NetFable

The Riddle of the Sands

A bored Foreign Office clerk is invited to the Baltic for duck-shooting and finds a scrubby yacht, no paid hand, and no explanations. Davies has been sailing the German sands since a stranger's pilot tried to wreck him there in October, and he wants to know why. Childers wrote the first modern spy novel out of real charts and tide-tables, and Whitehall read it as a warning. You are Carruthers: oilskins, a kettle, and the fate of the North Sea.

Read The Riddle of the Sands

Chapters

1. Seven in Pall MallPall Mall Chambers, September 23
2. The Flensburg LetterPall Mall Chambers
3. The Borrowed ClubClub Smoking Room
4. The Creaking Wall-mapForeign Office, September 24
5. Fourteen-Shilling OilskinsLondon Shops and Chambers
6. Across the North SeaFlushing Steamer and Railway
7. No Paid HandsFlensburg Station Yard
8. The Overloaded DinghyFlensburg Harbour Steps
9. Below the SkylightDulcibella Saloon
10. A Portmanteau on DeckDulcibella Cove
11. Grog below the WaterlineDulcibella Saloon
12. The Leaking BerthSleeping Cabin
13. Scrubbing WaterDulcibella Cove, September 27
14. White Bread and Condensed MilkDulcibella Saloon
15. Anchor and CanvasDulcibella Deck
16. The First TackFlensburg Fiord
17. Jibed All StandingApproach to Ekken Sound
18. The Bronze Water-laneEkken Sound
19. Tongue in the Starboard LockerUnder Sail in Flensburg Fiord
20. Lunch on the SlantUpper Flensburg Fiord
21. A Glassy AnchorageFlensburg Fiord Mouth, Dusk
22. Steak in NewspaperDulcibella Saloon
23. Dishes Before TobaccoDulcibella Galley
24. Locks from Scheldt to AmsterdamDulcibella Saloon
25. The Frisian SandsDulcibella Saloon
26. After TerschellingDulcibella Saloon
27. The Abrupt Passage EastDulcibella Saloon
28. Only One Other YachtDulcibella Saloon
29. Rain at the Fiord MouthSleeping Cabin
30. The Foghorn MorningFiord Mouth Anchorage
31. Foam toward SonderburgOpen Alsen Water
32. The Heights above the BridgeSonderburg and Dybbol
33. Rainbow Water in Als SoundAls Sound
34. The Alsen MemorialAlsen Shore
35. Books over the ChopsDulcibella Saloon
36. The Missing LeafDulcibella Saloon
37. Voices against the HullAlsen Backwater
38. Coffee-Punch at SatrupSatrup Inn
39. A Bucket of FishAlsen Backwater, Late Night
40. Oilskins in AugustenburgAugustenburg Fiord
41. Lead before CentreboardAugustenburg Creek
42. North-West on the ThirtiethAls Sound, September 30
43. The Apology before SchleiApproach to Schlei Fiord
44. The Pilot's ProgrammeSchlei Pilot House
45. Four Ducks at DuskSchlei Bog and Pond
46. Plenty of EverythingSchlei Pilot House
47. The Empty PipeDulcibella at Schlei
48. Two Wet Sea-bootsDulcibella Saloon, October 1
49. The Rudder Held to EiderDulcibella Saloon
50. Three Days by the MedusaRiff Gat, Davies's Account
51. Six in a Dirty MorningNorth Sea, Davies's Account
52. The Pilot Draws AwayDulcibella Saloon
53. A Wall of SurfWest Hohenhorn, Davies's Account
54. The Drunken AlleyDulcibella Saloon
55. The Broken GearEast Hohenhorn, Davies's Account
56. Bartels Rows a MileDulcibella Saloon
57. Fifty Fathoms of WarpHohenhorn Anchorage, Davies's Account
58. The Rudder on Dry SandHohenhorn Anchorage, Davies's Account
59. The Old Eider RouteHohenhorn to Kiel, Davies's Account
60. That Chap Was a SpyDulcibella Saloon
61. Clara and the Grey GunboatMedusa Deck, Davies's Account
62. A New Sea PowerDulcibella Saloon
63. Three Pieces of CoastGerman Coast Map
64. The Unbuoyed ThreadsGerman Coast Map
65. A Covered WayFrisian Islands Map
66. I Sign ArticlesDulcibella Saloon
67. Two Objects WestwardDulcibella at Schlei
68. Lamp-black at DuskBaltic Coast toward Kiel
69. Seven Miles of LightsKiel Fiord at Night
70. A Month's LeaveKiel Post Office and Shops
71. Fourteen Marks at HoltenauKiel Fiord and Holtenau Lock
72. Alongside the JohannesKaiser Wilhelm Canal, First Day
73. The Stove on the TableKaiser Wilhelm Canal, Second Day
74. The Lady at the LockBrunsbuttel Inner Basin
75. Gute Reise at BrunsbuttelBrunsbuttel Lock and Elbe
76. The Medusa Called YesterdayElbe Anchorage
77. Fifteen Miles of EbbElbe toward Cuxhaven, October 5
78. The Eddy at Sticker's GatSticker's Gat
79. The Pike and the ForkDulcibella Saloon and Estuary Chart
80. A Desert at Low WaterSticker's Gat Sandflat
81. The False BoomSticker's Gat Sandflat
82. Where Two Floods MeetSticker's Gat and Dulcibella
83. Four Fathoms under HohenhornSticker's Gat to Hohenhorn
84. Midnight on the BankHohenhorn Anchorage and Sandflat
85. Breakfast in a Full GaleHohenhorn to Steil Sand
86. Ten Days without ShoreOuter Estuaries
87. Robin's BaljeRobin's Balje
88. Broadside at TenRobin's Balje
89. Six and a Half FeetGreat Knecht Channels
90. Nothing SuspiciousOuter Sands
91. Oil and Water LowElbe to Jade
92. Wangeroog at SunsetWangeroog Sands
93. The Riding LightWangeroog Sands
94. One Sea-bootDulcibella Cabin
95. Pink Gin and Duck ShootingWangeroog Sands
96. Charts under the BerthDulcibella Cabin
97. Seven Islands WestwardFrisian Islands
98. Sand Drifts and Fresh WaterWangeroog Village
99. Kormoran at AnchorWangeroog Sands
100. Harle and the Drowned TowerHarle Gap
101. Blitz at Half-past FourHarle Gap
102. Muschel Balge after DarkSpiekeroog Inner Waters
103. Watershed at Five-thirtySpiekeroog to Langeoog
104. Rute Flat at High WaterRute Flat
105. The Pigs Come HomeRute Flat
106. Nine Feet Ten in Schill BaljeInside Spiekeroog
107. Compass on the RuteRute Flat
108. South-west to North-eastRute Flat
109. Thirty Fathoms RunningRute Flat
110. Five-fifteen among the BoomsBensersiel Approach
111. Between Two JettiesBensersiel Harbour
112. Cargo, Salt, and CoffeeBensersiel Harbour
113. The Postmaster's Second UniformBensersiel Village
114. Fresh Milk in a Mud-holeBensersiel Harbour
115. A Gold-laced Cap in RainBensersiel Harbour
116. The Log Returns to the RackDulcibella Cabin
117. Two Jerseys Marked PostBensersiel Harbour
118. Shoes on the Sluice BridgeBensersiel Channel
119. Coffee, Kummel, and MatchesBensersiel Inn
120. The Telte in a North-west GaleBensersiel Inn
121. Under the HohenhornBensersiel Inn
122. The Anchor Buoy and the ProwlerBensersiel Inn
123. Corinne in Four FathomsBensersiel Inn
124. Shares in MemmertBensersiel Inn
125. No Paid HandsBensersiel Inn
126. A Letter at NorderneyBensersiel Inn
127. Ducks and a Local PuntBensersiel Inn
128. One Word at the DoorBensersiel Inn Passage
129. A Warp at Six-thirtyBensersiel Inn Yard
130. A Chart between Two SofasDulcibella Cabin
131. Everything IdioticDulcibella Cabin
132. Separate from HimDulcibella Cabin
133. No More SecretsDulcibella Cabin
134. Straight to EnglandDulcibella Cabin
135. The Shape of MemmertDulcibella Cabin
136. Two Possible AudiencesDulcibella Cabin
137. A Wreck or NothingDulcibella Cabin
138. The Western GateDulcibella Cabin
139. A Building on the SickleDulcibella Cabin
140. The Channel Theory under a CloudDulcibella Cabin
141. Brick Dyke and Black SlimeBensersiel Dyke
142. Nothing Here but WeatherDulcibella Cabin
143. Imperial Tow at Half-past SixBensersiel Harbour
144. Five Miles to SpiekeroogOuter Bensersiel Channel
145. Under the Wing of GovernmentSpiekeroog Anchorage
146. Cold Vapour at DawnSpiekeroog Anchorage
147. The Rusty MonsterLangeoog Waters
148. Two Hours in the DinghyOutside Langeoog
149. Fog behind BaltrumBaltrum Anchorage
150. The Baltrum WatershedBaltrum Channel
151. Norderney through HazeNorderney Creek
152. Medusa's DinghyNorderney Watershed
153. First Step AboardDulcibella Deck
154. The Mizzen and the CentreboardDulcibella Deck
155. Cocoa below the WaterlineDulcibella Cabin
156. Only Mud and TimberDulcibella Cabin
157. Schwannallee in the LogDulcibella Cabin
158. The Interrupted CocoaDulcibella Cabin
159. Cocoa on the SergeDulcibella Deck
160. Nothing Must Be KnownNorderney Watershed
161. Lieutenant X, R.N.Dulcibella Cabin
162. Sixteen Years AgoDulcibella Cabin
163. Scotch Him and Save HerDulcibella Cabin
164. Two Stories of ScharhornDulcibella Cabin
165. Nine-five from NorddeichDulcibella Cabin
166. Five Fathoms by the Eastern PierNorderney Roadstead
167. Two Methods after MidnightDulcibella Cabin
168. The Little Guide at MidnightDulcibella Cabin
169. Here Comes the PacketNorderney Roadstead
170. Three Men Stay AboardNorderney Roadstead
171. Saturday Packet to JuistNorderney Harbour
172. The Dead ButterflyNorderney Town
173. Two Whitehall EnvelopesFour Seasons Restaurant
174. Fog at the Four SeasonsNorderney Town
175. Why Not Memmert?Dulcibella Cabin
176. Six Miles to the WatershedDulcibella Cabin
177. Cotton Waste on the RowlocksDulcibella Cabin
178. Five Minutes of DriftNorderney Roadstead
179. Six Fathoms in Buse TiefBuse Tief
180. One Boom at Eleven-tenMemmert Balje
181. The Southern HandrailMemmert Balje
182. The God of the Falling TideMemmert Balje
183. Two Daring DeparturesWestern Memmert Balje
184. Only One LandsMemmert Shore
185. Six Bells in FogDulcibella Cabin
186. South-east for the ReturnDulcibella Cabin
187. Karl SchickerDulcibella Cabin
188. The Gold Ring at the WindowDulcibella Cabin
189. Half an Inch of AirDulcibella Cabin
190. Five Nouns behind CretonneDulcibella Cabin
191. The Night Train on the Twenty-fifthDulcibella Cabin
192. Four Points WrongDulcibella Cabin
193. Ho-a off MemmertMemmert Waters
194. Seven IslandsNorderney Waters
195. Three Lights AsternNorderney Waters
196. Visitors aboard DulcibellaNorderney Roadstead
197. Always DucksNorderney Roadstead
198. Ask Dollmann to StayDulcibella Cabin
199. The Shifted BookDulcibella Cabin
200. A Station without a NameDulcibella Cabin
201. Separate under the SearchlightNorderney Gardens
202. At the Schwannallee GateSchwannallee
203. The Piano StopsDollmann Villa
204. Seven at the Supper TableDollmann Villa
205. Inspection over WineDollmann Villa
206. Bohme's Lintel MarkDollmann Villa
207. Take Me to MemmertDollmann Villa
208. Davies Will StayDollmann Villa
209. Two Hours of MasksDollmann Villa
210. Silver Streets after SupperDulcibella Cabin
211. Goodbye on the FerryNorderney Quay
212. Davies's Grubby NoteFerry Saloon
213. The Canal Talk at EmdenNorddeich Railway
214. Lloyd's at LeerLeer-Amsterdam Train
215. One Night beside the AmstelAmsterdam
216. Ten-Forty-Six at NordenNorthbound Train
217. The Gunboat in the CanalEmden Railway
218. Three-quarters at NordenNorden Junction
219. Beer, Bread, and WurstEsens Gasthaus
220. Three Feet in Benser TiefLater Cabin Debrief
221. Tarpaulin under the Stern DeckLater Cabin Debrief
222. Seven Siels by MatchlightLater Cabin Debrief
223. Daylight at the BridgeBenser Tief at Dawn
224. Six Miles beside Neues TiefDornum Works
225. The Ex-Sailor at DornumDornum Beer-house
226. English Talk to DornumersielDornum Road
227. Two Locks at DornumersielDornumersiel
228. Eight Possible RendezvousLater Cabin Debrief
229. Harke Tief under RainLater Cabin Debrief
230. Twenty-Eight Minutes at NordenNorden Junction
231. Three at the Level CrossingEsens Station
232. The Post-boat Slides AwayBensersiel Harbour
233. Grimm at the WheelLater Cabin Debrief
234. Half a Load of CoalLater Cabin Debrief
235. Lower AwayTug off Baltrum
236. Seven Fleets for EnglandLater Cabin Debrief
237. South through the See GatLater Cabin Debrief
238. Grimm's Coat on the SkylightTug Deck
239. Hard Over in Buse TiefBuse Tief at Two-thirty
240. The Boat Falls FreeLater Cabin Debrief
241. Ten Past ThreeDulcibella Cabin
242. Ninety Minutes before DawnNorderney Streets
243. Lieutenant X at FourVilla Sitting-room
244. British ServiceVilla Sitting-room
245. The Bluff from MemmertVilla Sitting-room
246. Tell HerVilla Sitting-room
247. Trust UsVilla Sitting-room
248. Papers in Cold EmbersVilla Sitting-room
249. Two Charges in the RainNorderney Streets
250. Under Blitz's QuarterRiff Gat
251. Rottum on the Weather BowOpen North Sea
252. The Short CutOstmahorn Anchorage
253. No Trace in the SchildRottum and Bosch Flat
254. Ostmahorn to HarlingenOstmahorn Anchorage
255. A Cipher on the Study TableEditor's Study
256. Coalition before the BlowEditor's Study
257. Two Root PrinciplesEditor's Study
258. No Fleet of TransportsEditor's Study
259. The Seven OutletsEditor's Study
260. Four Men on the CoastEditor's Study
261. East HollandEditor's Study
262. One Tide for EmbarkationEditor's Study
263. Risks on the PassageEditor's Study
264. The Light-draught AnswerEditor's Study
265. The Last MarginEditor's Study
266. March 1903Editor's Study

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