‘Oh, Bloody War!’ he exclaimed.
* * * * *
‘As a general rule, mind you, I don’t ’old with officers, but ’e was a gentleman.’
The speaker spat over the side to emphasise his point, and relapsed into silence.
The lower deck sat round in small knots and coteries and smoked for the most part without unnecessary speech. The pipes were going, the evening was dark and still, and the lower deck was in a contemplative mood.
‘Yes,’ continued the Seaman Gunner, ‘’im and ’is mates was gentlemen.’
‘Pal o’ mine, Mick ’Ardy, was in ’er,’ quoth the S.T. ‘Fust trip in a submarine, too. Out fer trainin’. ’Ard I calls it.’
‘Strewth,’ said a voice out of the darkness, ‘we was on ’er patrol last trip. Bit o’ luck we didn’t come a kisser.’
‘It was that,’ put in the signalman. ‘We’re doo out to-morrow.’
Once more silence. Three bells struck and a bugle sounded from a distant battleship.