The Riddle of the Sands | Page 3

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Riddle of the Sands
by Erskine Childers

[Redactor's Note: This text is in ISO 8859-1, the "Windows: character
set. However it should also be useable with DOS browsers as there are
only a few high order characters. Italics are preserved by surrounding
with the "_" character.
Maps are in separate "TIFF" files, which may [not at this time. . .] or
may not be available at PG. "Riddle" is said to be one of the best spy
and sailing yarns ever written.
An HTML version of "Riddle" (the basis of this text)is available at
http://eldred.ne.mediaone.net/ along with a biography of Erskine
Childers. The story reflects on an earlier time when men and guns
crossed easily across frontiers and the most important thing to take on a
cruise besides a "prismatic compass" was a pound of your favorite pipe
tobacco.]

The Riddle of the Sands (1903)
A record of Secret Service Recently Acheived
Edited by
Erskine Childers
(1870-1922)
Contents
* Preface

* 1 The Letter * 2 The Dulcibella * 3 Davies * 4 Retrospect * 5
Wanted, a North Wind * 6 Schlei Fiord * 7 The Missing Page * 8 The
Theory * 9 I Sign Articles * 10 His Chance * 11 The Pathfinders * 12
My Initiation * 13 The Meaning of our Work * 14 The First Night in
the Islands * 15 Bensersiel * 16 Commander von Brüning * 17
Clearing the Air * 18 Imperial Escort * 19 The Rubicon * 20 The Little
Drab Book * 21 Blindfold to Memmert * 22 The Quartette * 23 A
Change of Tactics * 24 Finesse * 25 I Double Back * 26 The Seven
Siels * 27 The Luck of the Stowaway * 28 We Achieve our Double
Aim
* Epilogue and Postscript
Maps and Charts
* Map A -- General Map * Chart A -- Stranding of the Dulcibella *
Map B -- East Friesland * Chart B -- Juist, Memmert, Norderney *
Sketch -- Memmert Salvage Depot

Preface
A WORD about the origin and authorship of this book.
In October last (1902), my friend 'Carruthers' visited me in my
chambers, and, under a provisional pledge of secrecy, told me frankly
the whole of the adventure described in these pages. Till then I had
only known as much as the rest of his friends, namely, that he had
recently undergone experiences during a yachting cruise with a certain
Mr 'Davies' which had left a deep mark on his character and habits.
At the end of his narrative--which, from its bearing on studies and
speculations of my own, as well as from its intrinsic interest and racy
delivery, made a very deep impression on me--he added that the
important facts discovered in the course of the cruise had, without a
moment's delay, been communicated to the proper authorities, who,
after some dignified incredulity, due in part, perhaps, to