A sailor boasted to be able to read any flag signal. He was asked about a
beflagged ship near at anchor. "Strange, they say they are on the rocks.
It's quarantine. We're surrendering."
Then a boat from the ship in distress was lowered and brought some sailors to
the pier. They were asked by frightened spectators who had heard the ominous
interpretation of the signals by the great expert of flag communication.
"What do you mean by your terrible signals?"
"Those aren't signals. The crew had a wash day and now they
are drying up their underwear."