Th e Riddle of the Sands
Erskine Childers, 1903
A RIA PRESS EDITION, 2008
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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 in-
trinsic 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 com-
municated to the proper authorities, who, after some dignifi ed
incredulity, due in part, perhaps, to the pitiful inadequacy of
their own secret service, had, he believed, made use of them,
to avert a great national danger. I say ‘he believed’, for though it
was beyond question that the danger was averted for the time,
it was doubtful whether they had stirred a foot to combat it, the
secret discovered being of such a nature that mere suspicion of
it on this side was likely to destroy its effi cacy.
Th ere, however that may be, the matter rested for a while,
as, for personal reasons which will be manifest to the reader, he
and Mr ‘Davies’ expressly wished it to rest.
But events were driving them to reconsider their decision.
Th ese seemed to show that the information wrung with such
peril and labour from the German Government, and transmit-
ted so promptly to our own, had had none but the most transi-
tory infl uence on our policy. Fo