Magician
Whilst on manoeuvres, the crew of a naval vessel were getting very bored. The captain decided entertainment was needed. Knowing one of the crew professed to be an amateur magician, he decided to put on show.
During the performance, the ship’s observant parrot gave a running commentary as to how each trick was done, thoroughly unnerving the magician.
Rather than give too many secrets away, the magician decided to end his performance prematurely. Reaching into the tails of his coat to ignite the small incendiary smoke screen, he announced, “My next trick will be to make the ship disappear”. Unfortunately, a spark started a fire, which eventually reached the ship’s ammunition, causing the ship to sink.
The magician found himself hanging on the end of a piece of floating debris, with the slightly singed parrot on the other. After scanning the horizon for several minutes the parrot said, "OK smart Alec, what have you done with the ship?”