FISHERMEN IN WAR TIME 



sociated with the fishing fraternity. The oldest 

 member of the crew, a man named Hastie, of Cock- 

 enzie, was in his bunk when the Germans boarded 

 the little drifter to destroy her. Hastie had an 

 unusual stock of clothing on board, to see him 

 through the ten weeks' fishing season, of which the 

 vessel had completed about half. The garments 

 were a treasured property, and all the more valued 

 because they included a Sunday suit, which was 

 held in readiness for wearing when, in due course, 

 North Shields was reached. Hastie had not time 

 even to put on his boots ; but determined not to part 

 lightly from his belongings he went to the fore- 

 castle and there found the gallant German officer in 

 the forecastle, placing a bomb. 



As soon as he saw Hastie the officer caught him 

 by the shoulders, turned him sharply round, and in 

 perfect English said, " You get on top !" 



There was no help for it. The Jane Stewart was 

 doomed, and it was not possible to tell what the 

 ultimate fate of her crew might be. Their present 

 case was bad enough, for they were ordered to go on 

 board the submarine, and this they did, the task of 

 reaching the upper part being difficult. 



The drifter's crew were forced to crawl along the 

 narrow ridge of the deck of the German vessel until 

 they reached the platform amidships. 



Having done this the skipper was confronted with 

 the truly piratical spectacle of four huge Germans 

 on either side of the platform. This guard in itself 

 would have been enough to awe any helpless and 



140 



