THE RIDING LIGHT The manners and customs of the Powers that Be may puzzle the ordinary man, but those whose duty it is to serve the said Powers know that their inconsistency is consistent--which is really not such a paradox as it sounds. Because of this and of the water-tight compartments into which the administrative body is divided, a number of destroyers was patrolling Irish waters at the same time that the High Olympians were, to all appearances, blandly unconscious of the German intrigue with certain Irish malcontents. Among this flotilla was the _Knat_, and her orders were to keep a sharp look-out for gun-runners, who, if rumour did not lie, were extremely busy about this time. Nevertheless, although Lawless had been on duty for over a fortnight, not the ghost of a gun-runner had he, or any of his crew, seen, and the monotony of the work was becoming extremely irksome to all. One afternoon Lawless left Sub-Lieutenant Trent in charge of the bridge, and, going below, solaced himself with music and song till the bass string of his banjo snapped. It was at this moment that a bridge-messenger appeared with a "Beg parding, sir, but you're wanted on the bridge." With a sigh of resignation, the Lieutenant flung his banjo on the settee and made his way to the bridge. "Thought you'd like to have a squint at that Norwegian packet over there," said Trent, indicating a cargo steamer some distance off on the port bow with the Norwegian colours painted conspicuously on her hull amidships. Lawless picked up the glasses and examined the approaching vessel. "Signal her to stop," he said. "I'll board her myself and have a peep round; it'll be something to do." The signal was made and the steamer immediately hove-to. Then a boat was lowered from the _Knat_, and, with Lawless in the stern-sheets, pulled towards the stranger. "What ship are you?" called out the Lieutenant, as the boat came alongside. "_Krajero_, Boston for Stavanger, with wheat," answered the officer on the bridge. "I'm going to board you," said Lawless, whereupon the skipper of the _Krajero_ obligingly lowered an accommodation-ladder over the side for the convenience of his visitor. Upon examination, the ship's papers proved to be in order, but Lawless, determined to leave nothing to chance, ordered the hatch-covers to be removed. The captain complied, and the Lieutenant was permitted to look into the holds, both of which had loose grain up to the combings. "You can proceed, Captain," said Lawless. "Tanks, ver goot," answered the skipper, and, as soon as the Lieutenant had regained his boat, resumed his course. "Nothin' doing," said Lawless, when he returned to the _Knat_. "Business is dull, Trent." The junior officer agreed. He had hoped that the Norwegian might prove to be a gun-runner or a disguised German commerce destroyer, or anything, in fact, that might have afforded a little excitement and a chance for a run ashore.