"Now, then," he said, "be brave!"--and then, turning to me, "Stand out of sight on deck, John, and be ready to help."
We crept up on deck. To my unutterable surprise, Doris went to the side and leant over. She spoke in German and in a very low voice.
"She's telling them that they're to come up on board and have a drink," my brother said.
The two figures below rose with alacrity. The first one ascended the ladder as Doris whipped down the hatchway into the cabin. The second sailor followed his companion.
I was not called upon to help, thank Heaven! Scarlett, Adams, and Bosustow rose from nowhere.
"That accounts for three," said my brother, but I turned my head away not to see what was going on.
When we were again down in the cabin I was shaking like a leaf.
"Drink this," Bernard said sternly, "and pull yourself together. It is War, don't you understand that, man?"
Doris was leaning over the table by the side of Lieutenant Murphy. In front of her was a paper. The lovely face, oddly boyish under its cap, was wrinkled with scrutiny.
"It is special orders," she said at length, "addressed to Admiral Kiderlen-Waechter. The plans are to be taken on board the submarine at once." Her voice broke for the moment, but she made a great effort at control, and the next words came from her slowly and distinctly. To me, I think to all of us, they were like the strokes of a tolling bell.
"_The German battleship, Friesland, has eluded our Fleet in the North Sea. Our Fleet has been decoyed towards the Scotch coast by a sortie of the enemy from Kiel. The battleship is approaching this part of England. She is attended by destroyers and submarines. She is convoying three troop-ships, each of which contains two thousand German troops. The rendezvous is for two o'clock to-morrow afternoon, when Captain von Benda is to deliver my stepfather's plans to the German Admiral. The landing of the raiding force is to be effected on these marshes some time during to-morrow night._"
"To-night," said my brother, looking at his watch and snapping it into his pocket.
Bernard sat down at the table and buried his head in his hands, motioning us to be silent. For fully five minutes he remained thus, and what was going on within his mind I could but faintly guess. I knew, at any rate, and so, I think, did old Lieutenant Murphy, how enormous and incalculable were the issues that hung upon the decision of the young Commander, whose face was hidden from us.