All this took up valuable time, for in the confusion and turmoil of war time, business was harder to transact than in normal times. Two days were consumed in London, but on the evening of the second they started for Grimsby. As they took their seats in the train, a newsboy came along shouting “War Extras.” They bought some of his papers and settled back to read them.
“Well, here’s an encouraging item,” said Bill ironically, as the train moved out. He pointed to a despatch headed:
“Trawler destroyed by mines in the North Sea.”
“We’ll have to take our chances,” decided Jack, “but, hullo—what’s this?” he exclaimed suddenly; “listen here, Bill.”
He read excitedly from his paper:
“The two prisoners arrested as German military agents on the arrival of the American liner St. Mark at Southampton two days ago have, in some mysterious manner, escaped. Four of their guards are under arrest. It is hinted that bribery was used to effect the Germans’ liberty.”
CHAPTER XIX.
THE “BARLEY RIG.”
It was with Captain Hoeseason of the trawler Barley Rig that the boys finally succeeded in striking a bargain to land them in Antwerp. The captain of the craft, who was also her owner, was a giant of a man, more than six feet tall in his great sea boots and dressed in rough fisherman’s garb. The boys found him in a small, waterfront inn, with a thatched roof and red window curtains which bore the sign of the Magpie and Shark, apparently, in the owner’s estimation, a happy combination of land and sea.
Captain Hoeseason declared that he knew the North Sea like a book and that there would be no danger of encountering mines if they sailed with him. His craft would be ready at the long fish dock at six the next morning, he declared, and at that hour the boys presented themselves.