of the German fighting-ships in South Atlantic waters. Report had
it, however, that several well-armed cruisers had either escaped
the hurricane of shells from the British warships, or had been
detached from the squadron before the encounter took place. In any
event, no vessel left a South American port without maintaining a
sharp lookout for prowling survivors of the vanquished fleet, and
no passenger went aboard who did not experience the thrill of a
hazardous undertaking. The ever-present and ever-ready individual
with official information from sources that could not be questioned,
travelled with remarkable regularity on each and every craft that
ventured out upon the Hun-infested waters. In the smoke-room the
invariable word went round that raiders were sinking everything
in sight. Every ship that sailed had on board at least one
individual who claimed to have been chased on a former voyage by
a blockade-breaker,--(according to the most reliable reports, the
Germans were slipping warships through the vaunted British net
with the most astounding ease and frequency,)--and there was no one
with the hardihood or desire to question his veracity; indeed, it
was something of a joy to believe him, for was he not a living and
potential document to prove that the merchant marine could outwit,
outrace and outshoot the German pirates?

The Doraine was barely twenty-four hours out from port and ploughing
along steadily through a choppy sea when Mr. Mott, the First Officer,
reported to Captain Trigger that a stowaway had been found on board.

"German?" inquired Captain Trigger tersely.

"No, sir. At least, he doesn't look it and, what's more, he doesn't
act it. Claims to be American born and bred."