Ruth Fielding Homeward Bound
by Alice B. Emerson
The bomb hits the French hospital where Ruth works, and Ruth's shoulder is seriously injured. Ruth is forced to stop working with the Red Cross and go home in the United States. Shortly before Ruth boards Admiral Pekhard, she learns that Tom Cameron has disappeared after a plane crash. Ruth fears that Tom may be dead. As soon as the ship takes off, Ruth meets a German lady named Irma Lenz, who speaks with contempt for the Americans. That night, Ruth hears Ms. Lenz speaking German with a crew member, and their conversation sounds suspicious. Ruth conveys her suspicions to the ship's captain, but the man mocks her. Ruth later realizes that the captain has told Mrs. Lenz and many others about Ruth's suspicions, causing Ruth to be ostracized as a troublemaker. There stood a gray, fast steamship carrying Admiral Pekhard. Ruth notices a column in one of the ship's lifeboats and tries to inform the ship's first officer, Mr. Dowd, but is unable to reach him. The explosion shakes the ship and the captain orders evacuation. On her way to her room to retrieve her important papers, Ruth falls into the hallway with a stretched cordon and loses consciousness. Ruth later wakes up to discover that she is alone on a ship and stranded at sea. Ruth has to find a way to ask for help while worried about whether the abandoned ship will be attacked by the Germans.
