and depressed.

01:08:51With the bulk

01:08:51of Burma looking

01:08:52over my shoulder,

01:08:53I took a ticket

01:08:54to Amsterdam and

01:08:55sat in stony

01:08:56silence with him

01:08:57until he left

01:08:57the train at

01:08:58Lair.

01:08:59Don't forget to

01:09:00go to Lloyd's,

01:09:01he grated into

01:09:02my ear.

01:09:03I expect it

01:09:04was a wan

01:09:05smile that I

01:09:05returned, for I

01:09:07was at a very

01:09:07low ebb, and my

01:09:09fortress looked

01:09:09sarcastically

01:09:10impregnable.

01:09:12But the

01:09:13sapper was free,

01:09:14and I held on to

01:09:15this thought as I

01:09:16sent a cable to

01:09:17my chief.

01:09:18Very sorry,

01:09:19could not call,

01:09:20Nord and I.

01:09:21Hope extension

01:09:21all right, please

01:09:23write Hotel de Louvre,

01:09:24Paris.

01:09:25I hoped I had

01:09:26thrown Burma off

01:09:27the scent.

01:09:28Now I was

01:09:29indulging in the

01:09:30same deceit with

01:09:31His Majesty's

01:09:31foreign office.

01:09:34Staying at

01:09:34sordid lodgings, I

01:09:36passed the time

01:09:36until the 25th,

01:09:38poring over maps

01:09:39of the region and

01:09:39trying to put the

01:09:40pieces of the puzzle

01:09:41into a coherent

01:09:42picture.

01:09:43seven, seven

01:09:46islands, tugs

01:09:48and tides.

01:09:50They're moving

01:09:51something to the

01:09:53islands, from the

01:09:55islands.

01:09:57Check the

01:09:58railways.

01:09:59Railways come into

01:09:59it.

01:10:01Perhaps Davis has

01:10:02had some thought.

01:10:05Then at last it

01:10:06was the 25th, and

01:10:08I was on the

01:10:08platform at

01:10:09Aeson's and

01:10:10looking for him

01:10:10in the dark

01:10:11drizzle of rain.

01:10:13Rubbers, over

01:10:19here.

01:10:20Davis, how are

01:10:22you?

01:10:22Well enough.

01:10:24I've been ashore

01:10:25all day, though.

01:10:26Let's get farther

01:10:26down the platform.

01:10:27We don't want to

01:10:27be spotted if

01:10:28anyone turns up.

01:10:29Right.

01:10:30Here, behind

01:10:32these mailbags.

01:10:32Right.

01:10:34Now, have you

01:10:34found anything?

01:10:35I think I've got

01:10:36some of the answers.

01:10:37How about you?

01:10:37A theory, no more.

01:10:39This railway here

01:10:40is a loop line.

01:10:41The main line runs

01:10:42from Emden to

01:10:43Wilhelmshaven, and

01:10:44then on into the

01:10:45heart of Germany.

01:10:47But this loop runs

01:10:48parallel to the sea

01:10:49for 40 miles behind

01:10:50the islands.

01:10:51That's why they're

01:10:52interested in it.

01:10:53Well, listen to this.

01:10:54Now, you were

01:10:55right.

01:10:56The seven letters

01:10:56from A to G, I

01:10:58thought they must be

01:10:58the islands.

01:10:59So did I.

01:10:59But they might not

01:11:00be.

01:11:01I now think they

01:11:02are the channels

01:11:03between the islands.

01:11:04That's why they

01:11:05wanted to know

01:11:05about the tides.

01:11:07And the other

01:11:07word you heard?

01:11:08Tugs.

01:11:09Exactly.

01:11:10Tugs mean only

01:11:10one thing, to me

01:11:11at least.

01:11:13Barges.

01:11:14Spot on.

01:11:15Now, at the end

01:11:16of each of these

01:11:16channels, there's a

01:11:17village, and I've

01:11:18been nosing around

01:11:18them.

01:11:19They've all got

01:11:20boatyards, and

01:11:21they're building

01:11:21barges.

01:11:22Bigger than our

01:11:23coal barges, about

01:11:24half as big again,

01:11:25and all new.

01:11:26So with this railway,

01:11:27they could move

01:11:28stuff up here, load it

01:11:30into the barge, if the

01:11:31tide serves, remember?

01:11:32Here comes Grimman

01:11:33von Brunig.

01:11:37They're on their

01:11:39own.

01:11:40I told you, they

01:11:41don't trust Donovan.

01:11:42It's just in time to

01:11:43meet this train.

01:11:44I think we've got

01:11:45this bit right, at

01:11:45least.

01:11:46Don't you see,

01:11:47tonight was a high

01:11:48tide.

01:11:49They're going to

01:11:49try it out.

01:11:50With a half load.

01:11:51There's even a tug

01:11:52with steam up in

01:11:53Bernersil Harbor.

01:11:54Careful.

01:11:55I must get him

01:11:55off.

01:11:57But who's he with?

01:11:59I don't know.

01:12:01But von Brunig

01:12:01saluted him.

01:12:03Could he be the

01:12:04Kaiser?

01:12:05Too dark to see.

01:12:07We don't risk

01:12:07getting any closer.

01:12:10They're going into

01:12:11the buffet.

01:12:12Nice warming glass of

01:12:13snaps, Nadal.

01:12:14Right.

01:12:15I wager they're

01:12:16bound for Bernersil.

01:12:17We can beat them

01:12:18there across the

01:12:19fields.

01:12:19Let's find this tug

01:12:20of yours.

01:12:21Come on.

01:12:21My chain of thought

01:12:26was, I fancy,

01:12:27this.

01:12:28The tug is to

01:12:29carry my

01:12:29conspirators, and I

01:12:30cannot shadow a tug

01:12:31from the shore, yet

01:12:32I still intend to

01:12:33shadow my party.

01:12:35So, we must go

01:12:36aboard.

01:12:38Mercifully, there

01:12:39were no crew in

01:12:39sight, and there

01:12:40was a clinking of

01:12:41glasses from the

01:12:42foc's.

01:12:42No watch kept.

01:12:45Pretty sloppy, I

01:12:46should say.

01:12:46They've got steam

01:12:47up.

01:12:48I suppose they're

01:12:48keeping out of the

01:12:49rain until the

01:12:49visitors arrive.

01:12:50Now's our chance.

01:12:51Where can we

01:12:51hide?

01:12:52No sign of

01:12:53Treasure Island's

01:12:53apple barrel.

01:12:55The portside

01:12:55lifeboat.

01:12:56Across the deck.

01:12:57What if?

01:12:58Never mind what if.

01:12:58Come on.

01:12:59Follow me.

01:12:59Come on.

01:13:00Brothers.

01:13:01Boots off.

01:13:04And walk on the

01:13:06side of the

01:13:06gangplank.

01:13:07It won't

01:13:07crack.

01:13:08Good man.

01:13:08Far out of the

01:13:17wheelhouse.

01:13:19There's no

01:13:19watch.

01:13:20Can we have a

01:13:20look in the

01:13:20foc'sle?

01:13:21No.

01:13:22If we can see

01:13:22them, then they

01:13:23can see us.

01:13:24Come on.

01:13:24Get on the

01:13:24cover.

01:13:25I suppose you're

01:13:25right.

01:13:26Get the tarpaulin

01:13:27over our heads.

01:13:31Can you see?

01:13:32Perfectly.

01:13:33The crew are

01:13:33coming up on deck.

01:13:35Here comes our

01:13:35shore party.

01:13:37Line and

01:13:37laws.

01:13:38You're leading

01:13:38your stuff.

01:13:39Trip round the

01:13:40bay?

01:13:41Not quite.

01:13:42Feel that

01:13:42jerk?

01:13:43Yes.

01:13:43It's a barge.

01:13:46It's one of my

01:13:47barges.

01:13:47Quiet, Davis.

01:13:49Boomer and his

01:13:49lot have climbed

01:13:50onto it.

01:13:51I'm going to

01:13:51come.

01:13:51Brothers, what

01:13:52are you doing?

01:13:53You'll be

01:13:53spotted.

01:13:54The crew are

01:13:54all looking out

01:13:55to sea and the

01:13:55rest are peering

01:13:56into the barge.

01:13:57I'll be all

01:13:57right.

01:13:58You'll see.

01:13:58Oh, my God.

01:13:59You got...

01:14:00I made my

01:14:01way aft to the

01:14:02barge, Horza, and

01:14:03saw the Germans all

01:14:04peering into the

01:14:04barge's cavernous

01:14:05hold.

01:14:06As to my

01:14:07surprise,

01:14:08the tug

01:14:08veered to port.

01:14:10Not for the

01:14:10open sea, as I

01:14:11had thought, but

01:14:12on a line from

01:14:13Memot.

01:14:14The barge

01:14:15heeled over, and

01:14:16then I got a

01:14:17glimpse of her

01:14:18cargo.

01:14:18I had seen enough

01:14:30and was aware that

01:14:31at any moment

01:14:32someone might turn

01:14:33around and catch

01:14:34sight of me.

01:14:34I slipped back

01:14:35into our hiding

01:14:36place.

01:14:38Well?

01:14:39I saw the

01:14:39cargo.

01:14:40It's coal.

01:14:41The thing's

01:14:41half full of coal.

01:14:43And we've changed

01:14:44course for Memot.

01:14:45And Memot's the

01:14:46course I'd set for

01:14:47England.

01:14:48I've got it.

01:14:49It's a rehearsal, so

01:14:50they're using coal.

01:14:52In the real thing, it'll

01:14:53be soldiers.

01:14:53Or guns, equipment,

01:14:55whatever they like.

01:14:56Then that's it.

01:14:57We've solved the

01:14:58riddle.

01:14:59Each tug with eight

01:15:00barges.

01:15:01Von Bruny said

01:15:02something like that.

01:15:03The barge would hold

01:15:04about 200 men.

01:15:06That's 1,600 men for

01:15:08each tug.

01:15:09An entire battalion.

01:15:10Battalion.

01:15:11Then, four tugs to

01:15:12each channel, 24

01:15:14vigilance.

01:15:16This will be bigger

01:15:17than the Spanish

01:15:17Armada.

01:15:18That's why the

01:15:19Kaiser's here.

01:15:21They're plotting the

01:15:22invasion of England.

01:15:23We've got to get out

01:15:23of here.

01:15:24Right.

01:15:24Start freeing those

01:15:25davits.

01:15:26We've still got

01:15:26surprise on our

01:15:27side.

01:15:28Surprise for what?

01:15:29Come on, what are

01:15:29you going to do?

01:15:30You're going to chuck

01:15:31those spare life

01:15:31belts overboard.

01:15:32What on earth for?

01:15:33You like chucking

01:15:34things overboard.

01:15:34Oh, and when the

01:15:35houndsman looks round

01:15:36to see what's splashed,

01:15:38you see those

01:15:38orskins on the deck?

01:15:39Yes.

01:15:39I'll grab one of

01:15:40those.

01:15:41Then I look just like

01:15:42anyone else, and I can

01:15:42take the wheel.

01:15:43Carothers.

01:15:44It's our only chance.

01:15:45Now do it.

01:15:45Carothers, you've got

01:15:46no boots on.

01:15:50I managed to don an

01:15:52oilskin from a heap on

01:15:53the hatch cover, and

01:15:54coming beside the

01:15:54houndsman, I asked him

01:15:56for the wheel in what I

01:15:57hoped was my best

01:15:58German admiralty

01:15:59voice.

01:16:00He muttered

01:16:00something about a

01:16:01smoke, and I had

01:16:02control of the tug.

01:16:04Thanks to Davis's

01:16:05tuition, I knew we

01:16:07were running parallel to

01:16:08the great bank of

01:16:09Langarug, and I

01:16:10edged her closer

01:16:11until I could feel a

01:16:12tremble of mud below

01:16:13her keel.

01:16:14Then I threw the

01:16:15wheel hard over, and

01:16:16she dug in, bow

01:16:17first.

01:16:18The wheel went rigid

01:16:18in my hands, and we

01:16:20were stuck fast on the

01:16:21sandbag.

01:16:23In the scene of panic

01:16:24that followed, it is

01:16:25safe to say that I was

01:16:27the only soul on board

01:16:28who acted with

01:16:29methodical tranquility as

01:16:31I threw off my robe

01:16:32of office and made for

01:16:33the boat.

01:16:35Cut the force.

01:16:35She's well over to

01:16:36starboard.

01:16:37There can only be a

01:16:37few feet to the sea.

01:16:38Here goes.

01:16:40Now, pull for the

01:16:41dulcibella.

01:16:44What was that?

01:16:45The tow line on the

01:16:47barge.

01:16:47It's parted.

01:16:48What a mess.

01:16:49It's lovely.

01:16:50It's so perfect.

01:16:53Come on, I've got it.

01:16:54Wonderful.

01:16:55How long to Nordenai?

01:17:19With this wind, the

01:17:20dust will get us there

01:17:21a couple of hours.

01:17:22But why Nordenai?

01:17:23That's where Dorman is.

01:17:25We must face him with

01:17:26all this.

01:17:27He's the last piece in

01:17:28the riddle.

01:17:29Now we know what the

01:17:30Germans were doing, I

01:17:31want to know what he's

01:17:32been up to.

01:17:33Didn't you say something

01:17:34about Chatham out of

01:17:35the hub?

01:17:37By Jove, he did.

01:17:38That's it.

01:17:40He's been checking our

01:17:41defences, the fiend.

01:17:43Chatham, the Medway,

01:17:45the Solent.

01:17:45His book was on the

01:17:46Solent.

01:17:47Our only Admiralty bases

01:17:48are in the Solent.

01:17:49And we have no North

01:17:50Sea squadrons.

01:17:52We've never thought of

01:17:52an attack coming from

01:17:53the north.

01:17:54They could land at the

01:17:55Wash, it's much the

01:17:56nearest, undefended.

01:17:57Move south from there.

01:17:59By the time the alarm

01:18:00was up, they'd have

01:18:00their stores ashore and

01:18:02be miles inland.

01:18:04My God, it's thorough.

01:18:05It's German, and it

01:18:06would work.

01:18:08We must collect

01:18:09Dorman and get him

01:18:09back to England.

01:18:10Good morning, Lieutenant

01:18:25Dodgson.

01:18:25I must apologize for

01:18:27calling so early.

01:18:29Well, who is

01:18:32Lieutenant Dodgson?

01:18:34We probably understand

01:18:35each other, so to explain

01:18:37is to lose time.

01:18:37We sail for England in

01:18:39half an hour, and we

01:18:40would like the pleasure

01:18:40of your company.

01:18:41We promise you immunity

01:18:42on certain conditions

01:18:44which can wait.

01:18:45We have only two

01:18:45births, so we can only

01:18:47accommodate Miss Clara

01:18:48besides yourself.

01:18:52You confounded,

01:18:53meddlesome young

01:18:54idiots, and I thought I

01:18:56had done with you.

01:18:57Promise me immunity?

01:18:59By God, I'll give you

01:19:01five minutes to be off

01:19:02to England and be damned

01:19:03to you, or else you'd be

01:19:04locked up for spies.

01:19:05What the devil do you

01:19:07take me for?

01:19:08A traitor in the

01:19:09German service.

01:19:10Me?

01:19:10A traitor?

01:19:12You pig-headed young

01:19:13fools.

01:19:14I'm in the British

01:19:15service.

01:19:16You're wrecking the

01:19:17work of years and on

01:19:18the very threshold of

01:19:19success.

01:19:20Very well, we'll clear

01:19:21out.

01:19:21For others?

01:19:22Just a moment, Davis.

01:19:23We'll clear out, as we

01:19:25appear to have acted in

01:19:26error, but it's only

01:19:27right to tell you that

01:19:28we know everything.

01:19:30What?

01:19:31What do you know?

01:19:32I was taking notes at

01:19:33Mehmet the other night,

01:19:34and we were both at the

01:19:35experiment at Benesil

01:19:36tonight.

01:19:37Don't think about

01:19:38raising an alarm.

01:19:39We've taken precautions

01:19:39and the secrets and

01:19:40safe hands.

01:19:42Von Bruning and his

01:19:43chaps are on our

01:19:44track.

01:19:44If they find you with

01:19:46us, you know they

01:19:48don't altogether trust

01:19:50you, and...

01:19:53What did you say

01:19:56about immunity?

01:19:58For Clara, at least.

01:20:00She knows nothing of

01:20:01this.

01:20:01We're friends.

01:20:02We want to help you

01:20:03both.

01:20:04Come with us now.

01:20:05Wake Clara and tell her,

01:20:07or it'll be too late.

01:20:08Tell her?

01:20:09No, no.

01:20:09I can't tell her.

01:20:11You tell her, lad.

01:20:12Where's her room?

01:20:13Above this one.

01:20:14Go on, Carruthers.

01:20:15Not I.

01:20:16I should frighten her

01:20:17into a fit.

01:20:18I don't like to.

01:20:19Oh, nonsense, man.

01:20:20We'll both go.

01:20:24Don't be frightened.

01:20:26It's I, Carruthers, and

01:20:27Davis.

01:20:29Please come to your

01:20:29father.

01:20:30We're going to take

01:20:31you both to England

01:20:32in the D'Alcibella.

01:20:33I don't understand.

01:20:35Clara, will you not

01:20:36trust us?

01:20:38Must we, father?

01:20:41I'm very much afraid

01:20:42we must, my dear.

01:20:48It is strange to think

01:20:49we are going to England.

01:20:51But you were born there.

01:20:52Yeah, but I remember

01:20:53nothing of it.

01:20:54Where must we go?

01:20:57Well, your father

01:20:57must go to London.

01:20:59But I don't imagine

01:20:59they'll bother you much.

01:21:01I, um...

01:21:03Well, I have an aunt

01:21:04in Dorset you could

01:21:05stay with.

01:21:06Until it's all settled,

01:21:07I mean.

01:21:09Dorset?

01:21:11Is that near the sea?

01:21:15Some cocoa, Docton?

01:21:17You are very hospitable,

01:21:18Carruthers.

01:21:19But no, thank you.

01:21:22Perhaps the others.

01:21:23I've asked them.

01:21:24Carruthers?

01:21:25Yes?

01:21:26May I ask,

01:21:28where are we headed?

01:21:29The Dutch coast.

01:21:30Then by train

01:21:31and steamer to England.

01:21:32And what do you intend

01:21:33to do with me

01:21:34when we get to England?

01:21:36Hand you over

01:21:36to the authorities

01:21:37in London.

01:21:38London.

01:21:40Yes.

01:21:41Now, if you will

01:21:42excuse me.

01:21:42Of course.

01:21:43No need to lash

01:21:44the tiller.

01:21:45Since we're headed

01:21:46for Holland,

01:21:47there is a short cut

01:21:49through the sands,

01:21:50if you have no objections.

01:21:51By all means.

01:21:56How is my father?

01:21:58Steering us

01:21:59through the sands.

01:22:00He says he knows

01:22:00a short cut.

01:22:01Yeah, he knows

01:22:01these waters well,

01:22:02like Mr. Davis here.

01:22:05Will it be bad

01:22:06for him in England?

01:22:08No.

01:22:08It will not be easy.

01:22:10No.

01:22:11But you need

01:22:11not be involved.

01:22:13I'm just going

01:22:14to brew some cocoa.

01:22:15Any for you two?

01:22:16He's taken us

01:22:20across the wind.

01:22:26What happened,

01:22:27Clothers?

01:22:28Dormant.

01:22:29He's gone.

01:22:31I left him

01:22:32with the tiller

01:22:33and now he's

01:22:34nowhere to be seen.

01:22:36We must

01:22:36put about

01:22:37and search?

01:22:38No.

01:22:39No use,

01:22:40I'm afraid.

01:22:41In this sea

01:22:42at night

01:22:42and he was wearing

01:22:43sea boots

01:22:44and a great coat.

01:22:46So that was

01:22:47his shortcut.

01:22:50Go to Clower.

01:22:51Stay on deck,

01:22:52old man,

01:22:52would you?

01:22:54Understood.

01:22:55I'd rather

01:22:56do this alone.

01:23:14Clothers, my dear chap.

01:23:32You're looking very,

01:23:33um,

01:23:33festive.

01:23:36Been to a wedding

01:23:37down in Dorset.

01:23:38Ah.

01:23:38You remember Davis?

01:23:40Oh, the chap

01:23:40you went duck shooting with?

01:23:41The very one.

01:23:42He's married a girl

01:23:43we met over there.

01:23:45Very decent

01:23:45sort of girl, too.

01:23:47I say,

01:23:48Carruthers,

01:23:48about that trip

01:23:50of yours,

01:23:51just after you got back

01:23:52there was an awful

01:23:53to-do about

01:23:53sea defences.

01:23:55They said some chap

01:23:56in the foreign office

01:23:57had discovered

01:23:57something on the

01:23:58German coast.

01:24:00Wasn't you

01:24:01by any chance,

01:24:01was it?

01:24:02Well,

01:24:03Davis discovered

01:24:04his girl there

01:24:05and I didn't

01:24:07discover any ducks.

01:24:09So I don't

01:24:09really know.

01:24:11Just the, uh,

01:24:12two of you,

01:24:13were there?

01:24:14No,

01:24:14there was another.

01:24:16A bit of a heroine,

01:24:17really.

01:24:18Ah,

01:24:18Davis' girl.

01:24:20Oh, no.

01:24:21We shared this one.

01:24:22Shared her?

01:24:24Really, Carruthers,

01:24:25uh,

01:24:25I know you're all

01:24:26a bit wild in the F.O.,

01:24:27but, um,

01:24:28shared?

01:24:29I told you,

01:24:30she was a heroine.

01:24:32I'll buy her

01:24:32brandy and soda

01:24:33and we'll drink her health.

01:24:34What was her name?

01:24:36Dulcy.

01:24:36She was called

01:24:38Dulcibella.

01:24:40Stuart?

01:24:52The part of Carruthers

01:24:54was played by

01:24:55Lawrence Kennedy

01:24:55and Davis

01:24:56by Charles Simpson.

01:24:58Dolman,

01:24:59Frederick Yeager,

01:25:01Clara,

01:25:02Joe Unwin.

01:25:04Von Bruning,

01:25:05Wolf Koehler,

01:25:07Boehmer,

01:25:08Gert and Klauber,

01:25:09Grimm,

01:25:10Michael Walf.

01:25:13Bartels,

01:25:14John Badley,

01:25:15Lecule Clark,

01:25:17Colin Pinney,

01:25:18and Hawkins,

01:25:19Simon Treves.

01:25:21Technical presentation

01:25:22by Richard Beadsmore,

01:25:24Michael Effedon,

01:25:25and Ian Pratt.

01:25:27Erskine Childers'

01:25:28Riddle of the Sands

01:25:29was dramatized

01:25:30by Roderick Graham

01:25:31and directed

01:25:32by Jane Morgan.

01:25:34Harrison from Godoy.

01:25:35I just wanted to

01:25:35go on to the

01:25:36gotta be good with me.

01:25:37Whatever happens

01:25:37in a way they did

01:25:38thing.

01:25:45The beaten

01:25:47of the Sands

01:25:47wasacked in

01:25:49the use of

01:25:49the one

01:25:50to show

01:25:51the

01:25:52another

01:25:52opportunity

01:25:53that

01:25:55it's

01:25:56the powerful

01:25:57opportunity

01:25:58for some

01:25:58dis insulted

01:25:58if

01:25:59i

01:25:59did

01:26:00things

Category

Transcript

Recommended