' our jobs. So we lost our ships. After a year and a
'alf of war some bright chap in the board said that maybe it would be a
good idea to change the regulation about carrying lights, and they did.
And about time, we said.

"Some of the crew were for 'ailing the ship in the night. ''Ail 'ell!' I
says. 'D'y' think I want to be took into that rotten 'ole of a Port
Said, or maybe Alexandria, and that end of the Mediterranean fair lousy
with U-boats. Besides, we'll get 'ome quicker this way,' I says, and
allows her to pass on. In the mornin' we run onto the beach, and 'ardly
there when a crowd of Ayrabs come gallopin' down on 'orseback to us.
'We'll be killed now,' says the mate, and talks under his breath of
stubborn captains, who wouldn't 'ail a friendly ship's light in the
dark, but the only killing the Ayrabs do is two young goats for
breakfast. And they make coffee that was coffee, and we had a lovely
meal on the sand. And by and by they steered us along the shore to where
was a French destroyer, which takes us over to Gibraltar, and from Gib
we passed on through Spain and France to Havre. Three weeks that took,
and I never 'ad such a three weeks in all my life. 'Eroes, ragin'
'eroes--that's wot we were!

"At Havre the French authorities took the mate's pictures out of the
cameraw, and they never did give 'em back. Except for that, it was a
fine pleasure, that land cruise 'ome.

"Lucky? Oh, aye, you may well say it. Three times in one week I 'ad me
'ot barth and my lovely sleep in me brahss bed--it's not to be looked
for with ordinary luck, you know."

* * * * *

One day the destroyer to which I was assigned put to sea. There were
other destroyers, and we were to take a fleet of merchantmen from the
naval base to such and such a latitude and longitude, and there turn
them loose. My friend's ship was of the convoy.

We made such and such a latitude and longitude, and there we turned them
loose, signalling the position to them and waiting for acknowledgment.
They acknowledged the signal. We then hoisted the three pennants which
everywhere at sea means: Pleasant voyage! They answered with the three
pennants which everywhere spells: Thank you. And no sooner done than
away they belted, each for himself, and let the U-boats get the
hindmost.

The hindmost here was the rusty old cargo boat of my friend. I could see
her for miles after the others were hull down; and long after I could
see