[Illustration: cover] THE "AYESHA" [Illustration: VON MÜCKE] _The_ "AYESHA" BEING THE ADVENTURES OF THE LANDING SQUAD OF THE "EMDEN" BY KAPITÄNLEUTNANT HELLMUTH VON MÜCKE TRANSLATED BY HELENE S. WHITE [Illustration: Logo] RITTER & COMPANY BOSTON, MASS. Copyright, 1917, by RITTER & COMPANY _All rights reserved, including the translation into foreign languages, including the Scandinavian_ First Printing, January, 1917 Second Printing, February, 1917 THE · PLIMPTON · PRESS NORWOOD · MASS · U · S · A TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE The translator has so enjoyed rendering this little volume into English, that she feels impelled to testify to the pleasure it gave her, and to express a hope that it may find many readers who will follow its record of valiant deeds with as great interest. That men placed in almost daily peril of their lives can retain their sense of humor and a kindly attitude toward men and circumstances throughout a desperate struggle with adverse conditions is a happy testimony to the buoyancy and to the superiority to the merely physical that courage in the face of danger begets. Although always bravely confident, there is an engaging ingenuousness and freedom from self-conceit in Lieutenant von Mücke's delightful recital of his amazing achievement, while his never failing appreciation of the humorous side of the situation illumines the entire narrative as with flashes of sunshine. The translator desires also to acknowledge her indebtedness to an earlier but unpublished translation of the book by Mrs. Anne Richmond Vaughan. HELENE S. WHITE January, 4th, 1917. FOREWORD That TRUTH IS STRANGER THAN FICTION is amply illustrated in the following gripping narrative. I have read practically all the stories and yarns of this war, many in their original languages, but I have found none to surpass this interesting tale. In the years to come, all men, especially those "who go down to the sea in ships," will find in these adventures some very profitable lessons in perseverance, resourcefulness and courage. Although this feat may be dimmed by the light of the major operations of the war, I predict that no reader who has once started to read this book will fail to complete it, nor on completion, will he fail to say that he has enjoyed a most interesting series of adventures.