A SHAT UNDER THE SEA.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1917, Page 4

A SHAT UNDER THE SEA.

Like iintd. other strange Fish that . swim in the sea, submarines have I their points of difference. Though j all belong to the same gexius, some J hate attained a much higher stage 61 j development than others. 1 C do ranked among the ** others.” Any well-grown turbot would have ] disdained to call her sister.” None the less, while not to be glowingly commended oh the score I of appearance, 0 05 possessed certain qualities of usefulness. These she had been employing “ somewhere at sea.” “ Flapping about on the bottom like a Bind -’tur tle for nearly a week” declared her youthful commanding officer to his “snb as the pair settled down to dinner. Tliey were sitting at a small table which had been let down from tire inward sloping, sides of. the boat.Successive clays oi unwashedness and unshavenness had left their imprint upon both. Conditions of life as it is lived right down lii Davy Jones s locker make soap and water and razors temporarily barred luxuries. “My word, Smithhouse;” quoth the “ C. 0,” fondling bis own longstubbled cliin, “a little more of this and you’ll one-whisker old von Tirpit'z.” “ I hand back the compliment, my bearded lady.” replied the “ sub cheerfully, “ And after that we dine.” “ Dine, ugh, hard tack doled Out for the fifteenth time in succession by a bloomin’ matlow,” who hasn’t washed for a week. What’s the menu Clews ” “ ‘ Fanny Adams’ (potted meat), biscuits, and water, sir,” answered Clews, the “matlow” referred to, with a quiet grin. 1 “ Give it a fresh name, one that’ll enable- us to believe we’ve got a change of diet. Your eternal ‘ l'auny 1 Adams ’ sounds so beastly cannibalis- > tic.” , “ Bully an’ biscuit, then, sir,” re- , spondee! Clews, “though some o’ th’ hamer. th’ chaps is callin’ it’s hot enough to’ roast th’ tack.” ’ ' “ And that’s putting it mildly; 3 didn’t I hear ’em ! added the “ sub.” 1 “ Well, I hope we’ll soon be able to b get up long enough to make some tea; this prolonged spell of hydrot pathic treatment’s giving me chills,” , declared the “C. 0.,” as he reached j ohfc a grimy hand for the biscuits. L> And so the conversation flowfe to f and fro across the table while the e boat lies on the bottom fathoms deep, ever watchful, just waiting her I, opportunity.