"Sink me If that Dago wasn't so taken up with
pipin' my antics that he's gone an' done it!"
"Done what, sir?" asked Dick, seeing that his respected skipper was in
hilarious mood.
"Run his bloomin' _Cigno_ onto the Scilla Shoal. Damme, I thought he'd
do it. Listen to him," for another wail reached them from the
disconsolate warship. "He's fixed there as though, he was glued to it.
He'll have to jettison all his bunker an' a gun or two afore he gets
off. They tell me _Cigno_ means 'swan.' I wonder wot's the I-talian for
'goose.' Go an' tell Tagg. Tell him to tumble up quick, if on'y for the
sake of ole times."
Royson aroused the chief, and gave him the skipper's message. Tagg,
rubbing his eyes, came on deck. He looked at the _Cigno_, heard her
dismal trumpeting, and slowly took, in the surroundings.
"Well, s'elp me!" he grinned. "Sorry to rake cold ashes, cap'n, but
isn't that where you piled up the Ocean Queen?"
"Don't I know it!" growled' Stump, "One solid month, we stuck there,
didn't we, Tagg? Threw over-board two thousand tons o' best Cardiff,
an' then had to be hauled off by another tramp.
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