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DURING THE WAR THE
DRIFTERS HAD BEEN COMANDEERED BY THE NAVY AND USED AS FLEET TENDERS FOR
THE BIG NAVY SHIPS. UP IN SCAPA FLOW THE GOWAN CRAIG WAS BEEIN’ USED TAE
DEE THE MAIL RUN ATWEEN WICK AND SCAPA. DURIN’ THESE RUNS THEY WERE AYE
ACCOMPANIED BY TWA NAVY OFFICERS FA WIRNA THAT USED TAE SMA ‘ BOATIES
COMPARED TAE THE BIG CAPITAL SHIPS THEY USUALLY SAILED ON, AND A TRIP
ACROSS THE PENTLAND FIRTH WIS VIEWED WI’ DISMAY. ONYWYE THE BOAT WIS A’
READY TAE SAIL AND THE CREW WERE JIST WAITIN’ ON THE OFFICERS COMIN’
DOON WI’ THE MAIL THERE WIS A GOOD BREEZE O’ WIND BLOWIN BIT NITHIN’ TAE
BOTHER ABOOT. AT LAST THE TWA MEN ARRIVED DOON ABOORD AND THE CREW LET
GO THE ROPES AND THEY MADE THEIR WYE DOON THROUGH THE FLOW AND INTAE THE
PENTLAND FIRTH. EFTER THE CREW HAD STOWED THE GEAR THEY MADE THEIR WYE
INTAE THE GELLEY FOR A WELCOME MUG O’ TEA. GAUN DOON INTAE THE CABIN
BEEL KINNAIRD SPOTTED THE TWA NAVY OFFICERS SITTIN’ AT THE TABLE LOOKIN’
GYE SORRY FOR THIMSEL’S, BEEL TRYIN’ TAE BE FREENLY INTRODUCED HIMSEL’
AND ASKED THEM THEIR NAMES. THE MAIST HIGH RANKIN’ OFFICER REPLIED,”I AM
THEOPHELOUS GRAVELS, AND THIS IS ABRAHAM STRAW” NODDIN’ AT HIS
COMPANION. BEEL WIS LEFT SPEECHLESS AND FIN HE MANAGED TAE GIT HIS WITS
THE GITHER HE SAID TAE THE TWA O’ THEM, ”ARE YE NAE FAIRT TAE CROSS THE
PENTLAND FIRTH WI’ NAMES LIK THAT“! |
