A mine or a torpedo that strikes your ship is not so very different from a sharp, uncharted rock tearing her life out of her in another way.  At a greater cost of vital energy, under the well-nigh intolerable stress of vigilance and resolution, they are doing steadily the work of their professional forefathers in the midst of multiplied dangers.  They go to and fro across the oceans on their everlasting task:  the same men, the same stout hearts, the same fidelity to an exacting tradition created by simple toilers who in their time knew how to live and die at sea.

Allowed to share in this work and in this tradition for something like twenty years, I am bold enough to think that perhaps I am not altogether unworthy to speak of it.  It was the sphere not only of my activity but, I may safely say, also of my affections; but after such a close connection it is very difficult to avoid bringing in one’s own personality.  Without looking at all at the aspects of the Labour problem, I can safely affirm that I have never, never seen British seamen refuse any risk, any exertion, any effort of spirit or body up to the extremest demands of their calling.  Years ago—­it seems ages ago—­I have seen the crew of a British ship fight the fire in the cargo for a whole sleepless week and then, with her decks blown up, I have seen them still continue the fight to save the floating shell.  And at last I have seen them refuse to be taken off by a vessel standing by, and this only in order “to see the last of our ship,” at the word, at the simple word, of a man who commanded them, a worthy soul indeed, but of no heroic aspect.  I have seen that.  I have shared their days in small boats.  Hard days.  Ages ago.  And now let me mention a story of to-day.

I will try to relate it here mainly in the words of the chief engineer of a certain steamship which, after bunkering, left Lerwick, bound for Iceland.  The weather was cold, the sea pretty rough, with a stiff head wind.  All went well till next day, about 1.30 p.m., then the captain sighted a suspicious object far away to starboard.  Speed was increased at once to close in with the Faroes and good lookouts were set fore and aft.  Nothing further was seen of the suspicious object, but about half-past three without any warning the ship was struck amidships by a torpedo which exploded in the bunkers.  None of the crew was injured by the explosion, and all hands, without exception, behaved admirably.

The chief officer with his watch managed to lower the No. 3 boat.  Two other boats had been shattered by the explosion, and though another lifeboat was cleared and ready, there was no time to lower it, and “some of us jumped while others were washed overboard.  Meantime the captain had been busy handing lifebelts to the men and cheering them up with words and smiles, with no thought of his own safety.”  The ship went down in less than four minutes.  The captain was the last man on board, going down