FIRST BURGHER
So they’ve brought him home at last, hey? And he’s to be solemnized
with a roaring funeral?
FIRST BOATMAN
Yes, thank God.... ’Tis better to lie dry than wet, if canst do it
without stinking on the road gravewards. And they took care that he
shouldn’t.
SECOND BOATMAN
’Tis to be at Paul’s; so they say that know. And the crew of the
“Victory” have to walk in front, and Captain Hardy is to carry his
stars and garters on a great velvet pincushion.
FIRST BURGHER
Where’s the Captain now?
SECOND BOATMAN [nodding in the direction of Captain Hardy’s house]
Down at home here biding with his own folk a bit. I zid en walking
with them on the Esplanade yesterday. He looks ten years older than
he did when he went. Ay—he brought the galliant hero home!
SECOND BURGHER
Now how did they bring him home so that he could lie in state
afterwards to the naked eye!
FIRST BOATMAN
Well, as they always do,—in a cask of sperrits.
SECOND BURGHER
Really, now!
FIRST BOATMAN [lowering his voice]
But what happened was this. They were a long time coming, owing to
contrary winds, and the “Victory” being little more than a wreck.
And grog ran short, because they’d used near all they had to peckle
his body in. So—they broached the Adm’l!
SECOND BURGHER
How?