I believe we were destined for Southampton; but rumour had it that a German submarine was waiting for us in the Channel, so we turned into the harbour of Plymouth.

It was night when we arrived.

A low cloud and mist hung over the dark choppy waves of the Channel.

From the forts at Plymouth and from vessels in the harbour, long searchlights moved like the fingers of a great ghostly hand that longed to clutch at something.
We saw the small patrol boats darting about in all directions and we felt with a secret thrill that we had got into that part of the world which was at war.

We arrived at Plymouth on the evening of October 14th, our voyage having lasted more than a fortnight.