"You were a trawler before you came into this branch of the service?" Ormsby asked.
"No, sir. Hi was a chimney sweep; that's wot made me good for this bally old business, sir."
"You like this work?" Ormsby next asked.
"Yes, sir, hit's the next best thing to being killed, sir," was the solemn response.
"Have you seen any mine-sweepers destroyed while at work?"
Instantly the sailor dropped his bantering tone, his face becoming solemn in his expression.
"You may well say that, sir," he answered. "More mine-sweepers are lost than any other kind of naval craft."
"Why is that?"
"Principally, sir, because we 'ave only a trawler's speed, and everything else that floats, including the National Debt, can overtake us."
"Is there any scarcity of men for this sort of work?" Ormsby queried.