CHAPTER VIII 



" SUBMARINE BILLY " 



Fishermen had got used to being drowned. Life- 

 long experience had taught them the futility of 

 trying to save themselves when once in the water ; 

 and most of them could not swim. They were to 

 get used to worse things than being drowned, for 

 that fate at least brought rest. In going to sea, 

 however, in war-time the fisherman knew neither 

 rest nor comfort. He was incessantly on the alert, 

 constantly on the rack. If he escaped the mine 

 there was the submarine ; if he evaded under-water 

 perils he was the prey of any prowling cruiser, de- 

 stroyer or other enemy craft that might have tem- 

 porary freedom on the seas ; and if he kept clear of 

 all these dangers, there was still the very serious 

 chance of attack from the air by airship or aero- 

 plane. 



Through every one of these causes fishermen suf- 

 fered heavy losses. In many instances the men did 

 not live to tell the tale of their adventures ; but 

 there were survivors who gave details of happenings 

 at sea which made the exploits of romance-writers 

 almost feeble by comparison. It was not easy for 



the ordinary civilised person to believe that such 



K)0 



