“It wasn’t a bad trip, Joe,” answered Rio. “The brig’s better’n the chainlocker.” He looked suddenly interested. “How’d the Old Man make out?”
“I dunno. The last I seen him was when we tied up at Rotterdam. They was packin’ him off down the Lekhaven.”
“Down the Lekhaven, eh?” Rio looked grim. “His bones’d set of themselves on the Schiedamsche Dyk.”
Joe waved the remark aside.
“What happened to you, Rio?”
“They broke me, and let it go at that.”
“No more brass on your shoulders then.”
“I’d rather polish it than wear it.”
“Are you goin’ to ship on this?”