TNA MT 40 36 Pt 2

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and during the period we had to wait for the flood tide to
come up and take us off Jerry's bombers came over several
times, bombing the ships and machine gunning the soldiers
on the beach. We were lucky not to be hit, for we had only
the soldier's Bren guns to defend us.
The Captain would not let me go when I
asked him if I could return to my own ship, but by now
some Tommies had parked themselves in the "Naiad Errant"
and, after clearing the tow rope from the propellors, had
got her engines going. The tide was coming in fast- it
must have been between seven and eight oclock (I had put
my watch out of action swimming)- and the rising water
floated the ship, also my boat. I waved to the soldiers
and made gestures to them to bring her alongside, which
they managed to do, although the ship was well under way.
I sang out to my crew to come down with me,
but apparently they had had enough of it- they did not show
up, but there was no time to argue. Both the ship and my
boat were under way, SO just as the "Naiad Errant" came
alongside I jumped down alone, and got her clear of the
ship, which promptly increased her speed and went towards
England.
The "Naiad Errant" was packed full. I glanc-
ed back at the petrol tank gauges and saw that they regist-
ered half-full. There was nothing to do but to scrounge
some more. A boat was moored in the fairway and I reckon-
ed she would be fair game. As luck would have it she was
full of petrol in two gallon tins, SO I fisted six of them
and put them in my tanks. Just as I thought we were all
set for home- the. engines gave out! I could not get back
to the boat that was moored and we began to drift on to
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