Chapter 26

Her ship’s company was mainly made up of Kroo-boys, but there were five white officers, and for a week Headquarters was a place of unusual hilarity. The day before she sailed, Bones went on board to tiffin, and was shown round the ship. “There isn’t another boat like this in the world,” said Widgeon, her captain, who had a pride that was almost pathetic. “Dear old naval officer, why should there be?” asked Bones, and advanced the novel theory that the _Tiny_ had once been a barnacle on a battleship. “She can do nin…