When we were dismissed we went below in silence, awed by the solemnity of this last committal to the deep of those with whom we had lived and worked side by side for ten long months.
CHAPTER XII
HOME
At 4 o’clock that afternoon the Lord Nelson anchored in Mudros Harbour, and shortly afterwards we were mustered on deck and then disembarked and taken to the store-ship Fauvette, where cabins were allotted to each two of us midshipmen.
The following day two torpedo-boats came alongside, and the Lieutenant-Commander of the whole squadron of T.B.s based at Malta came aboard to lunch. It was the great ambition of each of us “snotties” to get appointed to one of these sporting little craft; but we feared there was but little chance of such a stroke of luck, as they do not, as a rule, carry midshipmen. However, there was no harm in hoping!
Next forenoon one of our lieutenants told us that two of our number were to go to an armoured liner which was lying in the harbour, and suggested that we should draw lots to determine which of us it should be. Browne was away somewhere at the moment, and, as there was no time to be lost, we had to do the drawing without him. Baker and I seemed to be rather lucky at lotteries, for, as once before, we drew the winning numbers. I was not, however, particularly elated as I was still secretly hankering after service on a T.B.
We packed up the few articles of clothing we had obtained from the Lord Nelson, and, together with the Lieutenant, who was also going to the auxiliary cruiser, we were just embarking in the cutter, when, as we were about to shove off, Browne came alongside in another boat. Hastily we drew lots again, but the result was the same, and we went off to our appointed ship.
When we got on board we were asked our names, and then the Captain informed me he had orders to take Browne instead of me; so I returned to the Fauvette and told him he was to take my place. No sooner had I lost this billet than, with human cussedness, I began to regret it. After all, “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,” and the job would have been quite a good one.