"Don't worry, Phelax. We will get you fine clothes. The lieutenant,
we will take his pants. The boatswain, we will take his shirt. We
will give you a coat, shoes, and a cap. The barber will be there
too. At eight bells on the pier."
At eight bells on the pier they brought me the boatswain's blue
shirt, the lieutenant's white trousers, and the remainder of a highly
presentable outfit. The barber was along. He took me to the edge of
the pier and cut my hair. My long hair fell down into the water.
Then he shaved me. I could scarcely wait till morning to dress.
Every article of my new clothes that I put on made me feel more like
a millionaire, and when I threw away my coal bag and put on those
fine shoes, I walked like the finest dandy in Berlin.
I went to the captain in charge of the piers. My smart clothes got
for me an excellent post as dock inspector. After a month I went to
sea again. With my dock inspector's recommendation, I got a good
berth on the _Nova Scotia_, running between the West Indian islands.
The Kaiser listened to the story attentively, and when I had finished
he looked queerly at the other officers. There was a twinkle in his
eye.
"It would be appropriate and poetic," he said, "if Luckner went back
to the _Panther_ now."
So, a few months later, by order of the Emperor, I was transferred to
the _Panther_, which was stationed in the Cameroons. I went down to
Africa, and the moment I boarded the _Panther_ I went to the
fo'c'sle. None of the men I had seen there before were on the ship.
It was the custom to transfer officers and crews every three years.
I looked around, half expecting to see poor tattered Phelax sitting
there somewhere. I sat down where I sat before. Although an officer
now in a trim, white uniform with gold braid, in reality I was that
miserable beach comber Phelax, again. I dreamed I had the coal bag
on my foot once more. I reached down and felt smooth hose and a
smart shoe. I leaned back and dreamed of the coal bag.