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"And then?"
"
A ship at sea writes to give notice on any subject to those on
land--that it is sailing in such a latitude; that it has met a sea
monster; that it is in sight of shore; that it is in distress; that it
is about to founder; that it is lost, etc. The captain takes a bottle,
puts into it a bit of paper on which he has written the information,
corks up the flask, and casts it into the sea. If the bottle goes to the
bottom, it is in the department of the lagan officer; if it floats, it
is in the department of the flotsam officer; if it be thrown upon shore,
it concerns the jetsam officer."
"
"
"
"
"
And wouldst thou like to be the jetsam officer?"
Precisely so."
And that is what thou callest uncorking the bottles of the ocean?"
Since there is such an appointment."
Why dost thou wish for the last-named place in preference to both the
others?"
"Because it is vacant just now."
"In what does the appointment consist?"
343
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