te. Usually this is when he just escapes being blown to bits with his vessel or sees what can happen to a steamship when it st

these mine-sweeper men guide their vessels out daybreak after daybreak, w

of the British Navy, proud of the blue uniform and brass buttons and-when they have them-of the wavy gold bands on their sleeves. There are others who were o

East English port by his indefatigable labour and fearlessness in his risky job, until he w

up the best cocktail. One day I was permitted to take a trip with this captain-lieutenant-and get back. Mine-s

along with the "broom." They were "carrying on," as usual. This skipper was a man just in his thirties. His face was cheery and round, and body was muscular and thick-set. In spite of the watch he and his first mate

s damn thrill you talk about ashore and don't know what it is until you've been at the firing front or in one of these blessed ocean brooms. That chap across the

orth Sea, not far from the coast, he received a warning from a trawler that a mine exposed at low water was just ahead of him. Not in his time had he seen a steamer go astern quicker. Afterwards, they deftly fished around for the mine, snapped

n exploded a great rumble was heard way out at sea, and soon it was ascertained by the capt

nking that. Through good fortune, and taking chances of being sent to the bottom ourselves, we have saved the lives of many of these neutrals who might have perished. Yes, here we are mine-sweeping as a job, flying the white ensign of the British Navy; and yet we have found time to save life imperilled by the enemy. Sometimes I wonder what sly Fritz would have to say if he'd even saved a single neutra

right, although at first I still remembered the timely warning regarding the slightly submerged mine. As a matter of fa

rown if we can help it. On the other hand, our enemy stops at nothing, and, moreover, takes advantage of our humanity. I think that it should be known that we dash out to the rescue never knowing when the ship may go up ag

k that goes on from daybreak to dusk seven days a week. If a trawler strikes a mine she usually counts on saying good-bye to herse

n idea how dull this work can be sometimes; also that when i

d time many a night 'laying his eggs,' and the many ways we hav

distance. The commander was handed a message b

st want to know if we

The slightest sign of a ball-like piece of steel in the sea and the dullness of sweeping is relieved, for then the skipper knows that he has unhooked one of the mines. Along came a submarine, flying the white ensign of the Royal Navy. The mine-sweepers

ferent way of talking," declared the commander, now taking to his much-burned old pipe. "Those chaps that have just come in have had a week without any

, the day came to a close, and the captain ordered the hawser to be slipped and the ki

harbour, and were disappointed to find that a big tramp was taking up the room

n you can come alongs

the captain with a

ll the small craft were ready to speed to their respective berths in their turns, and it was not so very long before the min

that of you

leeve. "She's all right; but I love this ship. I had her a year ago, and s

pper l

s," he said. "Come, le