[Gutenberg 36748] • Ruth Fielding Homeward Bound / A Red Cross Worker's Ocean Perils

A bomb strikes the French hospital in which Ruth is working, and Ruth's shoulder is seriously injured. Ruth is forced to end her work with the Red Cross and head home to the United States. Just before Ruth boards the Admiral Pekhard, she learns that Tom Cameron is missing after a plane crash. Ruth fears that Tom may be dead.

Once the ship departs, Ruth meets a German lady named Irma Lentz who speaks of the Americans with scorn. That evening, Ruth overhears Ms. Lentz speaking in German to a crew member, and their conversation sounds suspicious. Ruth takes her suspicions to the captain of the ship, but the man makes fun of her. Later, Ruth realizes that the captain told Ms. Lentz and many other people of Ruth's suspicions, causing Ruth to be ostracized as a troublemaker.

There was a gray, swiftly steaming ship bearing down upon the Admiral Pekhard. Ruth notices a stowaway on one of the ship's lifeboats and tries to notify the ship's first officer, Mr. Dowd, but is unable to reach him. An explosion rocks the ship, and the captain orders an evacuation. As Ruth heads to her room to fetch her important papers, she is tripped by a cord strung across the corridor and is knocked unconscious. Ruth awakens later to discover that she is alone on the ship and stranded at sea. Ruth must find a way to summon help as she worries about whether the abandoned ship will be attacked by the Germans.