The Cruise of the Dry Dock

By T.S. Stribling
Illustrated by Herbert Morton Stoops
1917
The Cruise of the Dry Dock Lovingly Dedicated to My Mother
THE DRY DOCK
She's movin'! cried a voice from the crowd on the wharf side. Watch 'er! Watch 'er!
A dull English cheer rippled over the waterfront.
Blarst if I see why she moves! marveled an onlooker. That tug looks like a water bug 'itched to a 'ouse-boat—it's hunreasonable!
Aye, but they're tur'ble stout, them tugs be, argued a companion.
It's hunreasonable, just the same, 'Enry!
Everything's hunreasonable at sea, 'Arry. W'y w'en chaps put to sea they tell we're they're at by lookin' at th' sun .
Aw! An' not by lookin' at th' map?