The Igotz Mendi was some time afterwards towed off into deep water, and after repairs left Danish waters and proceeded to Spain, after loading up with a full cargo of coal at Newcastle.  Wonderful to relate—­for it is indeed a marvel that the Germans did not make a special and successful effort to sink her—­she arrived at her home port, Bilbao, on June 21, 1918, with her whole ship’s company complete.  She had naturally a great reception, being welcomed with flags, bands, and fireworks.  What an adventurous voyage she had had since she last left European waters!  We owe a great deal to her genial Captain and all her officers and crew, who one and all did what they could for us and were invariably kind and sympathized with us in our misfortunes and rejoiced with us at our escape.  It may even have been due to the gentle persuasion of her Spanish crew that the Igotz Mendi made such a thorough job of running aground at Skagen.  The Spaniards naturally regarded their captors with no friendly eye, and were as anxious as we were that their ship should not get to Germany.

During the week we had to give evidence to the Danish authorities concerning our capture and treatment on board.  We were overwhelmed with kindness by the Danes, who made no secret of their sympathies with the Allies; invitations to dinners and parties flowed in, and we could not have accepted them all if we had stayed as many weeks as we had days.

On Friday, March 1st, at 1 p.m., most of us left Skagen.  The whole village turned out to give us a good send-off, and snapshots galore were taken—­this, indeed, had been going on ever since we landed.  The ladies among us were presented with flowers and chocolates, the men with smokes, and we left with the heartiest good wishes of our warm-hearted hosts.  While in Denmark we read the German account of the Wolf’s expedition and exploits.  It was, of course, grossly exaggerated, and contained a fantastic account of the “action” between the Wolf and Hitachi.  Rather a one-sided “action,” as the Wolf did all the firing!

From Skagen our passage home was arranged by the British Consular authorities.  The journey from Skagen to Copenhagen was rather trying, since we had to leave the too well-heated train during the night and embark on train ferries when crossing from mainland to island and from one island to another.  It was bitterly cold.  We made our first acquaintance with bread and butter tickets at Skagen, and found them also in use on the railways and train ferries in Denmark and Scandinavia.

We arrived at Copenhagen about 8.30 on the following morning.  When at Skagen I had written to Sir Ralph Paget, K.C.M.G., His Britannic Majesty’s Minister to Denmark—­whom we had known some years before when filling a similar position in Siam—­telling him of our rescue.  Lady Paget and he were waiting at the station to meet us.  They straightway took my wife and myself off to the British Legation in Copenhagen,