Soon after leaving the Indian Ocean the seaplane had been taken to pieces and placed in the ’tween decks, so that if the Wolf had been seen by another steamer, her possession of a seaplane would not have been revealed.

The two ships proceeded on their new course at full speed for the next two days.  On the 21st they slowed down, hoping to coal in the open sea.  The next day both ships stopped, but the condition of the sea would not admit of coaling; we were then said to be about 700 miles E. of Monte Video.  It was a great disappointment to the Germans that they were prevented from coaling and spending their Christmas under the shelter of Trinidad, but it became quite clear that all the holes for German raiders in this part of the ocean had now been stopped, and that they would have to coal in the open sea or not at all.  Some of us thought the Germans might go back to Tristan da Cunha, or even to Gough Island—­both British possessions in the South Atlantic—­but the Germans would not risk this.  Even St. Helena was mentioned as a possible coaling place, but the Germans said that was impracticable, as it would mean an attack on an unfortified place:  as if this would have been a new procedure for German armed forces!  The fact that they knew St. Helena to be fortified probably had a great deal more to do with their decision not to proceed there!

But the disappointment about Trinidad was mitigated by other wireless news received.  The Commander of the Wolf called all his men together and harangued them to the effect that the latest news was that Russia and Roumania were now out of the war, having given in to Germany, that the Italian disasters had knocked Italy out in addition, that the war would certainly be over in six months, and that the Wolf would then go home in safety to a victorious, grateful, and appreciative Fatherland.  Some such spur as this was very necessary to the men, who were getting very discontented with the length of the cruise and conditions prevailing, notably the monotony of the cruise and threatened shortage of food and drink and tobacco.

(The Wolf had brought out from Germany enormous stores of provisions for the cruise, which was expected to last about a year.  In fact, her cargo from Germany consisted of coal, stores, ammunition, and mines only.  She replenished her stores solely from the prizes she took.)

The Germans were thoroughly confident of victory, and very cock-a-hoop now that Russia and Roumania were knocked out, and Italy, so they said, so thoroughly defeated as to be quite a negligible factor in the future.  Our enemies could not conceal their joy at the good news their wireless brought them.  They crowed over us, and at mealtimes the Captain explained how, with the “three and a half millions” of their troops released from the Russian fronts, defeat for the Allies was inevitable in a very few months.  A German victory was now as sure as to-morrow’s