at our suggestion of such an
unheard-of transaction, gave illustration alike of the discipline in His
Majesty's ships and, sadly, the lack of it in ours.

In time our quickly trained R.N.V.R.'s joined. They came from Crystal
Palace, these new shipmates. Clean fellows--smart. Bacon-curers,
Cambridge men, lawyers, shopmen, clerks, haberdashers--trimmed and able
and willing to carry on, and lacking only a little ship practice, and a
turn of sea-legs, to fit them for a gallant part in delivering the
goods. With their coming we are introduced to a line of longshore life
that had escaped us. There is talk and ado of metropolitan habits and
styles, of 'Maudlen' and high life, of music scores, the latest revue,
the quips of the music-halls. ("When Pa--says--_turn_" is now the
correct aside, when Commodore gives executive for a new angle on the
zigzag!)

At the first we were somewhat concerned at the apparent 'idleness' of
our signalman. He was on our books for but one employment--the business
of flags and signals. In intervals of his special duties he made an odd
picture on the bridge of a merchant ship--a man without a 'job.' The
firemen, on deck to trim ventilators, would take a peep at him as at
some strange alien; seamen, passing fore and aft on their reliefs, would
nod confidently. "Still diggin' wet sand, mate? . . . Wish I 'ad your
job!" There were days when he was busy enough--'windmilling' with the
hand-flags, or passing hours in hoist and rehoist when Commodore was
sharpening the convoy to a precision in manoeuvre, but on open sea his
day was not unduly crowded. There were odd hours of 'stand-by' under
screen of the weather-cloth, intervals of leisure which he might use as
he liked, provided he kept a ready ear for the watch officer's call.
Reading was usual. In this his taste was catholic. _Tit-Bits_ and _My
Dream Novelettes_ found favour; one had back numbers of the _Surveyor
and Municipal and County Engineer_, old volumes of _Good Words_ from the
Bethel box found a way to the bridge; we saw a pocket volume of Greek
verse that belonged to the bold lad who altered our signalled 'will' to
'shall'!

For all his leisured occupation he was quick enough when the call of
"_Signals_" brought him to business. His concentration on the speciality
of the flags brought an accuracy to our somewhat haphazard system of
signalling. We benefited in more than his immediate work by promoting
his instruction of our young seamen. Spu