The Riddle of the Sands

In October last (1902), my companion 'Carruthers' visited me in my chambers, and, under a temporary promise of mystery, disclosed to me honestly the entire of the experience portrayed in these pages. Till then I had just referred to as much as the remainder of his companions, to be specific, that he had as of late gone through encounters during a yachting voyage with a specific Mr 'Davies' which had left a profound blemish on his character and propensities. Toward the finish of his story which, from its bearing on examinations and hypotheses of my own, just as from its natural interest and shocking conveyance, established an exceptionally profound connection with me-he added that the significant realities found throughout the journey had, immediately, been imparted to the legitimate specialists, who, after some noble skepticism, due to some extent, maybe, to the desolate deficiency of their own mysterious assistance, had, he accepted, utilized them, to turn away an extraordinary public risk. I say 'he accepted', for however it was certainly that the peril was deflected for the time, it was dubious whether they had mixed a foot to battle it, the mystery found being of such a nature that simple doubt of it on this side was probably going to annihilate its viability. There, anyway that might be, the matter rested for some time, as, for individual reasons which will be show to the peruser, he and Mr 'Davies' explicitly wished it to rest.