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distinguished author had become famous and familiar。 Not a
day passed but that some new honor； at least so the
newspapers stated； was thrust upon him。 Paragraphs announced
that he was to be the next exchange professor to Berlin； that
in May he was to lecture at the Sorbonne； that in June he was
to receive a degree from Oxford。
A fresh…water college on one of the Great Lakes leaped to the
front by offering him the chair of history at that seat of
learning at a salary of five thousand dollars a year。 Some of
the honors that had been thrust upon Doctor Gilman existed
only in the imagination of Peter and Stetson； but this offer
happened to be genuine。
〃Doctor Gilman rejected it without consideration。 He read the
letter from the trustees to his wife and shook his head。
〃We could not be happy away from Stillwater；〃 he said。 〃 We
have only a month more in the cottage； but after that we
still can walk past it； we can look into the garden and see
the flowers she planted。 We can visit the place where she
lies。 But if we went away we should be lonely and miserable
for her； and she would be lonely for us。〃
Mr。 Hallowell could not know why Doctor Gilman had refused to
leave Stillwater； but when he read that the small Eastern
college at which Doctor Gilman had graduated had offered to
make him its president； his jealousy knew no bounds。
He telegraphed to Black： 〃Reinstate Gilman at once； offer him
six thousandoffer him whatever he wants； but make him
promise for no consideration to leave Stillwater he is only
member faculty ever brought any credit to the college if we
lose him I'll hold you responsible。〃
The next morning； hat in hand； smiling ingratiatingly； the
Chancellor called upon Doctor Gilman and ate so much humble
pie that for a week he suffered acute mental indigestion。 But
little did Hallowell senior care for that。 He had got what he
wanted。 Doctor Gilman； the distinguished； was back in the
faculty； and had made only one conditionthat he might live
until he died in the ivy…covered cottage。
Two weeks later； when Peter arrived at Stillwater to take the
history examination； which； should he pass it； would give him
his degree； he found on every side evidences of the
〃worldwide fame〃 he himself had created。 The newsstand at the
depot； the book…stores； the drugstores； the picture…shops；
all spoke of Doctor Gilman； and postcards showing the ivy…
covered cottage； photographs and enlargements of Doctor
Gilman； advertisements of the different。 editions of 〃the〃
history proclaimed his fame。 Peter； fascinated by the success
of his own handiwork； approached the ivy…covered cottage in a
spirit almost of awe。 But Mrs。 Gilman welcomed him with the
same kindly； sympathetic smile with which she always gave
courage to the unhappy ones coming up for examinations； and
Doctor Gilman's high honors in no way had spoiled his gentle
courtesy。
The examination was in writing； and when Peter had handed in
his papers Doctor Gilman asked him if he would prefer at once
to know the result。
〃I should indeed！〃 Peter assured him。
〃Then I regret to tell you； Hallowell；〃 said the professor；
〃that you have not passed。 I cannot possibly give you a mark
higher than five。〃 In real sympathy the sage of Stillwater
raised his eyes； but to his great astonishment he found that
Peter； so far from being cast down or taking offense； was
smiling delightedly； much as a fond parent might smile upon
the precocious act of a beloved child。
〃I am afraid；〃 said Doctor Gilman gently； 〃that this summer
you did not work very hard for your degree！〃
Peter Laughed and picked up his hat。
〃To tell you the truth； Professor；〃 he said； 〃you're right I
got working for something worth whileand I forgot about the
degree。〃
Chapter 3。 THE INVASION OF ENGLAND
This is the true inside story of the invasion of England in
1911 by the Germans； and why it failed。 I got my data from
Baron von Gottlieb； at the time military attach？of the
German Government with the Russian army in the second
Russian…Japanese War； when Russia drove Japan out of
Manchuria； and reduced her to a third…rate power。 He told me
of his part in the invasion as we sat； after the bombardment
of Tokio； on the ramparts of the Emperor's palace； watching
the walls of the paper houses below us glowing and smoking
like the ashes of a prairie fire。
Two years before； at the time of the invasion； von Gottlieb
had been Carl Schultz； the head…waiter at the East Cliff
Hotel at Cromer； and a spy。
The other end of the story came to me through Lester Ford；
the London correspondent of the New York Republic。 They gave
me permission to tell it in any fashion I pleased； and it is
here set down for the first time。
In telling the story； my conscience is not in the least
disturbed； for I have yet to find any one who will believe
it。
What led directly to the invasion was that some week…end
guest of the East Cliff Hotel left a copy of 〃The Riddle of
the Sands〃 in the coffee…room； where von Gottlieb found it；
and the fact that Ford attended the Shakespeare Ball。 Had
neither of these events taken place； the German flag might
now be flying over Buckingham Palace。 And； then again； it
might not。
As every German knows； 〃The Riddle of the Sands〃 is a novel
written by a very clever Englishman in which is disclosed a
plan for the invasion of his country。 According to this plan
an army of infantry was to be embarked in lighters； towed by
shallow…draft； sea…going tugs； and despatched simultaneously
from the seven rivers that form the Frisian Isles。 From there
they were to be convoyed by battle…ships two hundred and
forty miles through the North Sea； and thrown upon the coast
of Norfolk somewhere between the Wash and Mundesley。 The fact
that this coast is low…lying and bordered by sand flats which
at low water are dry； that England maintains no North Sea
squadron； and that her nearest naval base is at Chatham； seem
to point to it as the spot best adapted for such a raid。
What von Gottlieb thought was evidenced by the fact that as
soon as he read the book he mailed it to the German
Ambassador in London； and under separate cover sent him a
letter。 In this he said： 〃I suggest your Excellency bring
this book to the notice of a certain royal personage； and of
the Strategy Board。 General Bolivar said； 'When you want
arms； take them from the enemy。' Does not this also follow
when you want ideas？〃
What the Strategy Board thought of the plan is a matter of
history。 This was in 1910。 A year later； during the
coronation week； Lester Ford went to Clarkson's to rent a
monk's robe in which to appear at the Shakespeare Ball； and
while the assistant departed in search of the robe； Ford was
left alone in a small room hung with full…length mirrors and
shelves； and packed with the uniforms that Clarkson rents for
Covent Garden balls and amateur theatricals。 While waiting；
Ford gratified a long； secretly cherished desire to behold
himself as a military man； by trying on all the uniforms on
the lower shelves； and as a result； when the assistant
returned； instead of finding a young American in English
clothes and a high hat； he was confronted by a German officer
in a spiked helmet fighting a duel with himself in the
mirror。 The assistant retreated precipitately； and Ford；
conscious that he appeared ridiculous； tried to turn the
tables by saying； 〃 Does a German uniform always affect a
Territorial like that？〃
The assistant laughed good…naturedly。
〃It did give me quite a turn；〃 he said。 〃It's this talk of
invasion； I fancy。 But for a fact； sir； if I was a Coast
Guard； and you came along the beach dressed like that； I'd
take a shot at you； just on the chance； anyway。〃
〃And； quite right； too！〃 said Ford。
He was wondering when the invasion did come whether he would
stick at his post in London and dutifully forward the news to
his paper； or play truant and as a war correspondent watch
the news in the making。 So the words of Mr。 Clarkson's
assistant did not sink in。 But a few weeks later young Major
Bellew recalled them。 Bellew was giving a dinner on the
terrace of the Savoy Restaurant。 His guests were his nephew；
young Herbert； who was only five years younger than his
uncle； and Herbert's friend Birrell； an Irishman； both in
their third term at the university。 After five years' service
in India； Bellew had spent the last 〃Eights〃 week at Oxford；
and was complaining bitterly that since his day the
undergraduate had deteriorated。 He had found him serious；
given to study； far too well behaved。 Instead of Jorrocks； he
read Galsworthy； instead of 〃wines〃 he found pleasure in
debating clubs where he discussed socialism。 Ragging；
practical jokes； ingenious hoaxes； that once were wont to set
England in a roar； were a lost art。 His undergraduate guests
combated these charges fiercely。 His criticisms they declared
unjust and without intelligence。
〃You're talking rot！〃 said his dutiful nephew。 〃Take Phil
here； for example。 I've roomed with him three years and I can
testify that he has never opened a book。 He never heard of
Galsworthy until you spoke of him。 And you can see for
yourself his table manners are q