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"Thorogood, surely! Come in, old lad. What are you doing aboard the lugger D'you know Standish?" The new-comer nodded a greeting, acknowledging the introduction. "Station-mates in the East Indies, weren't we?" said Standish. "That's right," replied the other. "I remember you: we were both in camp together way back in the 'Naughty Naughts. We used to call you the India-rubber Man Bunje for short."
"I pulled bow at Keyham for two years, and in China " "If you stand there kagging we'll never get away," interposed the coxswain, "and the Commander will want to know who drank his cocoa. Bunje second stroke, James third stroke. Derreck, you're second bow, and Tweedledum third bow, and for heaven's sake sit down and stop gassing, all of you."
"Come in, Bunje," he said, holding out his hand. "Very glad you've got here at last." He laid his left hand for an instant on the India-rubber Man's shoulder and searched his face with kindly grey eyes. "How're the wounds and the wife and all the other things you've collected since I saw you last?" The India-rubber Man laughed. "They're all right, sir, thanks."
"Bunje," said the First Lieutenant, "come to the club and have tea and play 'pills' afterwards?" The Indiarubber Man shook his head. "No, thanks; I'm afraid I I've got something else to do." The Paymaster contemplated him thoughtfully. "Bunje, my lad, the darkest suspicions fill my breast.
"Tweedledum," he said, elevating his nose and sniffing the keen morning air, "I can smell bacon frying somewhere. So could my class: I could see their mouths watering. You might send for the cook and tell him not to do it." "You're a dirty bully, Bunje, you know," said the Officer of the Watch reprovingly.
The other turned, helping himself to soda-water. "Lor', yes, and you got spliced, too, Bunje!" He contemplated the Benedict over the rim of his tumbler with the whimsical faint curiosity with which the bachelor Naval Officer regards one of his brethren who has passed beyond the Veil. "Yes." For a moment Standish assumed a thoughtful expression. Then he looked up, smiling. "What about you, Podgie?
The two swaying figures, after a few preliminary cannons off sideboard, arm-chair and deck stanchion, finally collapsed on to the settee. The sleepers awakened with disgust. "Confound you, Bunje, you clumsy clown!" roared one. Between them they seized the Young Doctor, who was a small man, and deposited him on the deck. "Couldn't you see I was asleep, Pills?" demanded the other hotly.
"He wipes them furtively on the slack of his trousers in frightened anticipation." The Indiarubber Man reddened. "You silly asses!" The Junior Watchkeeper squirmed with delight. "He is he is! He's going poodle-faking. And in war time, too! You dog, Bunje!" "Can't a fellow know people ashore without a lot of untutored clowns trying to be funny about it?" demanded the victim.
As he went out the First Lieutenant entered with an apologetic mien which everyone appeared to recognise instinctively. The Torpedo Lieutenant looked up from his book. "Oh, no, Number One, spare us for just one morning. I've got a headache already from listening to Bunje." The A.P. threw himself into an attitude of supplication.
The door opened, and a clean-shaven, smiling countenance, followed by a pair of broad shoulders, appeared cautiously in the opening. Standish stared at the apparition, and then rose with a grin of welcome. "Why!" he said, "Podgie, of all people! Come in, you old blighter!" The visitor entered. "How goes it, Bunje?" he said. "I saw you with your missus just now, so I hid I'm in the next cabin."
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