My readers will excuse me, I feel sure, for bringing such personalities to their notice. It is very difficult {117} to continue the story without writing of many others to whom we owed so much in the preparatory work. But there will be a chance of mentioning some of them later on, when we come to the actual description of the fight. {118} CHAPTER IX THE WAITING PERIOD. THE VOLUNTEERING SPIRIT. At last all constructive preparations were completed; the various ships and small craft were commissioned and concentrated at their respective starting-points. The blockships and _Vindictive_ steamed out to the loneliest of anchorages in the Swin Deep, situated about eight miles south of Clacton, Essex. It was a curious looking squadron that steamed down the Medway that day, the blockships with their funnels looming extra large in the absence of masts and the _Vindictive_ with her gangways protruding into mid-air like almonds in the side of a tipsy cake. The _Hindustan_ looked respectable enough. She was mother to us all and her captain was a very tolerant and helpful father. [Sidenote: Embarkation of Marines] The _Iris_ and _Daffodil_ joined us almost immediately. The Marines embarked a few days later. They had been sent to a southern port on the understanding that they were off to France; the officers alone knew the truth. They duly boarded the waiting transport with stores, ammunition, and baggage, the latter labelled to a French port. They must have wondered where they would sleep that night. The transport duly left harbour and headed for the French coast, but presently altered course in a most unusual manner. Word was passed round that the course was peculiar; all crowded on deck in their endeavour to solve the problem. It was a misty day with the rain {119} coming down in torrents; the land was soon obscured. The officers chuckled at the general bewilderment, but held their peace. At last the transport eased down and finally stopped engines. Out of the mist loomed the _Iris_ and _Daffodil_, into which vessels the Marines were transferred. A second voyage was then commenced, but it was not of long duration. Other ships presently hove in sight, and strange craft they appeared. Cruisers without masts and another looking like a home for lost coal-tips. These were the blockships and _Vindictive_. Then appeared a recognisable vessel--the _Hindustan_. Some of the Marines went to the latter, the remainder to _Vindictive_. I can well remember the astonished look on their faces as these men boarded my ship. Even the heavy downpour of rain seemed to be unnoticed. One man remarked as he came on board, "Well, it's darned good to be aboard a blessed something, but I'm blowed if I know what she is."