The Project Gutenberg EBook of Sea Scouts up-Channel, by Percy F. Westerman
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Title: Sea Scouts up-Channel
Author: Percy F. Westerman
Illustrator: C. M. Padday
Release Date: November 24, 2018 [EBook #58336]
Last Updated: January 27, 2019
Language: English
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SEA SCOUTS UP-CHANNEL ***
Produced by R.G.P.M. van Giesen
[Illustration: cover art]
Sea Scouts up-Channel
BLACKIE & SON LIMITED
50 Old Bailey, LONDON
17 Stanhope Street, GLASGOW
BLACKIE & SON (INDIA) LIMITED
Warwick House, Fort Street, BOMBAY
BLACKIE & SON (CANADA) LIMITED
1118 Bay Street, TORONTO
[Illustration: "WANT A TOW INTO WEYMOUTH?" _Frontispiece_,
_Page_ 242]
Sea Scouts up-Channel
BY
PERCY F. WESTERMAN
Author of "The Third Officer", "The Salving of the Fusi Yama"
"Sea Scouts All", &c.
_Illustrated by C. M. Padday, R.O.I._
BLACKIE & SON LIMITED
LONDON AND GLASGOW
_Printed in Great Britain by_
_Blackie & Son, Limited, Glasgow_
Contents
CHAP.
I. THE GUARDSHIP
II. SEA SCOUTS TO THE RESCUE
III. AN INVOLUNTARY GUEST
IV. THE GRATITUDE OF MR. COLLINSON
V. A GIFT WORTH HAVING
VI. VISITING SEA SCOUTS
VII. THE START OF THE GREAT ADVENTURE
VIII. DISTURBING INFLUENCES
IX. ADRIFT IN WEST BAY
X. THE FOULED PROPELLER
XI. THE SEMAPHORE MESSAGE
XII. A MISUNDERSTANDING CLEARED UP
XIII. THE TREK
XIV. THE MISSING PATROL LEADER
XV. HOW DESMOND FARED
XVI. THE OUTBOARD MOTOR
XVII. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF CEMENT
XVIII. GOOD LUCK IN DISGUISE
XIX. THE FOG
XX. CAPTURED
XXI. THE TABLES TURNED
XXII. A NARROW SHAVE
XXIII. THE REBOUND OF THE JOKE
XXIV. REFUSING A TOW
XXV. AND LAST
Illustrations
"WANT A TOW INTO WEYMOUTH?" _Frontispiece_
"ALL CLEAR!" HE ANNOUNCED, EXHAUSTED AND TRIUMPHANT
BOTH MEN TUMBLED ON THE CABIN-TOP
"DROP THAT AND GIVE IN AT ONCE!"
Sea Scouts up-Channel
CHAPTER I
The Guardship
"It's going to be a dirty night," remarked Mr. Graham, Scoutmaster of
the 9th Southend-on-Sea Sea Scouts. "Not very promising for the first
day of our holidays."
"You are right, sir," agreed Desmond, the Patrol Leader. "We are safe
enough here; and, after all, the weather isn't everything. We're
jolly lucky to be afloat."
"Although we've nothing much to go to sea in," added Pat Hayes. "This
part of the coast is very different from Southend, isn't it, sir?"
"I can hardly believe we're miles from home," chimed in Ted Coles,
the tenderfoot or "greenhorn" of the troop. "My word, that shakes
the old boat up!" he exclaimed, as a vicious blast of wind bore down
upon the side of the lofty superstructure of their temporary floating
home.
It was a stroke of good luck, or perhaps good management on the part
of Scoutmaster Graham, that five members of the 9th Southend Sea
Scouts found themselves in the Isle of Wight.
They had that afternoon "taken over" the guardship of the 6th Wootton
Bridge Sea Scouts, the latter having accepted an invitation to take
part in a "jamboree" on the other side of the Channel at a place
called St. Valerie-en-Caux.
Before the Wootton Bridge lads left, their Scoutmaster, Mr. Tweedie,
wrote to Mr. Graham--they had been brother officers in the R.N.V.R.
in that distant period "when there had been a war on"--offering to
lend him the Wootton Bridge Sea Scouts' guardship for the latter end
of July and the greater part of the month of August.
Scoutmaster Graham put the proposition before the lads. They simply
jumped at it. A holiday in the Isle of Wight was far different from
knocking around the Essex and Suffolk creeks in their open whaler--an
old tub that could not be trusted to go anywhere under canvas unless
the wind was abaft the beam--and rowing, although good exercise, is
apt to become a tedious business, especially when it comes to
propelling an unwieldy eighteen-foot ex-Service boat for miles and
miles.
So the offer was gladly accepted. Mr. Graham, Frank Bedford, Pat
Hayes, and Ted Coles had taken train to Portsmouth; Patrol Leader
David Desmond and Second Jock Findlay had done the ninety odd miles
journey on their trusty push-bikes. Taking two days over the
distance, they were awaiting the train-party at Portsmouth Harbour
Station when the Scoutmaster and his three young companions arrived
with their somewhat generous amount of luggage.
It was a matter for mutual regret that some members of the troop were
unable to be present. The fact remained that out of three patrols
only five Sea Scouts were able to accept the Wootton Bridge lads'
invitation, although it was just possible that others might do so
later on.
From Portsmouth the elated Sea Scouts crossed by steamer to Ryde,
their one disappointment being that they were unable to have a
glimpse of Nelson's _Victory_, but the staunch old three-decker was
in dry dock, undergoing a thorough overhauling to repair the ravages
of Father Time.
At Ryde they commenced their four-mile tramp to Wootton Bridge, their
gear being piled upon a trek-cart lent them by some obliging
brother-Scouts.
It was late in the afternoon when the Sea Scouts had their first view
of Wootton Creek, and rather unfortunately it was nearly low water.
From the top of the hill they could see a very narrow stream
meandering between banks of mud. On either side the ground rose
steeply, the left bank being thickly wooded. Away to their right the
Sea Scouts could discern the creek winding towards the open waters of
Spithead, while in the distance the flat coast of Hampshire cut the
skyline.
"Where's the guardship, sir?" asked Hayes.
"There she is, unless I'm greatly mistaken," replied the Scoutmaster,
pointing to a long, low, black hull with a white superstructure.
"She's not very big," remarked Ted Coles, the greenhorn, dubiously.
"And the creek's little larger than a ditch."
"Don't look a gift-horse in the mouth," said Desmond. "Wait till
we're aboard. Things look a bit deceptive from a height. Come on, you
fellows, it's down hill all the rest of the way."
At length the Sea Scouts and their trek-cart came to a halt outside
an old mill. Here the main road from Ryde to Newport, the "capital"
of the Isle of Wight, crosses the creek by means of a brick bridge.
Close to it is the village that takes its name from the bridge.
"Now to find out Mr. Johnson who has the key of the guardship,"
announced the Scoutmaster; but, before he could take further steps in
the matter, an old, grey-bearded man, wearing a blue reefer suit and
a peaked cap, came out of a cottage near by.
"You'rn the gen'l'man what's a friend to Mr. Tweedie's, I take it,
sir?" he inquired. "Johnson's my name, master mariner for nigh on
thirty-five year. I've got the keys, sir. Here they be, an' a list of
where everything be to. If you'rn wantin' any help, come to Cap'n
Albert Johnson, being me."
"Thanks awfully, Captain," replied the Scoutmaster. "I suppose
there's a dinghy to get off to the guardship with?"
"Ay, ay, there's a nice li'l boat belonging to our Sea Scouts. She'm
alongside yon steps, but there ain't enough water just now, seein' as
'ow the tide's out."
"In that case we must wait," rejoined Mr. Graham. "How long will it
be before the dinghy is afloat?" Captain Johnson gave a glance at the
mud-banks.
"Matter of an hour, mebbe an hour an' a half," he replied. "Say seven
o'clock an' you'll be on the safe side."
"In that case," said Mr. Graham cheerfully, "we may as well get in a
few provisions. Unship that gear, Desmond. The trek-cart will come in
handy for the grub. Hayes, you'd better mount guard over our gear. I
suppose there's fresh water aboard, Captain Johnson?"
"Ay, ay, sir," was the reply, "the lads filled up her tank just afore
they went 'foreign'. There'll be a couple o' hundred gallon in a iron
tank amidships. You'll find the tap in the galley, but don't use the
pump. That be for salt water."
Leaving Hayes to contemplate the narrow trickle of water between the
mud-flats, the Scoutmaster and the rest of the Sea Scouts set off on
their task of buying provisions. By the time they returned with their
well-laden trek-cart the tide had commenced to flow, and the water
was already lapping the keel of the dinghy.
Ten minutes later the little craft was pushed off through the soft
mud and taken alongside the bridge. The stores and baggage were
passed aboard, the trek-cart put into a shed at the mill, and the Sea
Scouts set off for their temporary floating home.
"She's a whopping craft, after all!" exclaimed Ted Coles, as the
dinghy drew near the guardship.
Viewed from without, the guardship turned out to be an old Thames
barge, about eighty feet over all and from fifteen to eighteen feet
beam. The whole of her two holds had been built upon, with a
double-decked structure extending the whole width of the ship except
for about fifteen feet amidships, where the deck-houses came to the
outer edge of the original coamings, thus leaving two sheltered
portions of the deck. Aft, the upper deck terminated twelve feet
for'ard of the lower deck, the roof of the latter boasting of a large
teak skylight. There were several large glass windows, while a short
lowermast and light topmast gave a finishing touch to the Wootton
Bridge Sea Scouts' guardship.
Making the dinghy fast fore and aft to a couple of booms, the Sea
Scouts followed their Scoutmaster on deck, and waited with
ill-concealed eagerness while he unlocked the door leading to the
upper deck.
They found themselves in what was styled the chartroom, a space about
six feet in length and occupying the extreme width of the ship. In it
were a compass, a flashing signal lamp, a signal locker with a
complete set of flags, hand semaphore flags, a couple of telescopes,
and on the bulkhead two large charts of Spithead and the Solent.
On each side were windows commanding a view abeam and ahead, while
right aft another window, long and narrow, gave an uninterrupted view
of the entrance to the creek and the sea beyond.
Leading out of the chartroom was a wide, doorless opening,
communicating with the club-room and two sleeping-cabins on the upper
deck; while a steep brass-treaded ladder with brass hand-rails gave
access below.
On the lower deck were the dining-saloon, kitchen, and two more
sleeping-cabins, with nearly seven feet headroom throughout, while
right for'ard was a low-roofed storeroom. Abaft the dining-saloon,
and gained by means of a small sliding door, was the bathroom, which
in the days when the guardship was a sea-going Thames barge had
served as the skipper's cabin. "Jolly fine, isn't it, sir!" exclaimed
Desmond. "And did the Wootton Bridge Sea Scouts do all the work of
converting her?"
"Every bit, I think," replied Mr. Graham. "I remember Mr. Tweedie
writing to me about it. They cemented the floors and the space
between the sides and the lining with ferro-concrete--nearly forty
tons of it--before they commenced the woodwork. Altogether it took
them seven months to finish the work."
"It must have cost them something," observed Frank Bedford.
"About a couple of hundred pounds," replied the Scoutmaster. "They
raised every penny of it by themselves--concerts and that sort of
thing--without cadging a single halfpenny. Well, come on. How about
grub? Then we'll go to general quarters, stow gear, and sling our
hammocks."
The first meal on board was a great success, if Jock Findlay's
initial blunder was not taken into consideration. Jock was told off
as cook for the day, and, apparently not having heard Captain
Johnson's instructions, had made the cocoa with boiling sea-water.
It was getting on for nine o'clock when the conversation related in
the beginning of this chapter took place. Already the sun had dipped
behind the tree-clad hills on the western side of the creek. Away to
the nor'ard the sky was overcast, while an on-shore breeze blew with
steadily increasing strength up the tidal estuary. The evening was
cold--decidedly chilly for July--while occasional scuds of rain
presaged a dirty night.
Presently Patrol Leader Desmond, who had been examining the entrance
to the creek with one of the telescopes, gave an exclamation of
surprise.
"What is it, Desmond?" inquired Jock, who, with the Patrol Leader,
was standing in the chartroom. "An SOS?"
"Of sorts," rejoined his chum. "There's a small craft out there
flying a signal--I'm not sure, but I think it's the NC."
Findlay snatched up the second telescope, threw open one of the
windows, and levelled the glass in the direction Desmond had
indicated. Before he could focus the instrument, the object lens was
blurred with rain.
"Dash it all!" he exclaimed, and proceeded to clean the glass.
Before Findlay could resume his investigations, Desmond had put down
his telescope. Hurrying to the head of the ladder he roused his chums
by shouting:
"On deck there, you fellows. There's a vessel in distress off the
mouth of the creek."
CHAPTER II
Sea Scouts to the Rescue
At the hail, Mr. Graham and the rest of the Sea Scouts swarmed up the
ladder into the chartroom.
Patrol Leader Desmond had read the signal correctly, in spite of the
fact that the light was fading and that the flags, owing to the
direction of the wind, were nearly end on and blowing out almost as
stiff as a board.
Taking the telescope, the Scoutmaster verified his Patrol Leader's
statement. There was the white and blue chequered flag surmounting a
white pennant with a red ball in it, signifying: "In distress; need
immediate assistance ".
"How long has this been flying?" inquired Mr. Graham.
"Not long, sir. Less than a couple of minutes," replied Desmond.
"She's been at anchor there for the last hour. I was wondering what
she was doing in the open."
"Waiting for enough water to get in," hazarded the Scoutmaster. "It's
not far from high tide now. Come along, Desmond and Findlay, we'll
see what's wrong. No, not you others; three of us will be enough for
this job. Got your first-aid outfit, Jock? I wouldn't mind betting
that's what will be wanted."
With mixed feelings, Bedford, Hayes, and the Tenderfoot watched their
Scoutmaster and their two chums push off in the dinghy. They were
disappointed that they were compelled to remain on board as passive
spectators, but they knew that in a choppy sea the dinghy stood a
better chance of reaching the craft in distress than if she were
deeply laden with six fairly hefty individuals. So, with a cheer of
encouragement, they bade their chums good luck and remained watching
the slow progress of the dinghy until she was lost to sight in the
rapidly gathering darkness.
Jock Findlay, a big-limbed, deep-chested lad of sixteen, pulled bow;
Mr. Graham was at the stroke oar; Desmond steered. Already the Patrol
Leader had made good use of his eyes during his comparatively short
experience of Wootton Creek. By the aid of the chart he had studied
the somewhat intricate entrance, verifying his facts by observing
through the telescope the actual position of the "booms" or
mark-posts. Thus he knew that the black-and-white chequered posts
were on the port side of the approach channel and that those painted
all black were to starboard.
"There's a coast-guard station on our starboard hand, sir," remarked
the Patrol Leader. "It's rather strange they haven't turned out."
"I know," replied Mr. Graham shortly. He was pulling strongly and was
disinclined to speak more than was absolutely necessary. He knew that
it would be a tough struggle before the dinghy arrived alongside the
disabled or distressed craft.
A bend in the creek brought the dinghy abreast of the little hamlet
of Fishbourne. The boat was now dead in the eye of the wind, and,
although it was nearly high water, there was still a considerable
tide setting in. These conditions made the rowers' task a hard one,
but it had one advantage: with the wind and tide in the same
direction the waves were not so short and steep as they might be were
the natural forces acting in opposite ways.
The Sea Scouts had already passed a line of small yachts anchored in
the lower reaches of the creek. Several, doubtless belonging to the
place, were without anyone on board; others showed gleams of yellow
light through their scuttles and skylights. Their owners were
comfortably sheltering in their snug cabins, thankful that on such a
dirty night they were in a secure anchorage.
On the gravel beach at Fishbourne were several pleasure boats hauled
up. The boatmen, in view of the rain, had decided early that it was
of no use staying there to look for customers, and they had gone
home.
The Sea Scouts' dinghy was barely a hundred yards below the
coast-guard station when an oilskin-clad man wearing a sou'wester
appeared from the look-out hut. He was obviously puzzled to see a
little open boat making seaward on a night like this. Had it been
light enough he might have spotted the craft flying the distress
signal; but now it was too dark to discern her, and for some unknown
reason she failed to display a riding-light.
So both the boatmen and the coast-guards had missed a chance of
earning salvage.
"Where is she?" exclaimed Findlay breathlessly, turning his head and
shading his eyes with one hand while he pulled with the other.
"I can just make her out," shouted Desmond in reply. "Ough!"
ejaculated the bowman, as a shower of spray hit him on the back and a
cold stream of salt water trickled down his head. "We look like
getting wet shirts before this job's done."
It was soon evident that the task the Sea Scouts had undertaken was
not only a strenuous one. It was a dangerous one; but the mute appeal
for aid was sufficient. Having set out upon an undertaking they meant
to see it through.
Already the water was sluicing over the bottom-boards, as the tubby
little dinghy rose and fell in the vicious seas. Desmond, still
keeping his eyes fixed upon a faint object that he rightly supposed
to be the craft in distress, groped and found the baler. Steering
with one hand he began baling for all he was worth. Even then the
water seemed to be gaining as the tops of the white crested waves
slopped in over the bows.
The Scoutmaster and Jock Findlay were beginning to feel the terrific
strain. Used as they were to rowing, they stuck it grimly, but even
their horny hands were blistering, while their muscles ached and
their breath came in short, jerky gasps. Nor could Desmond relieve
his chum at the oar, without an almost certain chance of capsizing
the dinghy, while even the slightest respite would result in the boat
being carried shorewards.
The outermost beacon appeared to glide slowly past the labouring
boat. Here the waves were dangerously steep, for the tide was setting
strongly to the west'ard, resulting in a seething cross-sea.
"Nearly there!" bawled Desmond encouragingly, raising his voice to
make it audible above the noise of the wind and waves.
The yacht--for such she proved to be--was now only about a hundred
yards away, as she rose and plunged to the waves, but it took Mr.
Graham and Findlay a good ten minutes of desperate pulling to cover
the comparatively short distance.
There was no need for the Patrol Leader to give the customary order:
"Way 'nough". He knew that his companions would have to row until the
dinghy was within oar's-length of the yacht. And then Desmond would
be faced by the difficulty of bringing the dinghy alongside the
heaving, pitching hull, as the yacht strained at her chain cable.
The result of a false move on the helmsman's part would be that the
boat would miss her objective altogether and drift yards lee'ard, or
else would be crushed like an egg-shell as the larger craft rolled
towards her.
"Ahoy!" shouted Desmond.
"Ahoy!" came a muffled reply. "Come aboard."
"Easier said than done," thought Mr. Graham. "Why doesn't the fellow
come on deck to take our painter?"
Awaiting his opportunity, Findlay, with the slack of the painter over
his left arm, sprang upon the deck of the yacht, while Mr. Graham
fended off. Desmond followed, and finally the Scoutmaster leapt on
board, steadying himself by the shrouds. The dinghy, left to its own
devices to a certain extent, drifted rapidly astern, until she
brought up with a jerk that almost wrenched the painter out of
Findlay's hands.
"Below there!" hailed the Scoutmaster again, as he peered down the
companion-way in a vain attempt to see what was taking place in the
unlighted cabin.
"Come on down," replied a somewhat faint and quavery voice. "Sorry I
can't get you a light."
"That's easily remedied," declared Mr. Graham, as he switched on his
electric torch. "What's the trouble?"
With Desmond and Findlay close at his heels the Scoutmaster descended
the slippery, brass-treaded ladder leading to the yacht's saloon.
There on one of the bunks sat, or rather reclined, a man of about
fifty years of age. His face looked grey and drawn. He was supporting
his right arm with his left, the sweater-sleeve of which looked
ominously lumpy just above the wrist, while a dark stain was showing
on the woolly garment.
"Fracture, eh?" inquired the Scoutmaster.
"Double fracture, to be precise," replied the owner of the yacht.
"You're Sea Scouts, I see? Thought at first you were the
coast-guards."
"Sort of substitute, you know," rejoined Mr. Graham. "Now let's see
what the trouble is," he added briskly.
Jock Findlay was ready with his first-aid outfit, Desmond lit the
cabin-lamp, but the erratic motion of the yacht so affected it in
spite of its being gimballed, that the confined space was poorly
illuminated.
With a pair of sharp scissors the sufferer's sweater and singlet
sleeves were ripped open, and the arm exposed to view. It was not a
pleasant sight, for in two places the ends of fractured bones had
forced themselves against the skin. In addition, there was an
abrasion that was bleeding freely.
"'Fraid it will give you gip," said Mr. Graham apologetically, as
he prepared, with the assistance of his young companions, to set
the broken limb. "I'll have to grin and bear it," replied the
injured man stoically. "But before you start--in case I make a
fool of myself, you know--can you take my yacht into Wootton Creek?"
"We'll try," replied the Scoutmaster.
"You know the way in?" inquired the owner anxiously.
"Yes," replied Mr. Graham briefly. Already he knew enough of the
creek to justify the assertion.
"Thanks awfully," was the rejoinder. "And can you phone to my wife,
Mrs. Collinson? She's staying at the Solent Hotel, Ryde. Tell her I'm
all right, or at any rate reassure her that there's nothing much the
matter. Good! Now, I'm ready."
It was not the complicated nature of the injury but the awkwardness
of the impromptu surgery that was the difficulty. The motion of the
yacht was now so violent that the Sea Scouts had great trouble to
maintain their balance, let alone to support and hold the injured
man, while Mr. Graham placed the limb in two well-padded splints.
But Mr. Collinson did not "grin and bear it". Long before the
first-aid process was completed he was in a dead faint.
"Just as well," commented the Scoutmaster, "only it will mean telling
off one hand to prevent his rolling off the bunk. You stay here,
Jock; Desmond and I will get the yacht in. She'll do it easily under
foresail only, I think. There's no immediate hurry. We'll have to
overhaul the gear before we get the anchor up. It's no use monkeying
about with sheets and halliards on a strange craft in the dark after
we are under way."
Leaving Findlay in charge of the patient, the Scoutmaster and Desmond
went on deck. For a few moments, coming from the lighted cabin, they
could see nothing. By degrees their eyes grew accustomed to the
darkness. They could discern the high ground on either side of the
entrance, but the beacons marking the channel were invisible. All
around there was a welter of foaming water.
"We're dragging, sir!" exclaimed the Patrol Leader.
"By Jove, we are!" agreed Mr. Graham, abandoning his intention of
overhauling the ropes. "Stand by at the helm, Desmond. I'll get the
anchor up and set the staysail. She ought to draw clear."
Making his way for'ard the Scoutmaster knelt on the heaving fore-deck
while he fumbled for the gasket securing the staysail. In this
position he was often thigh deep in water, as the yacht dipped her
lean bows into the angry crests. It was now blowing half a gale, and
the yacht was perilously close to a lee shore.
To his relief, Mr. Graham found the staysail halliard without
difficulty. A trial hoist showed that the sail could be set without
risk of fouling anything.
The next task was to weigh the anchor. In ordinary circumstances this
operation would be performed by means of a small capstan--an easy yet
slow process. Long before the anchor could be brought a-peak the
yacht would drag and go aground. Slipping the cable was out of the
question, as the Scoutmaster did not know whether the end of the
chain was shackled or not, and there was no time to grope about in a
strange fo'c'sle, struggling with a possibly refractory shackle.
"Desmond!" he shouted.
The Patrol Leader, relinquishing the as yet unwanted tiller, made his
way for'ard, clutching at runners, shrouds, and mast as he did so.
Without these supports he would almost certainly have lost his
footing, so erratic and violent was the motion of the yacht.
"Bear a hand!" exclaimed Mr. Graham breathlessly, pointing to the
cable.
Desmond understood. In order to save time the anchor-cable was to be
hauled in by hand instead of by means of the winch.
It was a tough task, especially at first, but gradually the iron
chain came home, until a sudden and considerable relaxation of the
strain announced that the anchor was off the bottom, or in nautical
terms "up and down".
The Patrol Leader subsided ungracefully upon the mainmast spider
band, while the Scoutmaster sat heavily upon the brass-capped bitts.
It was painful for both, but there was no time to waste in vain
complaints.
"Take the helm--quick!" shouted Mr. Graham, regaining his feet and
hauling in the staysail halliards.
Desmond hurried aft, secured a grip on the tiller, and waited.
For some moments the staysail slatted violently in the wind. The
yacht began to gather stern-way and showed a tendency to fall off on
the starboard tack. Exerting all his strength the Scoutmaster gripped
the stiff canvas (his finger-nails were tender for a week afterwards)
and held the sail aback.
Even then the yacht hesitated. There was a distinct shock, different
from the jars and jerks caused by the action of the waves. The vessel
had touched bottom. Her keel had struck what felt like a shingle
bank.
Then, to Mr. Graham's relief, she heeled and drew clear of the
bottom.
But the danger of striking a lee shore was not yet over. The yacht
under staysail alone could not "claw off". She had to be sailed
free, but not too free, until she rounded the spit of mud at the
starboard side of the entrance to the creek. The question was whether
Desmond could strike the happy medium and keep her on the only
possible safe course, which was now against a strong west-going tide.
Checking the lee staysail sheet, Mr. Graham came aft. Then, belaying
the sheet, he glanced at the bellying canvas which was just
discernible against the loom of the land.
That glance told him that the youthful helmsman knew his job.
"Couldn't do better myself," thought the Scoutmaster.
He made no attempt to take the tiller. It was one of his principles
in Sea Scouting never to interfere when one of the lads was doing his
work properly. And Desmond knew it was "up to him" to keep the yacht
on her course; he also knew that he was doing the right thing,
otherwise his Scoutmaster would have "butted in".
Suddenly, through the shower of spray flying over the yacht's bows,
Desmond caught sight of the outermost of the beacons, barely twenty
yards to lee'ard.
It was now a case of "up helm and run for it". The yacht answered
readily to the action of the rudder, and in a few seconds she was
scudding before the wind with slacked-off sheets and almost on an
even keel.
"See the next mark?" shouted the Scoutmaster "On your port bow?"
"Ay, ay, sir," was the confident response.
"All right below, there?" inquired Mr. Graham, calling down the
companion-way.
"Quite, sir," replied Jock, who up to the present had all his work
cut out to keep the injured man from further harm. "He's not come to
yet, sir."
Certainly Jock had seen little or nothing of the fun. By the noises
on deck as the cable came home he knew that his comrades were
weighing anchor. The shock too, when the yacht grounded on her keel,
was far more pronounced to him than it had been to the others on
deck. Then, by the more or less steady heel to starboard, he was
aware that the little craft was under way. And now, by reason of the
yacht running in comparatively calm water, he knew that she was
within the entrance to the creek.
Gybing abreast of the coast-guard station the yacht flew up stream,
passed the line of anchored craft, until she was almost becalmed
under the high, well-wooded ground to starboard.
"We've got her in, sir," remarked Desmond. "Now what are we going to
do?"
That was precisely what Mr. Graham was thinking about. The obvious
thing to do was to get medical aid for the injured man. In his
present state it was far too risky to attempt to land him in the
dinghy, and, since he could not be taken to the doctor, the inference
was that the doctor must be brought to him. Then, again, was the
question: where could the patient be placed? The narrow, ill-lighted
cabin was not at all suitable, with its awkward bunks and headroom of
less than six feet under the beams. The best thing to do in these
circumstances was to tranship the injured man from the yacht to the
guardship.
"I'll take her for a minute," said Mr. Graham, relieving Desmond at
the helm. "Call up the others and tell them we're coming alongside."
Springing upon the now steady cabin-top the Patrol Leader flashed a
series of dots with his torch. The reply signal came almost
immediately, showing that Bedford, Hayes, and Coles were anxiously on
the look out for their comrades' return.
"We are bringing yacht alongside," signalled Desmond in Morse. "Swing
in boat booms and lay out fenders."
For the next quarter of a mile progress was slow. The ebb-tide was
weak, but the wind came only in fitful puffs over the tree-tops.
"We'll get it in a minute," declared the Patrol Leader, pointing to
the ruffled water ahead that showed up distinctly in the reflected
gleam of the guardship's riding-light.
"That usually happens," observed Mr. Graham. "Often and often a yacht
approaches her moorings in a gentle little breeze, then just as she's
on, down comes a puff that shoots her past the buoy like a young
racehorse.... Findlay!"
"Ay, ay, sir," replied Jock from the cabin.
"How is Mr. Collinson?"
"Still insensible, sir."
"All right; think you can leave him? If so, come on deck. You'll be
wanted to make fast when we go alongside."
Findlay obeyed with alacrity; but had it been light Mr. Graham would
have had a bit of a shock. The excitement of attending to the injured
man, and the Sea Scout's subsequent confinement in the stuffy cabin
of the violently pitching and tossing boat, had made the lad
sea-sick. Yet, dreading the chance of discovery more than the actual
malady, Findlay had not said a word about it, but had stuck gamely to
his appointed task.
As Desmond had predicted, there was quite a heavy squall as the yacht
approached the guardship. Waiting until the latter craft gathered
sufficient steerageway, Mr. Graham lowered the staysail. Adroitly
steered by Desmond, the yacht ran gently alongside the hull of the
guardship. Ropes were thrown and made fast, and, with hardly a jar,
the two vessels were side to side, separated only by a pair of large
coir fenders.
The first instalment of the Southend-on-Sea Sea Scouts' "good turn"
was an accomplished fact.
CHAPTER III
An Involuntary Guest
Mr. Graham was surprised to find that it was just past midnight when
he returned on board the guard-ship. Taught by experience, he had
left his wristlet watch on board, knowing that he was in for a
soaking before the then unknown task was but half completed.
"We've been nearly two hours, lads!" he exclaimed; "and we haven't
finished yet. You two fellows"--indicating Frank Bedford and Pat
Hayes--"can take the dinghy and row up to Wootton Bridge and find a
doctor. Bring him back with you. It's an urgent surgical
case--compound fracture. And, since the post office is bound to be
shut, the doctor will probably have a telephone. Ask him to let you
use it. Ring up the number on the paper and give the message I've
written down. Got that?"
"Yes, sir," replied both Sea Scouts, and without a moment's delay
they brought the dinghy alongside the yacht, clambered into her, and
rowed vigorously in the direction of Wootton Bridge.
"Now, lads," continued the Scoutmaster briskly, addressing the
remaining three youths, "we've got to get the patient aboard here. I
don't suppose our friends the Wootton Sea Scouts have left a
stretcher on board, so we'll have to rig one up. Get busy. If we can
do this part of the business before Mr. Collinson recovers
consciousness so much the better. He won't feel the jolting."
The Sea Scouts had often constructed impromptu stretchers, and, in
spite of being comparatively strange to the guardship and her gear,
they soon got to work. A couple of short boat-hook staves, some light
lashing, and a few blankets were all that were necessary.
While these preparations were in progress Mr. Graham had not been
idle. In one of the large sleeping cabins on the upper deck he had
prepared a comfortable bed in the centre of the room, so as to allow
easy access to the patient from all sides. His next step was to light
a couple of hurricane lanterns and hang them in the rigging of the
yacht, so that the stretcher-bearers could see what they were doing
when it came to transhipping the injured man.
With the aid of the stretcher it was not a very difficult task. The
awkward part of the business was moving the patient from the sofa
bunk on to the stretcher, without allowing his arm to come in contact
with anything. Compared with this the work of lifting him up through
the companion-way was fairly simple.
At length the still-unconscious Mr. Collinson was put to bed on board
the guardship. The Sea Scouts made no attempt to revive him, since
the Scoutmaster thought it best for the patient to remain insensible
until after the doctor had made his examination.
The three Sea Scouts left on board the guardship while the rescue
work was in progress had not been idle. There was a piping hot meal
awaiting Mr. Graham, Desmond, and Findlay on their return, to which,
after having changed their saturated clothes, they did full justice.
"Now, you fellows," said the Scoutmaster, "you had better turn in.
There's nothing more to be done that I cannot do single-handed. If
you don't get decent rest you'll be fit for nothing to-morrow."
The trio were reluctant to go, but they gave no sign of their
feelings. It was discipline, and discipline was a subject upon which
Mr. Graham laid particular stress. When he gave an order he gave an
order, and it had to be carried out promptly. Yet he had the happy
knack of serving out pills with a sugared coating. There was nothing
harsh or unnecessary in his orders. The Sea Scouts knew this and
admired him for it, while he on his part realized that unless
discipline were maintained, without destroying a sense of
self-reliance in the lads, it would be a risky, nay, positively
dangerous business to be responsible for the lives of his youthful
charges afloat.
The three Sea Scouts had not turned in more than five minutes before
the dinghy returned bringing the doctor.
"Sorry to turn you out at this time of night," said Mr. Graham
apologetically.
"Not at all," protested Dr. Baker, after they had mutually introduced
themselves. "Part of my job, you know."
"The hardest-worked profession in the world," added the Scoutmaster,
as he led the way to the cabin where Mr. Collinson was lying, after
telling Bedford and Hayes to follow their comrades' example and turn
in.
"H'm!" ejaculated Dr. Baker, when he examined the patient's arm. "Bit
of a nasty mess. How did it occur?"
"I don't know," replied Mr. Graham, and proceeded to give a brief
version of how he had found the owner of the yacht injured in his
cabin.
With the Scoutmaster's assistance the doctor unbound the broken arm.
"Your youngsters know their work," said the medical man as he
replaced the splints. "I've seen very little better work in some of
the crack London hospitals. Oh, yes, when he comes to give him one of
these pellets, and another in four hours' time if he's in much pain.
I'll call in during the morning if you can send a boat for me at
eleven sharp."
The Scoutmaster rowed the doctor to the quay. During the trip back to
the guardship, Mr. Graham found himself wondering whether he had been
wise in packing off his youngsters. Certain things had to be done,
and if, while he was busy, the patient recovered consciousness it
might be bad for the latter if there were no one on the spot.
Arriving alongside, Mr. Graham found that his surmises were correct.
Mr. Collinson had regained consciousness, but fortunately Desmond had
heard a noise and had gone to see what was the matter.
"How are you feeling now?" inquired Mr. Graham. "Rotten," declared
Mr. Collinson pointedly. "This arm of mine is giving me what is
commonly termed 'what for'."
"Take this," said the Scoutmaster, proffering the violet-coloured
pellet. "Doctor's orders. He's been and gone."
"Morphine, eh? All right."
Ten minutes later the patient was sleeping soundly. Mr. Graham told
Desmond to go to his bunk again; and, having seen that the dinghy was
properly secured and that the yacht was lying comfortably alongside
the guardship, the Scoutmaster "turned in all standing", ready at
the first occasion to attend to his involuntary guest.
Nothing more of an unusual nature occurred during the night. At six
in the morning the Sea Scouts turned out, to find that the summer
gale had blown itself out and that the sky was cloudless and the wind
a gentle breeze from the west'ard.
"Not so much noise, you fellows," cautioned Desmond. "There's an
injured man on board, remember."
"Tell us what happened," asked Bedford.
"There's nothing much to tell," replied the Patrol Leader. "We just
went out, found Mr. Collinson with his arm broken, and brought the
yacht in."
"How did he get his arm broken?" inquired the Tenderfoot.
"None of us knows," was the reply.
"I'd like to find out," continued Coles, scenting a mystery.
"You will soon, I expect," rejoined the Patrol Leader. "Now then;
who's cook?"
"Bedford," replied three voices in chorus.
"Right-o! Get to work, old son," said Desmond, turning to the "cook
of the day"; "and don't give us salt-water cocoa for breakfast."
The meal over, all hands "squared off", airing clothes and bedding,
and stowing everything away in a ship-shape fashion. This last had
only just been completed when a boatman came alongside with a
passenger, Mrs. Collinson.
"Your husband is sleeping well," replied Mr. Graham. "The doctor will
be here at eleven."
"How did the accident happen?" inquired Mrs. Collinson.
The Scoutmaster had to admit his ignorance. For the third time, at
least, during the last eight or nine hours that question had been put
without anyone being able to give a satisfactory reply.
"I was very anxious until I had your telephone message," continued
Mrs. Collinson. "My husband and I are yachting--or I ought to say,
were yachting. Yesterday morning we brought up off Ryde and I went
ashore for the day, my husband having arranged to come ashore for me
at nine. I was on the pier before that time, but the _Ocean Bride_
had disappeared. As the wind had increased I thought that he might
have had to clear out of the exposed anchorage and make for either
Portsmouth Harbour or Cowes. So I went to the Solent Hotel--where I
had previously arranged to go should anything occur to prevent my
returning on board--and rang up the Customs at both places. When I
had a reply that the _Ocean Bride_ had not put into either harbour, I
did begin to feel anxious, because it was blowing hard and my husband
was single-handed. Of course, there was the motor----"
"Was there a motor on board?" broke in the Scoutmaster. "We didn't
notice it in the dark, and no one has been on board this morning. It
might have saved us a fair amount of hard work."
Just then Ted Coles appeared.
"Mr. Collinson is awake, sir," he repeated, with a smart salute.
The Scoutmaster escorted Mrs. Collinson to the cabin, and left her
with her husband. A few minutes later the dinghy returned with Dr.
Baker.
The doctor's report was most satisfactory. The patient was going on
well. His temperature was only one degree above normal, and there was
very little pain in the injured limb.
"He will probably be able to be moved to-morrow," added the medical
man. "Where is your home, Mrs. Collinson?"
"At Derby," was the reply. "We are on our annual holiday. We always
go sailing on the South Coast every summer."
"'Fraid you won't do any more this summer," declared Dr. Baker.
"Derby's a long journey for a man with a compound fracture. Why not
take rooms in the village until your husband is really able to stand
the fatigue of a railway journey?"
"That is precisely what I thought of doing," said Mrs. Collinson,
"until we can make arrangements to get the yacht back to her home
port, Poole."
"There is no immediate hurry for you to get rooms," remarked Mr.
Graham. "If you don't mind the company of a few rather high-spirited
boys, we can fix you up with a cabin on board."
"That will be nice," exclaimed Mrs. Collinson, with genuine
gratitude. "I am sure I'd quite enjoy it. But I hope it would not be
putting you out?"
Dr. Baker took his leave, promising to look in again next morning
unless something occurred to warrant an earlier visit.
Findlay rowed him ashore. The dinghy was away quite twice as long as
the trip required, and when Jock returned he had a large basket in
the stern-sheets.
Without saying a word to his companions on deck Findlay secured the
dinghy and went below to the galley. There, in an atmosphere of
steam, was Bedford in his robe of office--a white apron tied under
his armpits.
"What's for dinner to-day, Frank?" inquired the Second.
"Irish stew," was the reply.
"How about a cup of tea for Mrs. Collinson?" continued the thoughtful
Findlay.
"Just getting it," declared Bedford, indicating a metal tray on which
were a couple of enamelled iron mugs and a plate of the same
material, all showing signs of hard usage, while a battered tea-pot
of huge proportions and a half-consumed tin of condensed milk
completed the picture.
"Hardly what a lady would fancy, old son," remarked Findlay
cheerfully. "This outfit ought to suit."
So saying, he opened his basket and produced two china cups and
saucers, plates, a small brown earthenware tea-pot, and a jug. From
another compartment he took a bottle of fresh milk, a roll of bread,
butter, and lump sugar; while, rolled up in a clean tablecloth were
some knives.
Bedford regarded his chum with ill-disguised astonishment.
"Where did you get that lot from?" he asked. "Who paid for them? Did
Mr. Graham give you the money?"
Jock shook his head.
"It's just my good turn for the day," he replied. "The people at the
shop where I bought the grub lent me the crockery. They wouldn't
charge for the loan of it, though I don't know why they didn't."
In a few minutes the transformation of the tea-tray was complete, and
Findlay, cautiously negotiating the steep ladder to the upper deck
saloon, brought his offering in safety to the person for whom it was
intended. "How delicious!" exclaimed Mrs. Collinson. "Do you always
have china cups on board? I don't. On our yacht we have to be content
with plain enamelled ones."
For the rest of the day the Sea Scouts "carried on" as if the
guardship was not sheltering an invalid. This was at the express wish
of Mr. Collinson. But the lads took care not to disturb the invalid.
For the most part they were away in the dinghy, exploring the creek,
indulging in glorious bathes on the sandy beach to the west'ard of
the entrance, practising semaphore, and half a dozen other
pleasurable tasks so dear to the heart of a Sea Scout.
All too soon came what Patrol Leader Desmond described as"the end of
a perfect day ".
CHAPTER IV
The Gratitude of Mr. Collinson
On the following morning the curiosity of everyone interested in the
mystery of the _Ocean Bride_ was satisfied by Mr. Collinson, who was
well enough to relate his adventures.
"There is really very little to tell," he began. "As you heard from
my wife, I was on the yacht off Ryde, having arranged to go ashore
about nine. Just before seven I noticed that it looked a bit dirty to
wind'ard. In my interest in various small jobs I had to do on board,
I had quite forgotten to look at the barometer. When at length I did,
I saw that it had fallen nearly half an inch since the morning.
"Since the anchorage I was in is a very exposed one, and I was riding
to my own anchor instead of picking up a stout mooring, I decided
that the best thing to do was to make for Wootton Creek. Portsmouth
was dead to wind'ard, Cowes didn't seem an enticing proposition,
since it was a foul tide for the next two hours. And every yachtsman
who knows the Solent realizes what Cowes Harbour, crowded as it is
during the summer, is like in a northerly gale.
"So I hoisted sail, broke out the anchor, and got under way not a
moment too soon. It was then about half-past eight, and the wind had
piped up considerably.
"Of course my luck was out. When off Binstead the dinghy's painter
parted. I didn't realize my loss until I saw the little boat drifting
shoreward a good quarter of a mile astern."
"You lost her, then," remarked Mr. Graham.
"Yes, only temporarily, I hope," was the reply. "Of course, I put
about and tried to pick her up, but by that time she was close to the
edge of the mud. I had no wish to risk getting the yacht aground on a
lee shore, so I put about again and carried on. I noticed some
fishermen on the beach, so they no doubt have got hold of her.
"It did not take long to fetch the entrance to Wootton Creek. In
fact, I was too early. There wasn't enough water for _Ocean
Bride_--she draws six feet two--so I had to anchor.
"At ten o'clock, or thereabouts, I prepared to go in under power. It
was still sufficiently light for me to discern the beacons, although
down below it was almost dark. I suppose I must have accidentally
advanced the ignitor lever, for, at the first pull of the
starting-handle, the motor back-fired. She had never done so before,
and I never anticipated her acting in that manner. So much so that I
did not take the simple precaution of keeping my thumb underneath the
handle.
"The result was a crack that knocked me silly. I suppose I must have
fainted. Then, when I pulled myself together a bit, I found out what
the damage was. My only course was to signal for assistance. I
trusted to the NC flags, meaning to try a flash lamp if they failed
to be seen, but your Patrol Leader tells me he got the signal all
right. What I was afraid of was my anchor dragging."
"As a matter of fact it did, sir," remarked Desmond; "but Mr. Graham
hauled it aboard, and we got away in the yacht just in time."
"How about your dinghy?" inquired the Scoutmaster. "If you like we
will fetch her for you."
"I'd be awfully pleased if you would," replied Mr. Collinson
gratefully. "The men who picked her up will want payment, naturally,
but I hope I shan't have to be bothered with formalities with the
Receiver of Wrecks. I loathe that sort of business."
So during the forenoon, at about three hours before high water, Mr.
Graham, Desmond, Bedford, and Hayes went off in their dinghy, leaving
Ted Coles on board the guardship to act as cook, and Jock Findlay as
officer of the watch.
It was a beautiful day for the trip--a calm sea with a light
off-shore breeze. Rowing steadily and without undue haste and
exertion, the Sea Scouts took a little less than an hour to make
Binstead Hard.
There were a few boats hauled up on the beach, but nothing resembling
the _Ocean Bride's_ dinghy. A little way along the shore was a
fisherman mending his nets.
To him went Mr. Graham. The Scoutmaster "knew the ropes".Instead of
asking: "Have you seen or heard anything of a dinghy?" he opened the
conversation by stating:
"We've come for the white dinghy that drove ashore here at about nine
o'clock on the night before last."
"O-ay!" replied the man. "She be in t'boathouse over yonder back
along. Me an' my mate picked her up, knowin' as 'ow you'd be up along
soon. If you hadn't, Garge--him's my mate, you'll understand--was
a-goin' into Ryde to report to the coast-guards."
The old fisherman led the way to a tumble-down shed. Unlocking the
door he disclosed the truant.
"Is she damaged?" asked Mr. Graham.
"Not so much as a bit o' paint scraped off, sir," was the reply. "Me
an' my mate just waded in--above our knees it wur--an' lifted her
over the stones."
"Well, what do we owe you?" inquired the Scoutmaster, when the Sea
Scouts had lifted the light dinghy and carried her to the water's
edge.
"Leave it to you, sir," suggested the fisherman, with the wiliness of
his class.
"I wouldn't if I were you," rejoined Mr. Graham, with equal guile.
"You might be very disappointed if you did. Now, come on. What do you
think is a reasonable sum for the trouble to which you have been
placed?"
"Dunno, I'm sure, sir," replied the old man, scratching his head as
he strove to solve the problem. Then, seized with an inspiration, he
added: "I'll call my mate. He'll know."
The old fellow glanced up and down the shore, and then regarded the
expanse of sea with a watery eye, as if he were looking for his
far-distant partner.
"Garge!" he bawled. "Where be to?"
With uncanny suddenness a hulking giant in jersey, heavy cloth
trousers, and sea-boots, appeared in a gap in the brushwood that grew
almost down to the water's edge. Evidently pal Garge meant to be on
the spot--an unseen listener if his partner succeeded in "touching
the gent handsomely" or an active participator in any bargaining that
might ensue.
"What be the trouble, Jim?" he asked, with an overacted air of
disinterestedness.
"This gen'l'man 'ere," replied Jim, "'as come to fetch the lil'
dinghy. Wot's a fair sum to charge 'im for our trouble?"
"'Tes for you ter say, Jim," declared Garge. "A fair reasonable sum
an' the gen'l'man 'll be only too pleased to square up."
Jim ruminated a good thirty seconds, covertly regarding Mr. Graham
with a half averted face.
"Will five quid hurt you?" he asked at length.
"Just the sum as I was a-goin' to suggest," added Garge promptly.
"It would," replied the Scoutmaster, addressing Jim and ignoring
Garge's corroboration. "To me five pounds represents two days' work,
and strenuous work at that. Now, tell me: what did you do in picking
up the dinghy to warrant a payment of five pounds?"
"It blawed tur'ble 'ard," declared Jim, in extenuation of his claims.
"And yet the dinghy came ashore undamaged," countered Mr. Graham.
"An' us went over our knees in water," countered Jim.
"Ay, over our knees in water," repeated Garge, with parrot-like
fidelity.
"But you were wearing thigh boots," said Mr. Graham swiftly. "In
those conditions you had no inconvenience and certainly no risk. And,
what is more to the point, you had the boat and made no attempt to
immediately report the matter to the Receiver of Wrecks. Immediately,
mind. Those are the official instructions."
"Don't be 'ard on a couple o' pore seafarin' men, sir," said Jim.
"I don't mean to be," replied Mr. Graham. "At the same time I don't
mean to allow myself to be done. You understand that? Good. Well,
here's a pound note. That's all you'll get out of me. Desmond and
Bedford, launch the boat and push off."
A few minutes later both dinghies at about five yards abreast were
heading for Wootton Creek.
"Only a pound!" exclaimed Mr. Collinson, when the matter was told
him. "That was quite reasonable. If it had been me I should have paid
whatever the sharks asked. I suppose it's a failing of mine."
"Which makes it bad for others who cannot afford to pay through the
nose," rejoined Mr. Graham. "Fortunately, I know the ways of the
longshore-men, and Messrs. James Jell and George Grainger have the
reputation of being the biggest rascals amongst the boatmen of the
Island. I found that out before we went for the dinghy. They had to
clear out from Ventnor on account of a very shady transaction, and at
Sea View they narrowly escaped prosecution for stealing gear from
another boatman."
"I've been talking matters over with my wife," said Mr. Collinson,
abruptly changing the subject. "Naturally I don't want to thrust
myself upon you longer than I can possibly help. And I'm not at all
keen upon going into apartments for the next six weeks. I came down
here to be afloat, and I jolly well mean to be afloat, a broken arm
notwithstanding." The Scoutmaster nodded gravely.
"You're not intruding upon us," he said. "What we did was up to us as
Scouts."
"I do not doubt that," rejoined Mr. Collinson. "But tell me: your
lads wear the Southend-on-Sea shoulder-straps; what brings you down
to this part of the south coast?"
Mr. Graham explained.
"Then you haven't a--er--guardship, I think you call it, of your
own?"
"No; but we have an ex-naval boat," replied Mr. Graham. "My lads get
a good deal of fun and instruction out of her."
"Centre-board?" inquired Mr. Collinson, with the interest of a
typical yachtsman in nautical matters.
"No, unfortunately," admitted the Scoutmaster. "It limits us, of
course; but half a loaf's better than no bread. At least we've
something to go afloat in, and she isn't such a bad sort of craft."
"To-morrow," announced Mr. Collinson, "my wife and I are going on
board our yacht. We intend to use her as a house-boat until I'm fit
again. In this sheltered creek there will be no difficulty about
getting ashore, and my wife can manage the dinghy quite well. If you
wouldn't mind mooring the _Ocean Bride_ about a cable's-length astern
of you I'll be most grateful."
"Certainly," agreed Mr. Graham, "and if, while we are here, I or any
of my lads can be of service to you, don't hesitate to ask."
"How long do you propose staying here?" asked Mr. Collinson.
Mr. Graham looked up sharply. He fancied he saw a twinkle in the
questioner's eye.
"Until the end of August, I hope."
"Is there any reason why you should not alter your plans?" continued
the persistent inquisitor.
"'Man proposes-----'" quoted the Scoutmaster.
"Quite so," agreed Mr. Collinson. "I too have a proposal to make. As
I remarked before, my wife and I have been talking things over. We
feel that we are greatly in your debt for what you have done for us,
and we wish to make some sort of acknowledgment of our gratitude."
"But----" protested Mr. Graham.
"Let me have my say," persisted the other. "My proposition is this: I
have a nine-ton yawl, the _Spindrift_, lying at Bude, on the north
coast of Cornwall. I don't suppose I'll ever sail her again now I
have the _Ocean Bride_. I'm not particularly keen on selling her. If
I advertise her there are pages and pages of correspondence before
the deal's completed--and I hate writing business letters. So what do
you say to this? I will hand her over absolutely to the 9th Southend
Sea Scouts, but you must navigate her round either to the Solent or
else the East Coast, whichever you prefer."
"I'll be only too pleased to accept your kind offer," said Mr.
Graham.
"Good," rejoined Mr. Collinson. "I thought you would. Now then, let's
go into details."
CHAPTER V
A Gift worth Having
"Couldn't we have the boys in?" asked the Scoutmaster. "They'd like
to hear all about your gift to them."
"If you like," agreed Mr. Collinson. "As long as we stick to facts, I
don't mind; but don't make a song about what I've done. I hate having
to hear my praises sung and all that sort of thing. After all, it's
_quid pro quo_, or one good turn deserves another."
The Scoutmaster went into the charthouse and looked around. Desmond,
Bedford, and Hayes were paddling around in the dinghy, Findlay was
fitting up a fishing-line. Coles as "cook of the day" was in the
galley.
The Scoutmaster gave a shrill blast on his whistle. "All hands!" he
shouted from the head of the quarter-deck ladder.
The summons was smartly obeyed, and the five Sea Scouts fell in and
awaited orders.
"Mr. Collinson wishes to have a palaver with you," announced Mr.
Graham briefly. The lads filed into the saloon on the upper deck,
where Mr. Collinson was sitting In a comfortable arm-chair in front
of a large window that commanded an extensive view of the creek. His
injured arm was in a sling, but, apart from that, he looked in
perfect condition.
Mr. Collinson looked at Mr. Graham; Mr. Graham looked at Mr.
Collinson. For some moments there was absolute silence, each waiting
for the other to speak.
"Fire away!" prompted the patient.
"It's your show," retorted the Scoutmaster, then without a break he
addressed his lads: "Mr. Collinson has made the troop a present. He
will explain the nature of the gift."
Mr. Collinson cleared his throat. He realized that the Scoutmaster
was "one up". He had no option but to speak.
"It's only this," he began. "You're a jolly decent crowd of fellows.
I've had you under observation, don't you see, and you're really
smart at boat work. Your Scoutmaster tells me that you have only an
old ship's boat. You deserve something better. I am giving you a
yacht--no, not the _Ocean Bride_," he said hurriedly, as more than
one pair of eyes turned in the direction of the yacht lying
alongside. "The one I'm handing over to you is the _Spindrift_, which
is a little more than half the size of the _Ocean Bride_."
"Thanks awfully much, sir," replied the Sea Scouts in chorus; then in
their excitement they volleyed a string of questions: "Where is she,
sir? What is she like? When can we have her?"
"Steady!" protested Mr. Collinson smilingly. "One question at a time.
Do any of you fellows know what a Falmouth quay punt is like?"
Most of the Sea Scouts did not. The word "punt" conveyed the idea of
a small, flat-bottomed craft used for duck-shooting. That sounded
like "very small beer" compared with a yacht.
"I know, sir," replied Findlay. "A square-sterned boat, drawing about
six feet, with a dipping-lug mainsail and a standing lug mizzen. I've
read about them in one of the yachting papers."
"Good lad!" exclaimed the donor approvingly. "Well, the _Spindrift_
is something of that type, only she's a yacht. She is thirty-two feet
over all, with a beam of nine feet and a draught of five feet ten
inches. She is straight-stemmed and has a transom stern. She's an old
boat but quite sound, so you needn't be afraid of the keel dropping
off in a seaway. In fact, the whole of the keel bolts were renewed
eighteen months ago. What is a dipping-lug, Coles?"
The Tenderfoot knew. Although that type of sail is not common in the
Essex estuaries, he had seen Scottish fishing-boats at Yarmouth.
"A sail you have to lower a little and set it on the other side of
the mast whenever you go about, sir," he replied promptly.
"Which means a lot of hard work, especially in a stiff breeze," added
Mr. Collinson. "Well, that would be beyond you fellows, I fancy, but
you needn't let that trouble you. The _Spindrift_ is ketch-rigged
with gaff mainsail and mizzen. She's rather under-canvassed, which is
in her favour. The West Country boatmen used to tell me she'd 'starve
me before she drowned me', which is the same as saying she's slow
but very seaworthy. She has a cabin and a watertight cockpit, so if
you happen to be caught out there's little to fear, provided you know
how to manage her."
"Where is she, sir?" asked Hayes. "At Cowes?"
"A good deal farther away than Cowes," came the reply. "She's at
Bude, which is in Cornwall. You'll have to sail her round Land's
End."
"How topping, sir," exclaimed Desmond. "When can we go for her?"
"That, I take it, depends upon your Scoutmaster's arrangements," said
Mr. Collinson. "It is out of my province altogether. I'll write to
Brice and Sons--they're in charge of her--and tell them to launch
her and put her on moorings as soon as possible. Well, that's that. I
wish you jolly good luck with the _Spindrift_."
The Sea Scouts gave three cheers, then, almost falling over each
other and themselves in their excitement, they went on deck to
discuss their good fortune.
"I wonder why he gave the yacht to us?" asked Bedford.
"'Cause we did him a few good turns," replied the Tenderfoot.
"We didn't expect any reward, though," added Findlay, true to the
traditions of Scouting. "And no one can say we cadged from him."
"Like that troop of Sea Scouts we read about the other day," added
the Patrol Leader. "They got hold of a seaplane float somewhere, and
then advertised for someone to give them a motor to shove into it.
Give, mind you! It's like taking a button to a tailor and asking him
to make a suit to take it for nothing. But we're lucky. I wonder when
we start and how we're going to get there?"
"What I want to know," said Bedford, "is who's going to stay and look
after the guardship? We're responsible to the Wootton Bridge Sea
Scouts until they come home."
The others drew long faces at that. The proposition had not occurred
to them before.
"Bradley and some of the other chaps will be coming down," declared
Findlay. "Mr. Graham heard from them this morning."
Bradley was the Patrol Leader of the Otters, belonging to the same
troop as Desmond.
"Yes, in a fortnight's time," said Hayes gloomily. "We don't want to
wait till then."
"And they might want to come, too," added Findlay. "After all,
they've got a right to. The _Spindrift_ was given to the troop, and
not to Mr. Graham and us five only."
"Mr. Collinson said 'you lads'," remarked the Tenderfoot.
"Coles," said the Patrol Leader, "you hop it! The palaver ended ten
minutes ago. You're cook; it's nearly tea-time and we're hungry. Off
you go."
Much as the Tenderfoot wished to hear the end of the discussion, he
went without a murmur. He realized that the Patrol Leader had the
authority to send him back to duty, and Desmond's word was law when,
in the absence of the Scoutmaster, he was in charge of the patrol.
"We'll tell you everything at tea," called out Desmond after the
departing cook. "In fact," he added, addressing the others, "we ought
to wait till the kid's present. He's one of us, although he's only a
tenderfoot."
Mr. Graham was quite a long time before he put in an appearance. He
had been talking with Mr. Collinson, and it was not until the whistle
sounded for tea that he rejoined the rest of the patrol.
"When do we start, sir?" asked the lads.
"On Monday, all being well," was the reply. "But before we make final
arrangements there are many points to discuss. The first one is, how
do we get to Bude?"
"Trek there, sir," suggested Bedford. "It would cost an awful lot to
go by train."
"Too far," objected the Scoutmaster. "If we had plenty of time it
might be done. No, our best plan will be to walk to Cowes, take
steamer to Southampton, and then train as far as Exeter. That leaves
us fifty miles, mostly across Dartmoor. We might trek that distance
in two days, but we'll be carrying full pack, remember."
"And camp out on the way, sir?" asked Hayes. "That will be fine."
"Let's hope it will be fine," added Findlay jocularly. "And how long
will it take to sail the _Spindrift_ round, sir, do you think? Has
she a motor?"
"No, she hasn't, unfortunately," replied Mr. Graham, thinking of the
old days during the war when three years in an M.L. rather spoiled
him for long and possibly tedious trips under sail only. "So I can't
say how long it will take us. We may get a fair breeze round the land
and up-Channel; or we may get alternate calms and strong head winds.
That is a matter quite beyond our control. There's another point: a
couple of hands must stay here to give an eye to things. And it's up
to us to assist Mr. Collinson while he's practically helpless on
board his yacht."
"A couple of hands, sir?" asked Bedford.
"Yes, a couple," was the reply. "One will be company for the other
until Bradley, Johns, and Dexter turn up."
Mr. Graham was on the point of asking who would volunteer and remain,
but on consideration he decided that it was asking rather too much of
the keen youngsters.
"Desmond goes in any case," he continued. "He will be in charge when
I'm off duty, if we have to make a long passage. That leaves four of
you to pick from. I think the fairest way would be to take two for
half the trip, say from Bude to Plymouth, and the other two, when
relieved, can come to Plymouth by train and carry on from there.
We'll draw for it."
Producing three matches, Mr. Graham cut one in half and held the two
long and two short pieces between his finger and thumb, so that the
visible ends were perfectly level.
"Now, Coles, take one."
The Tenderfoot drew a short stick. So did Bedford. "That settles it,"
announced the Scoutmaster. "Findlay and Hayes take on from Bude to
Plymouth; the others from Plymouth to Wootton."
CHAPTER VI
Visiting Sea Scouts
By the first post on Saturday morning came a letter from the yacht
chandlers at Bude, stating that the _Spindrift_ would be launched
forthwith and handed over whenever her new owners came for her.
The rest of that morning was a busy one. Not only had the usual
routine of "clearing up and squaring off" to be carried out, but
preparations had to be made for the commencement of the journey to
Bude on the following Monday. In addition, Mr. Collinson had arranged
to shift his quarters from the guardship to the _Ocean Bride_, and
the yacht had to be moored securely astern.
It was quite a difficult operation to place the yacht on her new
berth and keep her there. Owing to the narrowness of the channel at
low water, and to the fact that a clear passage had to be left for
other craft, the _Ocean Bride_ had to be moored fore and aft close to
the mud on the starboard hand of the creek. If she were allowed to
swing she would obstruct the fairway, while to moor her fore and aft
required tackle of sufficient strength to withstand the hardest wind
likely to be encountered full on her beam.
Just below high-water mark the Sea Scouts drove in two sets of stout
piles, each three in number, with one placed about four feet in the
wake of the other two. Each set was ninety feet from the other. These
comprised the shore moorings.
The yacht was then dropped astern of the guardship, her main anchor
having been previously laid out in the stiff mud on the port side of
the channel. To the mooring on the starboard side, corresponding with
the anchor, a four-inch warp was run out from the yacht's bows, the
end of the rope being wound round the three piles and "racked back",
so that each of the piles bore approximately an equal strain.
As the tide was now ebbing the yacht rode to both the chain cable and
the warp.
"Now, lads!" exclaimed the Scoutmaster. "That's done the trick as far
as the ebb affects the yacht. All that remains is to make provision
for the flood-tide, otherwise she'll swing, which is what she mustn't
do." At Mr. Graham's direction a spare length of chain, about fifteen
fathoms in length, was shackled to the kedge and the latter "run out"
on the yacht's port quarter; while a three-inch warp led from the
starboard quarter to the second group of piles. Stationing one Sea
Scout at each of the chains and warps, the Scoutmaster gave the
necessary directions until the yacht was moved into the desired
position close to the edge of the channel.
"Now she cannot possibly shift more than two or three feet," he
announced. "No matter the direction of the wind or tide, she'll be
held securely. That's what is meant by mooring fore and aft. Now, can
any of you fellows tell me if this particular job is finished off
properly?"
Desmond and Findlay thought that it was and said so. Bedford, Hayes,
and Coles thought so too, but made no audible comment.
"Look at those two chains," continued Mr. Graham. "They are
stretching across the fairway. True, they sag under their own weight,
but if the wind comes in at all hard from the east'ard they'll show
above the surface. Even now I doubt whether they are more than three
of four feet down. A vessel coming up to Wootton Bridge would be
almost certain to foul them."
"Then we'll have to give her a bit more chain, sir," suggested
Findlay.
"Which means that she'll drift closer to the bank," added Mr. Graham.
"At high tide she'll touch the mud, then when the tide falls she'll
heel over almost on her beam ends. I'm sure Mr. and Mrs. Collinson
wouldn't appreciate that."
"Can't we weight the chains with something, sir?" asked Ted Coles.
"That's the game," agreed the Scoutmaster. "We'll have to get a
couple of pigs of ballast and lash them to the bight of each chain.
Ask Mr. Collinson if he has any short lengths of wire rope on board,
Desmond; if not, we'll have to use rope, although it's not so
suitable as wire."
"There's some on the for'ard port locker in the fo'c'sle," said Mr.
Collinson, who had been sitting in the cockpit and watching the Sea
Scouts' activities with marked approval.
The Patrol Leader went below and returned with three short lengths of
flexible wire.
"Now for the pigs of ballast," exclaimed Jock Findlay.
"Be careful," cautioned Mr. Graham. "They weigh about a
hundredweight, and we've got to take them in the dinghy. Two hands
will be enough."
The dinghy was brought alongside. Across her gunwale, and partly
supported by the transom, was placed a one-inch board, over which was
folded a piece of canvas to protect the varnish work from rust and
mud.
"Get in for'ard, Hayes," ordered the Scoutmaster. "Jock, you get in
aft and follow my directions carefully. There's no need for haste,
and remember if you bungle you'll probably swamp the boat."
Meanwhile, Desmond and Bedford had hoisted one pig of ballast on to
the yacht's deck by means of a double sling. The next operation was
to transfer the heavy lump of iron from the yacht to the board in the
stern of the dinghy. This was accomplished by means of the starboard
runners.
"Now work along the chain, Findlay," continued Mr. Graham. "At that,"
he added, when about ten feet of chain rested on the board by the
side of the pig of ballast.
Jock's next task was to lash the ballast to the chain, which he did
by reeving the wire through a hole at each end of the pig and taking
it round the chain, repeating the operation at least half a dozen
times and finishing off with a reef-knot.
"Give way, Pat," ordered the Scoutmaster.
Hayes plied his oars vigorously. The dinghy gathered way. Slowly the
chain tautened, and then the pig of ballast began to slide over the
board, until, assisted by a vigorous push by Findlay, the mass of
iron disappeared beneath the surface.
The chain, instead of taking a gentle curve, now dipped steeply, the
additional weight causing the bight to lie upon the bottom of the
channel.
"Now, that cable is not in anyone's way," explained the Scoutmaster.
"Spell-ho for all hands for five minutes! You've earned it."
The short interval for rest was quickly over. Then the chain on the
yacht's port quarter had to be treated in a similar manner.
This time the Sea Scouts carried out the work without any directions
from their Scoutmaster, the Patrol Leader superintending the
operation. Mr. Graham was keen on encouraging initiative in his lads,
and on this occasion, as on many others, he had no cause to find
fault. Everything had gone without a hitch, except, as Findlay
remarked, the hitches on the cable. This done, the Sea Scouts
returned to the guardship for dinner.
"Look, sir!" exclaimed Hayes, pointing with a rust-stained finger in
the direction of the entrance to the creek. "There's a motor-boat
coming right up. We've only just finished in time."
"Yes," agreed Mr. Graham. "She's a fairly big craft, too. She'll test
our work for us."
Desmond had picked up a telescope, and was examining the on-coming
vessel.
"Why, sir!" he announced. "She's a Sea Scout boat. At least she's
manned by Sea Scouts. I wonder what she's doing here?"
"The creek's free to anybody," rejoined Findlay. "We're not the only
Sea Scouts. I expect they'll land at the Bridge."
Meanwhile Mr. Graham had been making good use of his binoculars.
"I've seen that craft before," he remarked. "Only she was painted
grey. I may be mistaken, but I don't think so."
He returned the glasses to their case and picked up his peaked cap.
"Fall in on the quarter-deck, lads," he ordered. "Smartly, now; stand
by to give them a full salute when they pass."
The Sea Scouts took up their position as directed, standing easy
until the Scoutmaster gave the order: "Alert!"
"She's slowing down, sir," said Findlay.
"'Cause they don't want to swamp the dinghy with their wash,"
explained Desmond. "They've passed over the _Ocean Bride's_ chains
all right."
On board the on-coming craft a Scoutmaster and three Sea Scouts were
visible on deck. They were showing no signs of coming to attention.
One of the crew was handling a warp up for'ard, while another was
coiling up a rope on the aft-deck. It was not until a third hung out
a couple of fenders, and stood by with a boat-hook, that the crew of
the guardship realized that the motor-boat was coming alongside.
"Dismiss!" ordered Mr. Graham. "Stand by to take their warps."
With her motor running free with the clutch out, the boat lost way,
coming alongside so gently that only the faintest "touch astern" was
necessary.
The two Scoutmasters saluted.
"Come aboard!" exclaimed Mr. Graham. "I've met you before, I think.
My name's Graham."
"And mine is Armitage," rejoined the other. "Is Mr. Tweedie aboard?"
"Sorry, he's not," replied Mr. Graham. "He's over in France with his
troop."
Scoutmaster Armitage had been glancing at the shoulder-straps of the
temporary crew of the guardship.
"Southend-on-Sea," he remarked. "We hardly expected to find East
Coast Sea Scouts down this part of the world."
Mr. Graham explained.
"Bring your crew aboard, too," he added. "They might like to have a
look round."
"That is precisely what we came for," said Mr. Armitage with a laugh.
"We'd heard about the Wootton Bridge Sea Scouts' guardship, and we
made up our minds to have a run across to inspect her. Our craft is
the _Olivette_, and we hail from Milford-on-Sea. You say you met me
before, eh? I'm afraid I cannot recollect the circumstances."
"You were very, very tired," explained Mr. Graham. "It was at
Brightlingsea two years ago last May. One of your lads, Woodby----"
"Woodleigh," corrected Mr. Armitage.
"Yes, Woodleigh. I remember he brought the _Olivette_ into
Brightlingsea in a hard blow. You'd had rather a rough time in the
Thames estuary. I happened to be at Brightlingsea at the time."
"Of course, I remember now," replied Mr. Armitage. "Two years ago!
How time flies! Yes, I still have Woodleigh. He's a Patrol Leader
now. Did you recollect Stratton? He's at sea, doing well."
Meanwhile the crews of the two vessels were fraternizing, and both
craft were visited and inspected.
"She's a lump of a boat," declared Patrol Leader Woodleigh to his
opposite number, Desmond. "It's a pity you can't go to sea in her.
You miss a lot. We've been across to France, and as far west as
Penzance. On Monday we're off to Plymouth."
"Yes," admitted Desmond. "I agree. A stationary guardship isn't like
a sea-going boat, but still there's lots of fun to be got out of her.
She's only lent us, as you know; but we're in luck. You see that
yacht just astern of us? Her owner has given us a yacht almost as
large as she."
"Good business!" exclaimed Woodleigh approvingly. "Motor?"
"No, sail."
"H'm, s'pose it's all right," rejoined the confirmed marine engine
expert. "Pity she hasn't an engine, though. It saves an awful lot of
fag if there's no wind. Where is she?"
"At Bude."
"Where's that?"
"North coast of Cornwall. We--that is, Mr. Graham, Findlay, Hayes,
and myself--are going by train to Exeter and hiking it across
Dartmoor to Bude. It'll be rather good sport, eh?"
"Rather," agreed Woodleigh. "I don't know about the hiking part,
though. Never was very keen on tramping--much prefer being afloat.
We're going down to Plymouth to tow back a dinghy for a friend of Mr.
Armitage."
"Wouldn't it be cheaper to send a small boat like that by rail?"
asked Desmond.
"I don't know about that," answered Woodleigh. "You see, we have as
much paraffin given us as we want. It's a paraffin engine, you know;
and when Mr. Murgatroyd--he's the gentleman who made us a present of
the Olivette--handed over the boat, he arranged for us to have
paraffin free, so we've only to buy petrol for starting up and oil
for lubricating. And fetching that dinghy means going somewhere with
a definite object. We'd be cruising in any case, so now we are going
to do a good turn. Have you ever been down the West Coast?"
Desmond shook his head.
"Only on the East Coast--Southend and Harwich way."
"Don't think much of that part," said Woodleigh. "Too jolly flat. But
perhaps it wasn't up to sample when we were there in the _Olivette_.
You should see Devon and Cornwall--the coast especially. Why, I think
there's nothing to touch them anywhere in England for scenery and
good harbours. Look here, I've got a scheme. Couldn't you all come
down to Plymouth with us? That would save you a long railway journey,
and you needn't have so far to tramp. What do you say?"
"Of course I'd like it," replied Desmond, "but----"
"I'll ask our Scoutmaster," interrupted Woodleigh. "He'll be only too
pleased. Hello, Flemming, old son, I was just saying that these
fellows ought to go down-Channel with us. I'm just off to ask Mr.
Armitage."
"Save yourself the fag, my festive," rejoined Eric Flemming,
Woodleigh's special chum. "Mr. Armitage has asked Mr. Graham already.
You fellows have just an hour and a half to get ready," he added,
addressing the Patrol Leader of the Southend Sea Scouts. "You're
coming back to Keyhaven with us, and we're putting you up on board."
CHAPTER VII
The Start of the Great Adventure
The crews of both boats assembled in the saloon of the guardship for
dinner. It was a convivial meal. The lads let their tongues go with a
will when they weren't eating. The two Scoutmasters were discussing
scouting and talking over old times--both had been in command of
M.L.'s during the war, but had been in widely different patrols--as
if they had known each other intimately for years.
The meal too was done to perfection. Hayes, the culinary expert of
the Southend Sea Scouts, had lived up to his reputation. The huge
sea-pie was pronounced excellent, while a plum-duff of immense size
was so light and appetizing that it disappeared altogether. And no
one felt any ill-effects after it, which was probably one of the best
tests of its good quality.
After dinner the two Scoutmasters went on board the _Ocean Bride_ to
acquaint Mr. Collinson with the alteration of plans, and to ask him
to send for Bedford or Coles whenever they might be of use.
At two o'clock the _Olivette's_ crew went on board their own craft in
order to start up the powerful engine. While this operation was in
progress Mr. Graham, Desmond, Findlay, and Hayes transferred their
travelling kit to the motor-boat, after the former had given final
instructions to the two caretakers of the guardship.
"If I were you, Graham," said Mr. Armitage, "I'd put your three
fellows into different watches during the trip. It would give them a
good chance to pick up landmarks when you bring the _Spindrift_ back.
My lads can put them up to a wheeze or two. As far as we are
concerned, we now work the craft in three watches instead of two,
when making long passages. I find it better for the lads in every
way--four hours on and eight off."
"Right-o!" agreed Mr. Graham. "It's quite a sound scheme."
"No need for that arrangement to-day, though," commented Mr.
Armitage. "It's only about an hour's run from here to Keyhaven,
especially as we carry our tide. On Monday we'll put one of your lads
into each watch. It will take us roughly about twelve hours to reach
Plymouth without running the engine all out. It's only a matter of
one hundred and twenty-one miles. --All ready, Flemming? Very well,
carry on. --I believe in letting my lads act as if I weren't on
board," he explained. "It gives them confidence and self-reliance."
"Let go aft!" shouted Flemming from the wheelhouse.
Promptly Bedford on the guardship cast off the _Olivette's_ after
warp. With the flood-tide boring against her starboard quarter, the
_Olivette_ swung quickly until her bows pointed almost down the
creek. "Let go for'ard!" ordered Flemming. "Touch ahead."
Putting the helm down the young navigator threw the motor-boat's
stern clear of the guardship. "Easy ahead!"
With cheerful adieux to the somewhat glum Bedford and Coles, the Sea
Scouts saw the last of the guardship for a good many days. They
expected to be back in ten days, but they had yet to learn the
futility of fixing a time limit as far as a sailing craft is
concerned. Even in the case of a powered-boat there was a fair
element of chance to be taken into account when making a coasting
trip.
The run down the Solent was only too short: at least the Southend Sea
Scouts were of that opinion. With the regular crew of the _Olivette_
it was a different matter. These waters were no stranger to them,
and, although they revelled in being afloat, they were a bit tired of
the enclosed channel between the Isle of Wight and the Hampshire
shore. Having acquired the taste for exploration, they were never so
happy as when navigating unfamiliar waters.
Nevertheless they were very attentive to their guests, pointing out
the various objects of interest and answering scores of questions
concerning the _Olivette_ and her adventures.
For Desmond and his chums there was no lack of excitement. They had a
distant view of Osborne House, they saw Cowes, with a crowd of yachts
anchored, and the strong tideway known as the Roads; Beaulieu and
Newton Rivers were pointed out to them--places where the _Olivette's_
crew had had strange experiences. They passed submarines, destroyers,
and light cruisers; a giant liner bound from Southampton to New York
overtook them, her wash throwing the _Olivette_ about like a cork.
Seaplanes and flying-boats from the R.A.F. station at Calshot glided
overhead. Altogether, it was a brief and exciting hour.
"Game for an early morning to-morrow, Graham?" asked Scoutmaster
Armitage abruptly.
"Certainly," was the reply. "What's the scheme?"
"The glass is high and steady," said Mr. Armitage. "It seems a pity
to miss the fine weather. What do you say to making a start at 4
a.m.? Barring accidents we ought to be at Plymouth by four or five in
the afternoon. That will mean a clear gain of twenty-four hours as
far as you are concerned."
"Isn't it upsetting your arrangements?" asked Mr. Graham.
"Not at all. We'll go into Keyhaven on the top of the first high
water. That will give us a good two hours alongside the wharf to take
in petrol and paraffin. At the second high water we can drop down to
our mooring for the night, and start with the first of the west-going
tide to-morrow morning."
"These double tides puzzle me," declared the East Coast Scoutmaster
frankly. "When a fellow has been used to two high tides a day, it
rather muddles him up when he's suddenly got four to deal with."
"Quite simple, really," was the response. "Here--from Hurst to
Wootton the second high tide is roughly two hours after the first,
Southampton Water has double tide of about the same interval. Now, at
Portsmouth there are only two high waters in the day; but the flood
makes for seven and a half hours and the ebb is only five and a half
hours. Again, at Poole there are double high tides, and roughly the
first high water occurs four hours after low tide, and the second
high water four hours after the first. It's interesting work studying
the tides. My lads are awfully keen on it. Only the other day I was
reading a magazine story to them. It described a person embarking on
a yacht at Plymouth. The moon was at the full, it was high water, and
the time twelve o'clock. Young Woodleigh pulled me up short. 'That
can't possibly be, sir', he asserted. I didn't twig it at the time,
but the boy was right. High water, full and change, anywhere between
the Lizard and Portland Bill, occurs between five o'clock and
six-thirty; eastward of Portland it is between ten and twelve
o'clock, right round as far as Margate. So high water at Plymouth at
the time stated and with the moon at the full is a physical
impossibility. Now, we're nearly off the entrance to Keyhaven. It's a
fairly tricky channel, but my lads know it. I don't have to bother
about anything. To all intents I'm a passenger."
The Southend Sea Scouts were watching the manoeuvres of Woodleigh
with ill-concealed wonder. The _Olivette_ was apparently heading for
a steep, pebbly beach. On the left part of the beach was a port with
a detached lighthouse, which they were told was Hurst Castle, one of
the places where King Charles I was imprisoned. Almost in the centre
of the shore were several coast-guard houses, direct for which the
boat appeared to be steering. South'ard of the point the sea, calm
everywhere else, was a wide patch of seething water, which Flemming
pointed out as Hurst Race.
Suddenly Woodleigh put the helm hard a-port. Round swung the
_Olivette_ until her head pointed towards two small beacons in line.
"Wherever is he making for?" whispered Jock. "There's nothing but mud
as far as I can make out."
But a little later on the helm was starboarded, and the Southend Sea
Scouts saw the entrance to the creek on their port hand--one of the
snuggest little anchorages imaginable, being sheltered by the long
stretch of shingle on which Hurst Fort is built.
"There are our moorings," said Woodleigh, indicating a roped barrel
bearing the word "_Olivette_".
"Aren't you going to slow down and pick it up?" inquired Hayes.
"No," was the reply. "Our Scoutmaster's orders are to carry on
alongside the wharf. I don't know why, but that's neither here nor
there. He generally lets us carry on, but when he does give an order
we've jolly well got to obey."
Without mishap the _Olivette_ was berthed alongside the dilapidated
wharf. Then Scoutmaster Armitage told his crew to form up, as he
wanted to tell them something.
"I suppose the motor is quite satisfactory, Flemming?" he inquired,
for one of the reasons for the _Olivette's_ run to Wootton was to
test the engine after an extensive overhaul.
"Yes, sir."
"That's good. Now, I want you and Woodleigh to fill up the tanks as
soon as possible. Warkworth and Hepburn, you'll undertake the
provisioning as usual. Make preparations for victualling twelve
persons for two days. Rayburn and Willis, get your bikes out of the
store and ride round and tell the various parents that we're sailing
at daybreak to-morrow, and that the crew are sleeping on board
to-night. That's the new arrangement. All right: dismiss."
"Can't we lend a hand with anything, sir?" asked Desmond.
"Oh, yes," replied Mr. Armitage. "Woodleigh and Flemming will be only
too glad if you'll help with the fuel."
The two Scoutmasters went ashore, Mr. Armitage having promised to
lend Mr. Graham a set of charts of the Cornish and Devon coasts, and
these, not being in general use, he kept at his house at Milford,
about a mile and a half from Keyhaven.
"Come along, you fellows," said Flemming with a cheerful grin.
"There's nothing like handling barrels of paraffin on a holiday to
keep you fit and healthy."
It certainly was hard work rolling two heavy and decidedly sticky
barrels from the store to the wharf, and when at length that part of
the task was completed there yet remained the filling up of the
tanks.
"I say," exclaimed Patrol Leader Desmond. "You are not going to take
that paraffin on board in buckets, are you?"
"There's no other way," declared Flemming. "We waste a little, I
admit, and it's a dirty job, but there you are."
"Do you happen to have a hose on board?" asked Desmond. "Not one you
use for water."
"There's one in the store," said Woodleigh. "It used to be for
watering the doctor's garden and washing down his car; but he bought
a new one and gave the old one to us. I can't see that it will be
much use, though. We haven't a tap for the barrel, and the bung's
much too large."
"And besides," added Flemming, in support of his chum, "the deck is
higher than the barrel, and paraffin won't run up-hill."
"This paraffin will, I think," rejoined Desmond quietly. "Let's get
the hose and try."
The hose was quickly forthcoming. It was about sixty feet in
length--much longer than Desmond required.
"Cut it," suggested Flemming. "It's only an old one."
Desmond shook his head.
"It would be a pity to do that," he said. "You might want it some
day. No; I think I can manage. Hold up that end, Jock."
Findlay did so. Desmond held up the other end, so that both ends were
an equal height from the ground on which the remainder of the hose
was resting.
Woodleigh was then directed to pour paraffin into the pipe until it
was quite full. Both ends were then nipped tightly so that none of
the oil could escape. Then Jock thrust the end he was holding into
the _Olivette's_ fuel tank, while Desmond, quickly releasing the
pressure, jammed the other end of the hose into the barrel.
Save for a faint quivering of the pipe there were no signs of
anything happening. Woodleigh looked inquiringly at the demonstrator.
"It's running all right," declared Desmond confidently. "You just
look at the gauge."
"Well I'm blessed!" exclaimed Woodleigh. "You're right. It does save
a lot of time, and there's no waste to speak of."
"We showed some fellows how to do it when we were at Canvey," said
Desmond. "The next time they tried it was high tide--a very high
tide--and the motor-boat's tank instead of being filled was emptied
of the little already there. Why? Because the tank was at a higher
level than the barrel, and the paraffin was siphoned in exactly the
opposite direction to which the crew wanted it to go-- Look out, the
tank's full!"
It had taken exactly ten minutes. The operation of filling up buckets
and pouring the oil through a funnel usually occupied the best part
of an hour; but when the "ration party" returned, hot and heavily
laden, they found the "paraffin merchants" having a long spell of
"stand easy".
"Lazy blighters!" exclaimed Rayburn. "You've been slacking. You'd
better hurry up before Mr. Armitage gets back."
"We're not going to do another stroke until he returns," declared
Woodleigh composedly. "We're going to spin yarns. If you want to be
particularly energetic you can fetch a barrel of paraffin from the
store."
Rayburn didn't think he would--and said so. Instead--he began to stow
the provisions on board, wondering why his usually energetic Patrol
Leader was "hanging on to the slack", and what excuse he would make
when the Scoutmaster returned.
When at length the two Scoutmasters arrived, Rayburn was considerably
surprised to hear Woodleigh report: "All correct, sir", and Mr.
Armitage was interested to hear how the operation of filling up the
tank was performed.
"It's never too late to learn," he remarked; "especially as far as
boats are concerned."
CHAPTER VIII
Disturbing Influences
"Now, you fellows, avast yarning," cautioned Scoutmaster Armitage.
"You'll all be as limp as rags when it comes to turning out
to-morrow."
The buzz of voices from the crowded fo'c'sle ceased. Ten boys,
packed, like sardines in a triangular compartment twenty feet by ten,
had had considerable difficulty in turning in. Each of the iron cots
on either side had its blanketed occupant; two Sea Scouts were lying
on the floor. It was "sleeping rough" with a vengeance; but, as these
conditions were "for this night only", the youngsters made the best
of things and rather enjoyed the situation.
"I hope your cot-lashing's strong enough," said Desmond drowsily,
addressing Woodleigh, whose hefty person was barely a couple of feet
above the speaker. "If that carries away you'll flatten me out, old
son."
"It's all right," rejoined Woodleigh with a yawn. "Night-night, old
thing."
In less than a minute Woodleigh was asleep, his example being quickly
followed by the rest of the _Olivette's_ crew. But not so the three
supernumeraries. In strange surroundings they could not help keeping
awake.
"What's that noise, Desmond?" whispered Hayes. "It sounds like water
pouring in. Is she leaking, do you think?"
"No," replied the Patrol Leader. "It's the tide rippling past the
boat's side."
Five minutes later Hayes declared that there was another weird noise.
"Mooring chain rubbing against the boat's forefoot," explained
Desmond. "For goodness' sake don't keep on chattering. I want to get
to sleep."
"It's not that I mean," persisted the lad. "There's a sort of gnawing
sound. Can't you hear it?"
"Rats!" ejaculated the Patrol Leader.
Hayes kept silent for a considerable time. He was not altogether sure
about the sense in which Desmond had used the word "Rats". He might
have meant it as a deprecatory ejaculation. He hoped that he had,
because he was afraid of rodents. It was a fear that he had never yet
been able to conquer, although in other respects he was a plucky
little youngster.
The gnawing sound began again. Hayes, who was sleeping, or rather
lying on the floor on top of a number of blankets, realized the
possibility of the rat gnawing a hole through the panelling of the
fo'c'sle. In that case he being on the floor would be the one to be
favoured with the brute's attention.
Doubling his fist Hayes tried to thump the floor in the hope of
scaring the rat. Unfortunately he forgot that the _Olivette's_
tenderfoot, little Willis, was occupying a made-up bed close to him.
So instead of smiting the board Hayes dealt his opposite number a
hefty whack in the ribs.
"What's that for?" demanded the astonished Willis, only half awake in
spite of the blow.
"Rats," whispered Hayes hoarsely.
"Silly owl!" retorted Willis. "If you are trying to be funny----"
"I'm not," interposed the other seriously. "There are rats on board.
Sorry, I didn't mean to biff you. I was trying to scare them away.
Listen."
Both lads listened. Beyond the occasional rasp of the mooring-chain
and the steady ripple of the wavelets there was silence.
"You've scared it," said Willis at length. "We get a rat on board
occasionally--when we are lying alongside a quay. It's nothing to
make a song about. You'll soon get used to it. It's in the bilges if
it's anywhere. No chance of getting in here. 'Sides, the poor
blighter would be scared stiff."
The last sentence trailed off almost into an incoherent whisper.
Willis was asleep again.
Hayes lay awake listening for quite another half-hour; then, dimly
conscious once or twice that the intermittent gnawing was going on,
he too fell into a deep sleep.
Suddenly the silence of the confined space was rent by a frenzied
yell, followed by a heavy double crash. In an instant every Sea Scout
was awake, and a scene of utter confusion followed as the lads barged
into each other and tripped over the writhing bodies of their
comrades on the floor.
Roused by the uproar the two Scoutmasters hastened from the
after-cabin, Mr. Armitage going through the engine-room and by the
sliding door leading to the fo'c'sle, while Mr. Graham gained the
deck, went for'ard, and reached the hatchway to the Sea Scouts'
sleeping quarters.
Simultaneously both Scoutmasters flashed their electric torches upon
the scene.
"Pull yourselves together, lads!" exclaimed Mr. Armitage firmly,
although he was quite at a loss to account for the chaotic state of
the fo'c'sle. "Patrol, alert!"
The order had the desired effect. The Scouts' equivalent to the
military "'Shun" was obeyed with an alacrity that would have earned
the approbation of the strictest regimental sergeant-major. Promptly
the lads "sorted themselves out" and stood still, blinking solemnly
at the dazzling cross-rays of the two Scoutmasters' torches.
"Tell me what you know of this business, Woodleigh," continued Mr.
Armitage, addressing the Patrol Leader.
"I hardly know anything, sir," replied Woodleigh, conscious of a
steadily rising bump on his forehead and a pair of barked elbows.
"Something disturbed me. I sat up and barged my head on the
deck-beam. Then my hammock gave way and I cannoned off Desmond on top
of somebody else."
"It was my fault, sir," declared Desmond. "Some of us were talking
about rats before I went to sleep, and I must have dreamt that a rat
was nibbling my toe. I remember sitting up and shouting out and
bumping the under side of Woodleigh's cot with my head. Then
Woodleigh's cot-lashings carried away, and he rolled out on top of
me."
"I should hardly have expected to find that you were subject to silly
nightmares, Desmond," observed Mr. Graham, who was beginning to
shiver in the night air as he hung over the open fore-hatch.
"I don't think it was a nightmare, sir," protested Desmond. "A rat
bit me."
In support of this assertion he held up a bare foot. There was blood
oozing from a double puncture on the big toe.
Mr. Armitage examined the injury.
"You've knocked your toe against something, my boy," he said. "A nail
perhaps. Wash your foot in lysol and fresh water and put some lint to
it."
He glanced at his wristlet watch. It was half-past three.
"I don't suppose you fellows will get to sleep again," he remarked
briskly; "so get dressed and have something to eat. We'll make a
start and get under way as soon as possible. Come on, Graham, it's a
bit draughty up there, and you look shivery. Let's get dressed."
The two Scoutmasters returned to the after-cabin.
"That lad Desmond wasn't dreaming, Graham," remarked Mr. Armitage
quietly. "I didn't want to alarm him, but it was a bite right enough.
We'll have to smoke that rat out as soon as it gets light enough."
Desmond's assertion was not lacking in supporting evidence. A few
days previously Flemming had invested in a pair of shoes, and, having
walked a good distance in them, had galled one of his heels. To
relieve the sting and to soften the tough leather Flemming had rubbed
Russian tallow on the heel of his stocking.
Tallow being a delicacy to which rats are particularly addicted, it
was not so very surprising to learn that the rodent, who had taken up
his temporary abode on board the _Olivette_, had been attracted by
Flemming's sock. Not only had the tallow disappeared but four square
inches of wool had gone the same way.
Then Hayes discovered a gnawed hole in his haversack, and Woodleigh
noted with considerable misgivings that one of his shoes looked a bit
ragged. Mr. Rat had been quite impartial in his attentions, and had
he not nibbled Desmond's toe he might have taken toll from every Sea
Scout on board.
While breakfast was being prepared Findlay engaged upon a tracking
stunt in the fo'c'sle. It did not take him long to find the rat's
mode of entering. There was a hole through the side of one of the
lockers, the ragged edges bearing testimony to the sharpness of the
animal's teeth. From the for'ard partition of the locker another hole
communicated with the chain-locker. Here the trail ended. It was
impossible for the rat to have got into the chain-locker through the
narrow metal-bound aperture that allowed the "ranged" cable to run
out. The only explanation of the rat's method of getting into the
locker was that at some recent time the lid must have been left open.
The next step was to find out the rodent's hiding-place. There was no
other hole between the fo'c'sle and the engine-room. All the lockers
were examined. The floor fitted too well to allow the animal to find
a refuge in the bilges.
"I don't think we need try smoking the rat out," decided Mr.
Armitage. "The only feasible conclusion we can come to is that the
brute made its escape through the open scuttle. In all probability
the rat has rejoined his brothers and sisters in a hole under the
piles of the quay, and is regaling them with a story of wondrous
adventures with the Sea Scouts of the _Olivette_."
CHAPTER IX
Adrift in West Bay
At the first streak of dawn the _Olivette_ slipped her moorings and
made for the open sea. It was an ideal daybreak. Not a ripple
disturbed the slate-grey surface of the water, save the even wake
caused by the steadily moving boat. The sky was grey; the dawn was
grey. Even the verdant hills of the Isle of Wight looked grey where
they were faintly visible through the light mist.
"It's going to be a scorching hot day," declared Woodleigh.
"Fine weather," added Flemming. "The glass is high and steady."
"I hope it will be rough," said Hayes.
"You'll be sorry for yourself if it is," said Woodleigh. "Take my tip
and be thankful it is fine. Rough weather is all very fine if you've
a sound boat and a sheltered harbour close under your lee. The fellow
who puts to sea because it looks like being rough is simply asking
for trouble. If you're obliged to that's a different matter."
"But isn't the _Olivette_ a sound boat? And has she ever been out in
a storm?" asked Hayes.
"Of course she's a sound boat," declared the Patrol Leader stoutly.
"Yes, we've been out in a storm. The starboard window of the
wheelhouse--thick plate-glass--was stove in by a wave. We got into
port with about a foot of water over the engine-room floor. Yes, I've
had some and I'm not asking for any more, thank you."
By this time the _Olivette_ had ported helm and was passing through
Hurst Race. Although there was no wind the rush of the west-going
tide was very much in evidence. Irregular, crested waves were rearing
their heads menacingly within a well-defined area. Everywhere else
the sea was as smooth as a mill-pond. "North Channel, Woodleigh?"
asked Rayburn, who was at the wheel.
"No, Needles Channel," was the reply. "It will give the others a
chance of seeing the western end of The Wight. Close that window, old
son, or we'll be getting wet shirts."
"What causes the Race?" asked Jock Findlay.
"Strong tide over uneven ground," explained Woodleigh. "Just here is
a deep hole, nearly two hundred feet. It's the greatest depth between
the Isle of Wight and the mainland, although this is the shortest
distance between. The tide has to tumble through the neck of a
bottle, as it were, and in the process it gets a bit angry."
Totland Bay was soon abeam, then the Southend Sea Scouts feasted
their eyes upon the multi-coloured cliffs of Alum Bay, until their
attention was attracted by the Needles and the outlying lighthouse,
backed by the towering cliffs of glistening chalk that form the
western extremity of the Isle of Wight.
Clear of the Bridge a course was shaped to pass four miles south of
Portland Bill. This meant being a considerable distance from the
picturesque Dorset coast between Old Harry and The Bill; but, as Mr.
Armitage remarked, time was an object, and, if the _Olivette_ were to
make Plymouth the same day, she could not afford to skirt the
coastline simply with the idea of giving the guests an opportunity to
enjoy the scenery.
Still carrying her tide the _Olivette_ made good progress. Early in
the forenoon a light easterly breeze sprang up, but since the speed
of the boat was about equal to that of the wind there was no
tempering coolness to be derived from it. The only apparent result
was to throw up a long, low swell that made the _Olivette_ roll
considerably.
"There's Portland Race, lads," announced Mr. Armitage, pointing to a
dark-coloured patch of water on the starboard beam and to the
south'ard of the wedge-shaped Bill. "It's one of the worst parts off
the South Coast."
"Have you ever been through it, sir?" asked Hayes.
"No; and I don't want to, thank you," was the reply. "I've been
inside it, which is quite a different matter. When you fellows bring
the _Spindrift_ up-Channel I'd advise you to keep outside it. Inside
is all right if you work your tides, but in this district of
topsy-turvydom in the matter of tides there's an important thing to
remember about Portland Bill. For nine hours out of twelve the
current sets south'ard on both sides of the Bill, so that, if you
were in a sailing craft and were unable to stem the tide, you would
be swept into the Race itself."
"And what would happen, sir, if a boat did get carried into it?"
persisted Hayes.
"Swamped," replied the Scoutmaster laconically.
"So don't try it, Hayes," added Mr. Graham.
"I believe I can hear the Race," declared Findlay.
"Yes," agreed Woodleigh, "you can. We've heard it miles away on a
calm night. It's not a pleasant sound."
Half an hour later the _Olivette_ entered West Bay. This expanse of
water was living up to its reputation as a bay of calms--except when
it is rough. Like the little girl with the curl in the middle of her
forehead:
"When it is good
It is very, very good;
But when it is bad
It is horrid."
The breeze had died away, and the water was an almost boundless
expanse of gentle rollers. The Bill was almost lost in the haze, the
high ground behind Lyme Regis and Bridport was entirely hidden in the
warm, misty atmosphere. A large yawl bound west was lying becalmed,
her white sails shaking from the yards as she wallowed in the swell.
Her crew were lying unconcernedly on the deck and hardly noticed the
_Olivette_; but her owner, seated in a deck-chair aft, raised his
glasses and kept the Sea Scouts under observation.
"Bet he's a bit sick that he hasn't a motor," remarked Hayes.
"Don't crow," exclaimed Desmond. "This isn't our boat. We may be in
the same plight when we bring the _Spindrift_ across West Bay."
Half an hour later the yawl was hull down, her idle canvas showing
faintly against the blue sky.
"I say," suddenly exclaimed Jock Findlay. "That's a long way from
shore for a small boat, isn't it?"
He pointed to a rowing boat about half a mile on the _Olivette's_
port bow.
"It's a dinghy with a man in her," reported Woodleigh. "He's not
rowing. He may be fishing, but I hardly think so. Shall we run
alongside, sir?"
"Yes, do," replied Mr. Armitage. "If he's all right there's no harm
done. If he's in difficulties we may be able to do him a good turn."
"Starboard ten," ordered the Milford Patrol Leader, addressing
Flemming, who was at the wheel.
The _Olivette_ was now heading straight for the drifting boat. The
solitary occupier seemed utterly unaware of the motor-boat's
approach, but sat on the stroke thwart, nursing his head.
"Perhaps he's deaf, sir," hazarded Findlay.
"No, sea-sick," rejoined Mr. Graham, handing Jock his binoculars.
"His face is green--absolutely. A tripper adrift most likely."
"Ahoy!" shouted Woodleigh, holding up a coil of rope. "Do you want a
tow?"
The fellow raised his head and gazed pathetically at the _Olivette_.
He gave no sign that he was at all anxious to be aided.
"Why, he's only a boy," declared Findlay.
"A pretty hefty one," supplemented Desmond.
"What shall we do, sir?" asked Woodleigh.
"Get him on board and take the boat in tow," replied Mr. Armitage.
"Stand by one of you to grab her painter."
The _Olivette's_ clutch was put into control, and, under Flemming's
practised helmsmanship, the motor-boat ranged up alongside the
unmanageable dinghy. Desmond, leaning over the side, grasped the
painter and took a turn round the starboard bollard for'ard, while
Rayburn hooked the stern as the dinghy swung in towards the high side
of the _Olivette_.
"Come on board," exclaimed Mr. Armitage authoritatively. "You'll soon
be all right."
The boy attempted to obey, but lurched awkwardly as if he had no
control of the limbs. Two of the Sea Scouts leapt into the dinghy,
and literally hauled its occupant on board the boat.
"Take him down below out of the sun," said Mr. Armitage. "He may have
a touch of sunstroke. If it's only sea-sickness, give him a piece of
lemon to chew. All right, Desmond, pass the painter aft."
The _Olivette_ regathered way, the dinghy riding comfortably astern,
with her bows high out of the water. On her backboard were the words:
"Gregory--Abbotsbury".
"He's a bit out of his reckoning," observed Mr. Armitage. "Abbotsbury
is a good fifteen miles to the nor'ard. He'd never be able to row
back that distance."
"What do you propose to do with him?" inquired Mr. Graham.
"Put into Brixham and land him, I expect," replied Mr. Armitage. "We
can't put back to Abbotsbury very well. For one thing, it's well out
of our course and there's no harbour. We might find if we went there
that there'd be too much swell to effect a landing, and we would then
have to carry on into Lyme Regis or Bridport--both inaccessible at
low water. I'll find out more about the youth, and see what he wants
to do. Come along, Graham. We may hear an interesting story."
The two Scoutmasters found the rescued youth sitting up on one of the
fo'c'sle cots. Apparently the slice of lemon had had the desired
effect, for his face had lost the greenish hue and looked well
sunburned. He was talking to Desmond and Rayburn, asking them
numerous questions concerning the _Olivette_ and her crew.
"Well, my lad," began Mr. Armitage briskly, "let's have your story.
How came you so far out to sea?"
"Got lost in a fog, sir."
Mr. Armitage made no comment. It had been a hit hazy on the Solent
that morning, so it was quite possible that West Bay was enveloped in
mist.
"What's your name?"
"Gregory, sir."
"Is that your boat, then?"
There was a brief pause.
"My father's, sir."
"He'll be a bit anxious about you."
"Yes, sir."
"In that case we'll land you at Brixham."
"Plymouth'll do me, sir. I've got an uncle living there. He's a
smacksman, so he could tow the boat back to Abbotsbury."
Mr. Armitage left it at that, but he decided to signal Prawle Point
and report the finding of the boat.
"What sort of a fellow is he?" he inquired of Desmond, after the
latter had come on deck.
"I hardly know what to make of him, sir," replied the Patrol Leader.
"He doesn't seem to know much about the sea, which is a bit strange
since his father is a fisherman. He seems rather anxious to know if
we are putting in anywhere before we get to Plymouth."
"The only seafaring things about him are his clothes," remarked Mr.
Graham. "He doesn't talk with a South Coast accent. I suppose----"
"Suppose what, Graham?" asked Mr. Armitage.
"Perhaps I had better not say," rejoined Mr. Graham. "I hate having
to be suspicious about anybody, but there are certain points about
the lad that look a bit fishy."
"'Fishy' is a natural characteristic of a fisherman's son, I take
it," rejoined Mr. Armitage, with a laugh.
"Not in that sense. Suppose we have the fellow on deck. He seems fit
enough now. Give him a few simple jobs and see how he shapes."
In response to a message--delivered by Rayburn--Gregory came on
deck.
"You'll have to earn your passage, my lad," said Mr. Armitage. "My
boys are about to scrub down decks. You might give them a hand. How
about coiling that rope away?"
The Scoutmaster pointed to a hawser-laid rope lying just abaft the
mast.
Gregory went for'ard, lurching with the movement of the boat. Then he
began coiling away, struggling with the stubborn rope until he
literally tied it up in knots.
"Tough bit o' stuff, this," he remarked, regarding his efforts with
evident mistrust.
"It is," agreed Mr. Armitage. "All right. You can steer, I suppose?
Take on from Flemming. He'll give you the course."
Gregory made for the wheelhouse. The two Scoutmasters exchanged
knowing glances. Test Number One had failed, as far as the
fisherman's son was concerned. Every seafarer knows that a
hawser-laid rope is coiled "with the sun". Gregory had reversed the
process with the result that every coil had kinked badly.
Soon it became evident that the lad's helmsmanship was no better than
his skill at curling down a rope. Judging by the zig-zag wake the
wheel was giving him plenty of trouble, although after a bit, thanks
to Flemming's assistance, Gregory made a better show than he had
previously done.
Nevertheless, both Mr. Graham and Mr. Armitage were now agreed that
the sea-sick youth, picked up from the dinghy, was certainly not
connected with the sea. Who and what was he, then?
CHAPTER X
The Fouled Propeller
A sudden jar that shook the _Olivette_ from stem to stern promptly
dislocated the trend of the two Scoutmasters' surmises. For thirty
seconds or more the motors laboured heavily, until Warkworth, who was
taking his trick in the engine-room, declutched and cut off the
ignition.
The Sea Scouts on deck gave inquiring glances at Mr. Armitage; but,
true to his principles of letting the lads act on their own
initiative, he gave no solution for the cause of the mishap or any
suggestion as to what ought to be done.
Presently Woodleigh grasped the reason for his Scoutmaster's silence.
It was "up to" the Patrol Leader to act.
"Motor all right, Warkworth?" he inquired.
"Yes," was the reply. "I switched off because I fancy something's
fouled the propeller. Send somebody down, and we'll try to turn the
shaft round by hand."
Desmond volunteered to assist Warkworth. The removable floor-boards
over the shaft were taken up, and both lads, by means of pipe
wrenches, tried their hardest to turn the massive metal rod, which in
ordinary circumstances could be moved with very little effort.
"Prop's foul of something," announced Warkworth.
Woodleigh and most of the Sea Scouts on deck were aft. By this time
the _Olivette_ had lost way and was rounding-to broadside on to the
now slight breeze. Lying at full length, and leaning over the short
counter, the Patrol Leader could discern the three-bladed propeller,
its boss a couple of feet beneath the surface.
"There's rope wound round it," he declared, "about half a dozen
turns. Get a boat-hook, somebody; I think I can get it off."
Hayes brought the desired article. With a couple of fellows holding
on to his legs the Patrol Leader tried for a full five minutes,
until, red in the face and cramped in body and limbs, he desisted
from his unsuccessful attempt.
"The stuff's as hard as a chunk of iron," he announced. "I'll get
Warkworth to start up again and put the gear into the reverse. That
might throw the rope clear. Stand by with that dinghy's painter: we
don't want that fouled as well."
The motor being warm it did not take long to restart even on
paraffin. Then Warkworth let in the clutch in the reverse, and,
although the engine did not labour quite so much, the desired result
was not attained. An examination of the propeller, after the motor
had been running for a couple of minutes, revealed the disconcerting
fact that the rope was still wound tightly round the boss. In the
ahead position the undue strain on the shaft almost pulled the engine
up dead.
"I suppose the only thing to be done is to set a square-sail and make
either for Torquay or Brixham," remarked Woodleigh. "We're bound to
get a tow in, and at low tide we can cut the rope away."
"Then we won't make Plymouth to-day," added Flemming.
"Let me have a cut at it, Woodleigh," said Jock Findlay quietly.
"How?" asked the Patrol Leader.
"By diving for it," replied Jock.
Findlay was the champion diver of the 9th Southend Troop of Sea
Scouts. Only a few weeks previously he had carried off first prize in
a plate-diving competition in fifteen feet of water. One rival came
to the surface with twelve tin plates. Another brought up sixteen.
When Findlay reappeared after he dived he held eight plates in his
hand; and while the onlookers, who regarded Jock as the favourite,
were showing their surprise at the small number Findlay had handed
over, the wily Sea Scout produced another twelve from the inside of
his bathing-dress.
"Can you?" queried the doubting Woodleigh. "You'll be knocked out if
the counter gives you a crack. The boat's rolling a bit."
"I'll risk that," rejoined Findlay, who was already divesting himself
of his clothing.
"Will that lad be all right, do you think?" asked Mr. Armitage in an
aside.
"Quite," replied Mr. Graham, with firm conviction. "He's like a young
eel in the water."
"All my lads are good swimmers," observed Mr. Armitage, "but
curiously enough they are indifferent divers. Woodleigh, for
instance, always shuts his eyes when diving. He says he cannot open
them while under water. It's pure fallacy, although I know plenty of
people who say the same thing."
Meanwhile Findlay, looking like a young Apollo, was whetting his
knife on the palm of his hand.
"No chance of that propeller revolving?" he inquired.
"Motor's stopped," replied Woodleigh. "You'll be all right as far as
that is concerned; but for goodness' sake mind you don't get a biff
on the head."
Jock made a clean, graceful dive over the counter, and, reappearing
almost at once, swam towards the stern. Awaiting his opportunity he
grasped the upper edge of the rudder and drew himself beneath the
surface.
For thirty long-drawn-out seconds Findlay remained submerged; then he
reappeared about a couple of yards from the boat.
[Illustration: "ALL CLEAR!" HE ANNOUNCED, EXHAUSTED AND TRIUMPHANT
_Page_ 105]
"Heave me a line," he called out breathlessly. "I'm all right--don't
want to hang on to the boat--she's rolling too much--rope's hard as
wire--I'm cutting it through."
Five times the plucky Sea Scout returned to the attack. Pieces of
frayed grass rope drifting alongside gave evidence of the progress of
his labours. Finally he broke the surface, with a short length of
rope in one hand and his knife in the other.
"All clear!" he announced, exhausted and triumphant. "Give me a hand,
Desmond."
He had not the strength left to clamber up the side, but willing
hands caught him and hauled him on deck to the accompaniment of a
rousing cheer from the _Olivette's_ crew.
"Plucky lad, that!" exclaimed Mr. Armitage.
"Yes," admitted Mr. Graham proudly. "There is one thing in which the
Southend Sea Scouts can give points to the Milford fellows, and I
know you won't begrudge them that."
"No," rejoined Mr. Armitage. "Your lads have more than earned their
passage."
And the welcome purr of the motor, as the _Olivette_ once more forged
ahead in her normal style, emphasized the justice of the
Scoutmaster's sentiments.
CHAPTER XI
The Semaphore Message
"Stand by with the Red Ensign and Code Pennant, Rayburn," ordered
Patrol Leader Woodleigh.
The _Olivette_ had passed Start Point, and was approaching the
low-lying extremity known as Prawle Point, on which is built a
Lloyd's signal-station.
The Southend lads watched the operation of "making her number" with
deep interest. They had often heard and read of vessels proclaiming
their names and destination by this means, but this was the first
occasion on which they were about to see the "real thing".
Rayburn, the _Olivette's_ "bunting tosser" had brought the
signal-locker close to the base of the mast. Deftly he toggled the
ensign above the red and white striped pennant and hoisted it. Then
he drew four flags from the locker.
"That's our number," he explained to the temporary crew.
"'K J V T'--that's not a number," observed Findlay, who knew the
International Code Flags by heart.
"Isn't it? It is," rejoined Rayburn. "They are letter flags, but they
form a number all the same. They tell the signal-station that we are
the _Olivette_ of London. Stand by with the signal-book, Hepburn."
The Sea Scout signalman had the four flags together, and was now
watching Prawle Point station through his binoculars.
Promptly the shore station hoisted the answering pennant, just "at
the dip", to show that the signal was seen, and their "close up"
indicating that the message was understood.
A E L W and A E N U followed in quick succession.
"They mean Southampton and Plymouth," explained Rayburn. "Our port of
departure and the port we're bound for. Southampton is considered our
port, since Keyhaven comes in that district. Now give me V O X."
"What does that mean?" asked Desmond.
"'I am going to semaphore to you '," was the reply. Rayburn glanced
over his shoulder at Gregory, who was sitting on the raised cabin-top
with his eyes fixed shoreward. "Mr. Armitage gave me instructions to
report the picking up of young Gregory at West Bay. I think there'll
be a rather astonishing reply." Taking up a pair of hand-flags,
Rayburn awaited the acknowledgment from Prawle Point and then began
to semaphore the message.
"Have picked up dinghy with 'Gregory, Abbotsbury' on her transom. One
person in her is now aboard. Propose landing him at Plymouth. Please
telephone information to Gregory, Abbotsbury, Dorset."
Presently the long arms of the shore semaphore began sending out the
reply:
"Boy escaped from Borstal Institute, Portland, yesterday night. Keep
him on board until arrival at Plymouth. Will inform police there, who
will take necessary action."
"Message received," replied Rayburn, then, turning to Findlay, he
exclaimed: "Haul down!"
Meanwhile Woodleigh, standing just behind Rayburn, had written down
the message as the latter dictated in a low voice the astounding
news. Then, without giving any sign that might arouse Master
Gregory's suspicions, the Patrol Leader went aft and handed the
written report to Mr. Armitage.
"By Jove, Graham!" exclaimed the Scoutmaster. "How's that for
character-reading? The young blighter is an escaped Borstal boy. I
wonder what he was sent to Portland for?"
"Better not ask him," rejoined Mr. Graham. "He might give trouble.
It's rather a wonder he didn't get the wind up when we commenced
semaphoring."
"Perhaps he is in a bit of a funk," said Mr. Armitage. "However,
that's his affair. I'm not going to spoil his few hours of
unauthorized liberty unless he cuts up rough. There's Salcombe, lads.
A snug harbour but a tricky place to enter. Bolt Head's just on our
starboard bow. The next few miles is a magnificent bit of coast."
The _Olivette_ was now fairly close to shore, about half a mile from
the frowning cliffs of Devon. Fascinated by the sight of the
surf-lashed shore, stupendous walls of rock, the Southend Sea Scouts
gazed stolidly shorewards, while Mr. Armitage pointed out the various
objects of interest between Bolt Head and Bolt Tail, and gave
accounts of several notable shipwrecks that had taken place within
the limits of the two forbidding headlands.
Then across Bigbury Bay, almost out of sight of land, the _Olivette_
ploughed her way against a foul tide. The best of the day had gone.
Misty-looking clouds were banking up in the west'ard with a promise
of rain before very long.
"That doesn't look very inviting for a tramp across Cornwall,"
remarked Mr. Graham.
"It may be only local," replied Mr. Armitage. "Without casting any
aspersions upon the attractions of Plymouth, I can assert that I have
put into the Sound on at least half a dozen widely different
occasions, and I have never yet done so in sunshine. It has always
been raining pretty heavily."
Two hours later the _Olivette_ rounded the peaked, isolated rock,
known as the Mewstone, and the whole of Plymouth Sound with its
magnificent breakwater came into view. In spite of the fact that it
was raining heavily, all the Sea Scouts not actually on duty in the
wheelhouse and engine-room kept on deck to enjoy the view, for
enjoyable it was even in the now steady downpour. Gregory too was up
for'ard gazing, rather apprehensively it seemed, at the Hoe and
Smeaton's Tower.
"I feel sorry for that chap," confided Jock Findlay to his chum
Desmond. "I think he knows that there's something in the wind. He has
hardly spoken a word since we passed Prawle Point."
"It's rough luck being pitchforked into the arms of a policeman,"
said Desmond. "Of course, we don't know what he was sent to Portland
for, but I'm hanged if I like the idea of pushing him back. We can't
help it, but it looks like a low-down trick on our part."
"Nearly there, you fellows," announced Woodleigh, as the _Olivette_
passed the end of Mount Batten Breakwater. "Don't you think you'd
better sleep aboard again? It's not much fun tramping ten miles on a
wet evening like this."
"Especially if you've got to sleep out," added Flemming.
The Patrol Leader bent down and spoke to the engineer through the
open window of the wheelhouse.
"Turn over to petrol now, Warkworth, old son," he said. "We're almost
at Sutton Pool."
The crew began to make ready with ropes and fenders, while Woodleigh
kept a sharp look out for a suitable berth in the sheltered but
considerably crowded harbour known as Sutton Pool.
"_Unity_, ahoy!" he hailed, addressing a short, thick-set fisherman
in a blue jersey, tanned trousers, and sea-boots, and wearing a
billy-cock hat that looked rather out of keeping with his nautical
rig. "Can we berth alongside you? Are you putting out to-night?"
"Make fast alongside o' we," replied the skipper of the fishing-smack
_Unity_. "You'm welcome, sure."
"Why don't you tie up alongside the quay?" asked Desmond.
"We never do if it can be avoided," explained Woodleigh. "For one
thing, it's rough on our fenders, grinding against a stone wall; for
another, we'd have to keep a watch on deck all night to tend the
warps when the tide fell. Lying alongside the smack we rise and fall
with her. Her crew will have to see to the warps."
The task of making fast had occupied the attention of all hands, but
when the work was completed the Sea Scouts became aware that they
were objects of considerable attention. There was quite a crowd of
fishermen and longshore folk taking an interest in the _Olivette_,
while standing discreetly in the background, with their helmets
showing above the heads of the onlookers, were two stalwart
policemen.
CHAPTER XII
A Misunderstanding Cleared Up
Instinctively the eyes of nearly all on board the _Olivette_ turned
towards the object of the policemen's presence. Gregory had spotted
the representatives of the Law too. Mr. Graham, regarding him from a
distance of about twenty feet, fancied that his jaw dropped slightly
and that his face became a darker tint. Beyond that Gregory gave no
indication of either fear or defiance.
Presently the crowd parted as the stalwart men in blue advanced
towards the quay-side with the obvious intention of crossing the deck
of the _Unity_ and boarding the _Olivette_.
Even then Gregory did not shift his position. Desmond, watching him
out of the corner of his eye, wondered what the wanted youth was
going to do. It seemed improbable that a hardened young criminal
would give in tamely while a chance remained to attempt to escape.
"I think that if I were in his place," soliloquized Desmond, "I'd
jump into the dinghy and scull for the other side of the harbour like
blue blazes. Perhaps he'll dish the bobbies yet."
Mr. Armitage advanced to the rail to receive the two policemen.
"You know what we're here for, sir?" remarked one of the men.
The Scoutmaster nodded.
"What's the lad done?" he asked in a low tone.
"Broke into an old woman's shop, rifled the till, and well-nigh did
for her, sir," was the reply. "He's a dangerous chap, seeing he's not
turned seventeen. Did he give you any trouble, sir?"
"None whatever, Constable."
"That's strange, sir."
"When a fellow's sea-sick there's the bottom knocked out of the
universe as far as he's concerned," remarked the Scoutmaster drily.
The second constable had meanwhile sauntered for'ard, keeping the
still unresisting but now restless Gregory between him and the bows
of the _Olivette_. At a sign from his companion the policeman laid
his hand on the wanted lad's shoulder.
"Come on, Greening," he exclaimed. "This is the end of your little
stunt. Come quietly now, or there'll be more trouble."
"What for?" demanded the youth with sudden energy. "My name's not
Greening--it's Gregory, and I ain't done nothin'!"
"And half a dozen other aliases, I suppose?" rejoined his captor
caustically. "It won't wash, Greening, so chuck it."
The boy appealed wildly to Mr. Armitage.
"I've done nothin' wrong, have I, sir?" he exclaimed. "It ain't you
who's given me in charge, is it, sir?"
The Scoutmaster did not know what to reply. It seemed a despicable
act on his part to have kept the boy "in the dark" until his captors
were upon him. He could only shake his head in a deprecatory way.
Gregory went quietly. With quite unnecessary vehemence the two
policemen bundled him off the _Olivette_ and across the deck of the
smack. Murmurs of pity rose from the throng of interested spectators,
while execrations of no mild form were hurled at the crew of the
_Olivette_ and the two Scoutmasters in particular, for their part in
surrendering their charge. Clearly the sympathies of the Sutton Pool
habitués were strongly in favour of the prisoner.
Suddenly the lad stopped and raised his head.
"Uncle! Uncle Garge!" he shouted.
A short, burly man on the fringe of the crowd, on hearing himself
addressed, elbowed his way through the press and planted himself
rigidly in front of the leading policeman.
"What you'm doin' wi' my nephew?" he demanded.
"Tell them my name's Gregory, Uncle," exclaimed the youth, before the
policemen could say a word.
"'Corse it tes," rejoined the fisherman. "Same as mine, an' nothin'
for to be ashamed on. What are ye got 'im for, perliceman?"
"Broke out of the Borstal Institution at Portland, day before
yesterday," replied the constable laconically.
The little man held his sides, threw back his head, and laughed
uproariously.
"Lead on, Joe!" exclaimed one of the policemen to his comrade. "We
can't stop here arguing the point."
"Get back, man!" said the other constable, addressing the highly
amused fisherman. "Get back, or I'll run you in for obstruction."
Just then the two Scoutmasters came up. The assertion of Gregory's
uncle and the policemen's replies had been distinctly audible on
board the _Olivette_. Realizing that there was certainly a mistake
somewhere, Mr. Armitage jumped ashore to see the matter through, and
Mr. Graham followed to back him up.
"I think there's some misunderstanding, Constable," observed Mr.
Armitage. "We'll go with you to the station. This man's assertion
quite conforms to--er--Gregory's statement when we picked him up in
West Bay."
"But didn't you report the matter to Prawle Point, sir?" asked the
policeman. "They telephoned the information on to us and we acted
upon it."
A howl of execration burst from the lips of the onlookers. Clearly
they regarded the Scoutmaster as the cause of the trouble.
Realizing that there was not much to be gained by arguing with a
couple of policemen on Sutton Pool quay in the face of hostilely
inclined onlookers, Mr. Armitage did not reply to the question.
A few minutes later the double doors of the police-station closed in
the faces of a curious and demonstrative crowd, while the two
Scoutmasters, Gregory, uncle and nephew, and the two policemen
entered the charge-room, where they were greeted by a stern-faced
inspector.
On the one hand the police had acted upon instructions. The
description of the missing Borstal lad corresponded very closely with
that of the youth removed from the _Olivette_. The time, place, and
proximity to Portland, as far as the rescue in West Bay was
concerned, tended to bear out the official view of the case.
On the other hand Uncle Garge Gregory, a well-known local
smack-owner, was emphatic that the lad was his nephew and that he
certainly was not at Portland a week ago, because his sister had
mentioned his nephew in a letter.
"All you've got ter du, Inspector," he added, "is tu telegraph tu the
police at Abbotsbury an' get them to see my brother Tom--young Tom
here's father."
The inspector turned to Mr. Armitage.
"You reported the matter, I understand?"
"We merely reported that we had picked up a boat with a boy in it
somewhere in West Bay," replied the Scoutmaster. "The reply to our
signal was to the effect that the boy was the one who had broken out
of Portland. We had no reason to doubt the statement. Now we know
that it is wrong, but you must admit that the assertion did not come
from us. I might also point out that the dinghy bears the words:
'Gregory--Abbotsbury'."
"All right, Gregory," said the inspector, addressing "Uncle Garge".
"You can take your nephew away and be responsible for him. Bring him
here to-morrow at ten o'clock--merely as a matter of form."
The crowd without raised a cheer when the two Gregorys appeared. Mr.
Armitage and Mr. Graham were greeted with a storm of hisses and
cat-calls.
Holding his nephew's arm, Garge Gregory mounted a doorstep and held
up his hand. Such was the popularity of the little man that almost
instantly the noisy throng relapsed into silence.
"Friends!" exclaimed Mr. Gregory in stentorian tones, "'tes all a
mistake. You'm no call tu rant at these gen'l'men here. They be rare
gude uns, seein' as 'ow they saved my nephew's life, so tu say. Look
see: they bain't a-had nothin' tu du wi' this little
misunderstandin'. T'was all the fault of the perlice; so don't 'ee
shout agin' these gen'l'men no more."
"We'm mighty sorry to be sure, sir," said one of the men, who had
been conspicuous in the hostile demonstration.
"Quite all right," replied Mr. Armitage hurriedly. "We all make
mistakes sometimes."
It was nearly eight o'clock when the two Scoutmasters regained the
_Olivette_. Although the rain had ceased it was now quite out of the
question to think of the Southend Sea Scouts setting out on their
long trek.
"We are sleeping on board to-night," announced Mr. Graham, after Mr.
Armitage had briefly related what had occurred at the police-station.
"If any of you fellows want to stretch your legs, let me recommend a
stroll round the Hoe before it gets dark."
A little later a fisherman crossed the deck of the _Unity_ and dumped
a pailful of fish into the _Olivette's_ well.
"Might come in handy like, mister," he said sheepishly. "Us--me an'
my mates--wish tu make amends, in a manner o' speakin', for kicking
up a shine. Us hopes you'll let bygones be bygones, sir, an' if you'm
wantin' any assistance while you'm stoppin' at Plymouth don't 'ee be
afraid tu ax any o' we."
CHAPTER XIII
The Trek
At eight o'clock on the following morning the _Spindrift's_
navigation party "fell in" on the deck of the _Olivette_. Each member
carried a couple of blankets rolled in a ground-sheet, haversack
containing toilet requirements in the outer pocket, and rations in
the inner one. In addition, Mr. Graham had a pair of binoculars slung
across his shoulders, and carried a bundle of charts. Patrol Leader
Desmond was responsible for the bulky volumes, _The Channel Pilot_,
_Lists of Lights_, and the _Admiralty Tide Tables_. Findlay was
additionally burdened with a camp kettle with a folding handle, while
Hayes acted as "emergency man" to relieve the others of their
additional gear in turn.
"Good luck and _bon voyage_!" exclaimed Mr. Armitage. "We'll keep a
look out for you when you approach the Wight. We're generally
cruising about there when we haven't any particular object in view."
"I suppose you'll make Falmouth to-day," remarked Mr. Graham.
Mr. Armitage glanced aloft, where the clouds were scudding fairly
rapidly across the sky.
"Glass is falling," he replied. "I think we'll keep inside the
breakwater to-day. Look here, Graham, suppose we run you up the
Tamar. It will knock about twelve miles off your journey."
"Thanks awfully," said Mr. Graham frankly.
"We don't know the Tamar," continued Mr. Armitage, "but there's no
reason why we shouldn't find our course up the river. It won't be the
first time we've had to navigate strange waters. It will be rather
fun. Start her up, lads."
In five minutes the crew of the _Olivette_ had their able little
craft ready to get under way. The warps holding her to the _Unity_
were cast off, and the boat began to gather way.
As usual, Mr. Armitage left the navigation to his Patrol Leader,
merely standing by ready to correct any possible error that might
result in a serious mishap. So Woodleigh, with a large-scale chart of
"The Approaches to Plymouth", was in the wheelhouse, giving the
course to Flemming at the wheel.
Warkworth was in charge of the motor, and, as was the invariable
custom in crowded waters, kept within arm's length of the clutch. The
rest of the Sea Scouts were on deck taking in the ever-changing view
with the deepest interest.
Drake's Island glided past on the port beam. The intricate narrows
between Devil's Point and Cremyll were safely negotiated, and the
expansive Hamoaze, a sheltered sheet of water large and deep enough
to accommodate the navies of the world, came into view.
Assisted by the strong flood-tide, the _Olivette_ made rapid progress
past the Royal Dockyard and Keyham Yard to starboard, and with
warships of all sizes and descriptions lying at moorings on their
port hand.
"There's a bridge right ahead of us, sir," reported Rayburn. "Shall
we have to lower our mast to go under it?"
"How high is our mast?" asked the Scoutmaster gravely.
"Twenty-five feet, sir," replied Rayburn promptly.
"We may just do it, then," rejoined Mr. Armitage. "You needn't bother
about unshackling the forestay just yet. Wait and see what the
clearance of the bridge looks like when we get a bit nearer."
A couple of minutes later Rayburn came aft again. "I think we'll just
manage it, sir," he reported.
"Very well; carry on," was the response.
It was not long before the two miles of river below the bridge were
covered, and when the _Olivette_ glided serenely under one of the
wide and massive spans Rayburn positively blushed. What he had taken
to be a low bridge was in reality the famous Saltash Bridge, with a
clearance of a hundred feet.
"That's one up against you, Rayburn!" exclaimed Hepburn, and in the
general laugh the embarrassed Sea Scout went below.
"Ease her down, Flemming," suggested Mr. Armitage. "We're getting
into an intricate waterway, and if we touch with a lot of way on we
may do ourselves damage."
Above Saltash Bridge the Tamar contracts considerably. What it loses
in breadth it gains in scenery, for on either side high ground
crowned with trees made a picturesque setting to the tidal estuary.
"We're in luck," said Woodleigh, pointing to a small paddle-steamer
ahead. "She'll be our pilot."
In a few minutes the _Olivette_ had overhauled the paddle-boat
sufficiently to be right in her foamy wake. Speed was still further
reduced until the distance between the two craft was evenly
maintained.
"Woodleigh will make one of the smartest coastal navigators going,"
observed Mr. Armitage to his brother Scoutmaster. "He knows all the
'tricks of the trade' already. He'd make a capital master of a tug or
coasting vessel, but curiously enough he hasn't shone at deep-sea
navigation. I tried to teach him to work out a position by sextant,
but it was hopeless."
"And yet, on the other hand," rejoined Mr. Graham, "how many seamen
one meets who are absolutely out of it when navigating in shallow
waters. I've seen Royal Navy men--jolly smart fellows at their
work--'tied up in knots' when compelled by circumstances to navigate
shallow, intricate channels, through which yachtsmen and fishermen
venture with impunity."
Calstock, a small village boasting a magnificent stone railway bridge
across the river, came into sight. This was the _Olivette's_ limit as
far as the Tamar was concerned. Berthing alongside the quay and
astern of the steamer that had perforce acted as a pilot, the crew
once more bade their guests and fellow Sea Scouts good luck.
Mr. Graham, armed with an Ordnance map, "set the course", aiming as
far as possible to keep off the highroad. This meant loss of speed;
but on the other hand it was preferable to tramping stolidly along a
hard-surfaced highway.
The lads were thoroughly enjoying themselves. Tramping after a sea
voyage came as a complete change. What was more, there was a goal for
which they were making--something to speed them to renewed energies.
By five o'clock in the afternoon they arrived at the old-fashioned
Cornish town of Launceston, where, guided by a local Scoutmaster,
they found a splendid camping-ground a little to the north of the
town.
It was a Spartan-like camp, but fortunately the weather was decidedly
on the mend. The drizzle they had experienced at Plymouth had been
left behind, and on the lofty Cornish hinterland the ground was quite
dry and the air marvellously bracing.
Very soon a fire was burning brightly. Over it, suspended by a stout
sapling held up by a couple of crossed poles, the kettle boiled very
quickly.
It was a gorgeous, Scout-like meal. Tea slightly flavoured with the
reek of burnt wood, huge slabs of bread liberally plastered with
fresh butter, kippers (purchased in Launceston) fried in the hot
embers, and huge, floury potatoes baked in their skins, made a
satisfying and appetizing repast.
"How's that wound on your toe, Desmond?" inquired Mr. Graham. He had
asked the same question at least half a dozen times before, and the
Patrol Leader had stoutly asserted that he hardly felt it, and that
it was healing nicely.
"It's a bit painful, sir," admitted Desmond reluctantly. While he had
been on the move he had practically forgotten all about it; but now,
sprawling on the turf, he was aware of a persistent and increasing
throb.
"Take your shoe and stocking off and let me see the injury," said the
Scoutmaster.
Desmond did so. In spite of the fact that the ratbite had been
carefully washed with disinfectant the flesh was badly inflamed.
Mr. Graham dressed the wound and insisted on the Patrol Leader
keeping still for the rest of the evening.
"We'll see how it looks in the morning," he added. "If it's not
considerably better you'll have to finish the trek by train."
It was jolly plucky on Desmond's part to have started with a toe in
that condition; but he failed to grasp the other side of the case. By
"carrying on" he had made the wound worse, with the result that he
might be laid up for several days, and thus throw a heavy strain upon
the rest of the crew of the _Spindrift_. If, however, he had admitted
that his foot was painful, Mr. Graham would have sent him to Bude by
train from Plymouth, and in all probability, by the time the others
arrived to take over the yacht, Desmond would have been able to carry
out his duties without physical discomfort.
The fire was kept up and given a plentiful supply of fuel when
darkness set in. The four trekkers had already prepared their beds on
a sloping expanse of turf under the lee of a rough stone wall. Making
the beds was a simple matter, and consisted of scooping out a small
hole to take the pressure of each sleeper's hip. Then the
ground-sheets were spread proofed-side downwards, and the blankets
arranged to fold over so that there were two thicknesses above and
below the sleeper. Haversacks laid over a heap of moss provided a
pillow, while the fold of the ground-sheet over everything made an
effectual protection from the night dews.
"Comfortable, Desmond?" inquired the Scoutmaster.
"Yes, sir," came the muffled reply.
"Good night, everyone!" exclaimed Mr. Graham.
"Good night, sir," was the rejoinder from three very sleepy lads, and
five minutes later silence reigned in the camp.
Almost before the sun had risen Hayes awoke, stretched himself, and
got up. His companions were still sleeping soundly. Resisting the
temptation to place a wet sponge on Jock Findlay's face, the Sea
Scout went to a near-by brook and washed. Then, stirring the
still-glowing embers of last night's fire and applying fresh fuel, he
coaxed the dried wood into a healthy blaze.
"Isn't it fine!" he exclaimed to himself, as he stood erect,
breathing in the pure moorland air and surveying the expanse of
undulating ground terminated by the rugged heights of Brown Willy. "I
never thought there was such a view. There ought to be some scheme
for sending East Coast Scouts to camp in Cornwall, and give Cornish
Scouts a chance to see the Essex mudflats. Now then, you sleepy
bounders! Out you turn."
By the time the others had performed their ablutions, Hayes had the
porridge under way. It hardly mattered that one kettle had to answer
for all culinary purposes; that the porridge had a slight flavour of
tea and that there were a few tea-leaves in it. Toned down with thick
Cornish cream and a lavish quantity of golden syrup the porridge
disappeared, and was pronounced excellent. Slices of streaky bacon
grilled over the fire were devoured with gusto, notwithstanding
particles of wood ash which adhered to the fat.
Breakfast over, the Sea Scouts struck camp. They did so methodically.
The blankets, after being aired, were folded; the scanty gear cleaned
and packed away. Then the cinders of the fire and all loose paper and
refuse were buried, so that the owner of the land would have no cause
for complaint.
"Now let me see your toe again, Desmond," said Mr. Graham.
Desmond felt none too happy as far as his injury was concerned. He
sat down and removed the dressings.
"H'm," remarked the Scoutmaster. "A little better, but there's still
a fair amount of inflammation. It's the puff-puff for you, my lad.
It's as much as you can do to walk to the railway station."
Protesting ineffectually, the Patrol Leader was escorted into the
town. At the station it was found that there was a train in an hour
and a half's time.
"You'll be there before us, old man," said Jock consolingly. "Since
you've got to keep your foot up you might try lying on one of the
bunks of the _Spindrift_ in case there are any rats on board. They
seem very partial to you."
"That's a fact," rejoined the victim bitterly. "I guess that rat knew
I have a Naturalist's Badge."
CHAPTER XIV
The Missing Patrol Leader
Shortly after three o'clock Mr. Graham, Findlay, and Hayes trudged
into Bude. They were tired and slightly footsore, but the prospect of
taking possession of their gift yacht made them forget the effects of
their long tramp.
On making inquiries for the yacht yard the Scoutmaster was directed
to the canal, the lower part of which forms the wet dock of Bude
Harbour. Outside the lock gates the harbour practically dives right
out, and is accessible only at certain states of the tide. Originally
the canal ran from Bude to Launceston, but, with the exception of a
stretch of about a couple of miles, that waterway has fallen into
decay.
"Where is the _Spindrift_, I wonder?" asked Findlay, when they
arrived at the bridge crossing the canal.
No yacht was to be seen. There were a couple of coasting
craft--topsail schooners both--and a few small boats lying in the
basin. In the outer harbour a brigantine had taken the ground, and
was lying with a pronounced list to starboard. Beyond that there was
nothing that could possibly be taken for the _Spindrift_.
"We'll soon find out where she is," rejoined Mr. Graham. "Here's the
office of the yacht yard."
One of the partners of the firm received the arrivals with
cordiality.
"Yes, she's lying well up the canal," he replied, in answer to the
Scoutmaster's question. "All the gear is on board, and we've filled
the tanks with fresh water. You have merely to provision your ship
and start away as soon as the tide serves. Oh, no: there is nothing
to pay. Mr. Collinson instructed us that the account was to be sent
on to him. We did so, and received a cheque in settlement this
morning."
"By the by," said Mr. Graham, "has a Sea Scout named Desmond--one of
our troop--called here this morning?"
"No--at least I think not," was the reply. "I was out for about an
hour, so he may have looked in. I'll ask the foreman."
The foreman, on answering the summons, volunteered the information
that he had seen a Scout hurrying along the other side of the canal.
"I didn't take much notice, sir," he added, "seeing as there be
plenty of them lads up-along in the holidays."
"Then perhaps he went straight on board," suggested Mr. Graham. "Did
you notice that he limped a little?"
"Seein' as how you mentions it, sir," replied the foreman, "I think
he did."
"That's Desmond," declared the Scoutmaster with conviction. "Well,
we'll go aboard. She's not locked up, by any chance?"
"No," replied the yacht agent. "We left the cabin door open to give
plenty of fresh air. We've a couple of hands working on a boat
alongside, so everything will be quite safe, even if your Sea Scout
isn't on board."
Five minutes later the Sea Scouts had their first glimpse of the
_Spindrift_. She was a powerful, able-looking craft, looking
spick-and-span with her freshly painted topsides and newly varnished
spars and cabin-top. Apparently her sails had been hoisted for airing
purposes during the morning, for the sail covers were off and the
canvas loosely furled.
For the moment, it must be confessed, Desmond was forgotten. In their
eagerness to inspect their new possession Scoutmaster and Sea Scouts
jumped on board and went below.
"What a decent cabin!" exclaimed Hayes. "Almost as big as the _Ocean
Bride's_."
"But not quite so high," added Findlay, speaking feelingly, for he
had just seen a galaxy of stars through his head coming in contact
with a deck-beam.
"Two bunks," continued Hayes.
"Four," corrected Jock. "Those seats form bunks, and there are two
swinging cots above them. And here's the fo'c'sle. Quite a posh
affair."
It was certainly larger than the average run of fo'c'sle in craft of
that size. One portion was partitioned off, forming a pantry to
starboard and a galley to port. On either side were "sparred"
lockers, giving plenty of fresh air, while above were two folding
cots. Right for'ard was the chain-locker, while the floor space was
occupied by a miscellaneous assortment of ropes, blocks, navigation
lamps, bucket and mop, and other articles of a yacht's equipment.
Meanwhile Mr. Graham had gone ashore to interview the two workmen
concerning Desmond. Already he was pretty certain that the Patrol
Leader hadn't been on board. Had he been so he would have carried out
the Scoutmaster's instructions and rested his foot. None of the
leather cushions in the cabin bore traces of having been sat upon
recently; nor was there any sign of Desmond's kit. Having once been
on board he was not likely to have gone off without leaving his
blankets and other baggage behind him.
The boat-builders were emphatic that no one except the employees of
the firm had been on board that morning or afternoon--not even during
the dinner hour, for they had brought their food with them, since
they lived at Stratton, a good two miles away.
"Lads!" exclaimed Mr. Graham. "We haven't found Desmond."
"I forgot all about him, sir," admitted Findlay. "Where do you think
he is?"
"I can't say," replied the Scoutmaster. "He may have missed a train.
He had to make one change."
"But he was seen along the canal, sir," said Hayes. "The description
was correct: he limped."
"Limping is not an unusual thing, especially in the holiday time,"
rejoined Mr. Graham. "Galled heels, feet cut by glass while bathing,
a hack while skylarking--there are a dozen common causes; so we
can't be certain that the Scout was Desmond. I'll go across to the
railway station and make inquiries."
"Shall we come too, sir?" asked Findlay.
"Hardly necessary, Jock," was the reply. "You've had quite enough
walking for to-day. While I'm away you might overhaul the halliards
and see how they lead. Hayes can square things up in the fo'c'sle and
see about getting the galley stove under way."
Mr. Graham set off on his quest. He was certainly anxious about
Desmond. The lad was a level-headed youth who knew how to take care
of himself, and his failure to put in an appearance was therefore
more of a serious matter than if he had been an irresponsible lad.
And had Desmond not been of a dependable character, the Scoutmaster
would not have allowed him to make the railway journey alone.
On inquiry Mr. Graham was informed, by a porter who collected the
tickets, that a Sea Scout carrying his kit and having a slight limp
had arrived by the twelve o'clock train, and, in order to confirm his
statement, he produced the tickets given up by passengers by that
train. Amongst them was one single from Launceston to Bude.
Armed with that information, the Scoutmaster made his way to the
harbour. It was now nearly low tide, and the natural breakwater of
kelp-covered rocks was high and dry. On it was a rough track leading
to the bathing pool known as Sir Thomas's Pit. Was it probable that
Desmond had gone for a bathe and had met with an accident? Hardly
likely, otherwise the news would have spread. There were always
numerous bathers on this spot, and, besides, Desmond's clothes were
marked with his name. Nor was he likely to have been cut off by the
tide, for at noon it was just about to ebb. The suggestion that the
lad might have fallen over the cliffs was also a subject for mental
debate; but this Mr. Graham rejected. A lad with a wound on his toe
was hardly likely to indulge in the pastime of scaling cliffs.
Greatly perturbed the Scoutmaster returned to the _Spindrift_. It was
now nearly six o'clock. Desmond even had he loitered anywhere--a
thing he was very unlikely to do--ought to have put in an appearance
long before that time.
Stopping only to drink a cup of tea and eat a bully beef sandwich,
Mr. Graham resumed his quest. Another visit to the yacht agent's
place proved unsatisfactory. The foreman could give no further
information; none of the other hands could throw any light upon the
matter.
The Scoutmaster's next step was to board the two coasters. The master
of each was sympathetic, but could not give any news of the missing
Patrol Leader. Inquiries of the coast-guard were equally fruitless.
"Bless you, sir!" exclaimed the look-out man. "We get dozens of
youngsters up-along here all day. Unless they get too near the cliff
or start heaving stones at the hut we don't take much stock of 'em.
He'll turn up all right, sir, never you fear. If he'd a-come to harm
you'd have 'eard about it long ago. Still, I'll keep my eyes open an'
I'll warn my relief when he takes over."
Undecided in his mind as to what course he should now pursue, Mr.
Graham was like the proverbial "cat on hot bricks" during the rest of
the evening. Being responsible for the missing boy he hesitated to
telegraph to Desmond's parents. Should the Patrol Leader turn up safe
and sound it would be a false alarm, calculated to cause needless
anxiety to them. On the other hand, if anything serious had befallen
the lad it was gross remissness on the Scoutmaster's part not to have
communicated with his people at Southend.
The same argument applied to the suggestion of communicating with the
local police.
"Hang it all, Findlay!" exclaimed Mr. Graham at length. "I can't
stick this any longer. We'll search together for him. Hayes, you had
better remain here in case Desmond puts in an appearance while we are
away."
"Ay, ay, sir," replied both lads promptly.
CHAPTER XV
How Desmond Fared
Patrol Leader Desmond's chief inclination, upon arriving at Bude
railway station, was to make the acquaintance of the _Spindrift_ as
soon as possible. He had two reasons for so doing: he wanted to see
what the yacht was like; he also wished to rest his injured foot in
order to get it well as quickly as he could. The thought of being an
idler on board, when there was plenty of work for all hands, was
repugnant to a fellow of his energetic character.
On making inquiries, he was directed to follow a footpath crossing a
stream and leading to the lock gates.
"That's the _Spindrift_," he said to himself, as the slender masts of
a small craft came into view, "or perhaps she's that 'two sticker'
lying farther up. I'd better ask someone."
The first person he met was a freckled-faced, curly-haired seafaring
man with earrings. He wore no hat, but the visible part of his attire
consisted of a loose canvas jumper, a pair of tanned trousers, and
brown canvas shoes. He only wanted a musket slung across his
shoulder, brace of flint-lock pistols, and a sheath-knife to be the
living counterpart of a seventeenth-century buccaneer.
"Please can you tell me if that is the yacht _Spindrift_?" inquired
Desmond politely.
The man looked him up and down before replying. "Ay, 'tes 'er," he
announced briefly.
"Thank you," rejoined the Patrol Leader, and was about to resume his
way when the man addressed a string of questions uttered in the
broadest Cornish dialect.
Desmond shook his head. He did not understand a single sentence.
The man merely grinned, and, without attempting to repeat his words,
rolled unsteadily away.
"Funny sort," soliloquized the Patrol Leader. "Looks as if he hasn't
lost his sea-legs. But I've found out what I wanted to know."
Arriving at the canal basin, Desmond saw that the ketch was lying
alongside the farthermost wall. To get to her necessitated a
considerable _détour_, and, in addition, he had to cross a plank
bridge over the lock gates.
As he limped along, Desmond took stock of the little craft. She was
spoon-bowed, with a raking transom. There was no name painted on her
stern, nor anywhere else as far as the Patrol Leader could discover.
Her tanned sails were uncoated and loosely furled ready to be
hoisted.
Getting on board with no little difficulty, Desmond found that the
cabin doors were locked, which was rather what he expected. The
circular hatch in the fore-deck was, however, open.
"Good enough," thought the lad. "I can get into the cabin through the
door in the for'ard bulkhead."
He lowered himself into the fo'c'sle. For some seconds he was almost
blinded by the sudden change from the dazzling sunshine to the gloom
below, especially as his bulk intercepted most of the light from the
open hatch.
Rather to his disappointment he found the sliding door closed and
bolted on the inside. If he were to gain admittance it would be
necessary to obtain the key from the person in charge of the yacht.
Desmond was hot, tired, and feeling a fair amount of pain in his
injured toe.
"Not worth the fag," he contended. "I'll turn in here."
The fo'c'sle boasted a couple of cots, one folded back against either
side of the boat. What struck Desmond as being remarkable was the
presence of a number of enamelled cups, saucers, and plates that
badly wanted washing up, together with the fragments of a meal
consisting of bully beef, sardines, and tinned apricots.
"I expect the workmen have been grubbing here," he hazarded. "They're
not Scouts, or they would never have left the place in such a mess."
There was a Primus stove in the gimbals, and close to it a saucepan
half filled with lukewarm water. On a nail in the sliding door was a
tea-towel.
Desmond set to work with a will to wash up the plates and dishes and
to stow them away. This done--it was hot work in the confined space,
what with the sun shining on deck and the heat of the stove
below--the Patrol Leader felt more tired than before.
Lowering one of the cots, and using a sail-bag for a pillow, Desmond
turned in. For a while his toe throbbed painfully, then the desire
for sleep overcame every other sensation, and he was soon in a deep,
dreamless slumber.
Ten minutes later Tom Truscott and Dick Wilde, part-owners of the
8-ton, centre-board ketch _Spanker_, came hurrying along the canal
bank to the accompaniment of a series of exhortations to, "'Urry up
if yer want to get through afore yon schooner locks in," from the
energetic lock-keeper.
Both men were young, hefty, full of action, and keen yachtsmen. They
had come "round the Land", and were making their way by easy stages
to Penarth. Three days previously they had put into Bude through
stress of weather, and were about to set sail for Lundy Island and
the South Wales coast.
There was little time to be lost. Men on the breakwater were
tracking-in a topsail schooner, and, as it was close on high water,
the vessel was coming straight into the canal basin. Directly the
gates were open there was an opportunity for the _Spanker_ to go out
under headsails before the limited expanse was still further impeded
by the arrival of the topsail schooner.
Truscott and Wilde were deft hands at their work. They went about it
with the minimum of noise. Since the yacht was moored alongside a
wall, there were merely ropes to be cast off and headsails hoisted.
Getting up the anchor to the accompaniment of the rattling of a winch
and the clanking of chain cable did not figure in the operation.
Almost as silently as a wraith the ketch glided through the lock,
and, with the wind well on the port quarter, stood steadily seaward.
Truscott was at the helm, while his companion, after descending into
the cabin and lowering the centre-board, proceeded to set first
mizzen and then mainsail.
Half an hour later the north Cornish coast grew dim in the summer
haze.
"Thought we'd have found more wind out here," remarked Truscott.
"What about setting the topsail?"
"Right-o," assented Wilde. "Ten to one we'll have to douse it before
we make Lundy. There's wind about--plenty of it before long."
"All right then," said his companion. "Don't bother about the
jack-yarder. Send the jib-headed topsail aloft. She'll carry short
for all the wind we're likely to get to-day."
Wilde went for'ard to get the required sail, which was stowed in a
bag in one of the fo'c'sle lockers.
"Jehoshaphat!" he ejaculated. "We've a jolly stowaway on board, old
man! There's a boy sound asleep in one of the fo'c'sle cots."
"Good job we did lock the cabin, then," rejoined Truscott. "What sort
of young blighter is he?"
"A Sea Scout," announced the other.
"A Sea Scout?" snorted Truscott contemptuously. "Never came across
one yet who was any good. Sort of glorified beach-combers--useless
when by chance they do go to sea. I hope to goodness he doesn't
muster his bag in our fo'c'sle. What's to be done with him."
"He's here on board," said Wilde, stating an obvious fact.
"And here he stops," added Truscott grimly. "If he doesn't like it
that's his funeral. I'm not putting back to land a rotten stowaway.
Get him out of it--sling a bucket of water over him!"
"That's all very well," objected Wilde with a laugh. "But who's going
to mop up the fo'c'sle? I know a way."
From one of the cockpit lockers he produced a long metal fog-horn--a
kind of exaggerated trumpet. Going for'ard he lowered the instrument
until the horn was within six inches of the sleeping lad's face,
then, distending his cheeks, Wilde blew a long, ear-splitting,
discordant blast.
Intensified by the confined space the terrific roar awakened Desmond
only too effectually. He sat up, caught his head on one of the
deck-beams, and subsided with his hands held to his aching forehead.
"Sorry, I am really!" exclaimed the genuinely repentant Wilde, who
had never anticipated such a sequel. "I only meant to turn you out.
What are you doing here?"
Desmond made no reply. He was a little dazed, deafened, and
completely mystified at being rudely awakened to unfamiliar
surroundings. He slid out of the cot and sat upon one of the lockers,
blinking at the disturber of his slumbers.
"What are you doing here?" repeated Wilde.
"This is the Sea Scouts' yacht _Spindrift_," declared Desmond.
"I----"
"First I heard of it," interrupted the other with a laugh. "This is
the _Spanker_ of Dartmouth, for Penarth; and at Penarth you'll be set
ashore, unless we drop across some Bude fishing-boats. That isn't
likely, as they are generally away down west'ard."
"Then I've made a mistake," said the Patrol Leader.
"First time I've known a Scout to admit that," rejoined Wilde drily.
"However, come aft and tell your yarn to my chum."
It was soon apparent to the partners that Desmond had made a genuine
blunder. His open narrative carried conviction, and the annoyance
that the two men had shown when the stowaway had been discovered
quickly evaporated.
"With luck, you'll be with your pals by noon to-morrow," observed
Truscott. "We'll send you back by train from Penarth, unless there's
a joy-boat running from Cardiff to Ilfracombe. Hello, Wilde old man:
wind's heading us."
During the last few minutes the wind had veered through sixteen
points of the compass. It had been from the sou'-sou'-east; now it
was nor'-nor'-west.
Tending sheets occupied the crew's attention, and the conversation
ceased. Desmond, perched upon the weather-rail, wanted to bear a
hand. Inactivity bored him. In spite of his injured foot, he knew he
could be of use if required, but his natural hesitation to thrust
himself forward in the presence of strangers held him to silence.
"There's Lundy," announced Truscott, as a faint blurr appeared
through a partial dispersal of the haze.
"Wind's piping up, too," added his chum. "How about handing that
topsail? It isn't doing much good close-hauled."
Truscott glanced aloft. The topsail was acting up to its reputation
of being the first sail to shake.
"Right-o!" he agreed. "Down with it."
Wilde went for'ard, cast off topsail sheets and halliards, and
commenced to haul down.
"Dash it all!" he exclaimed. "The halliard's jammed. I always said
that sheave was too small."
"Can you steer?" demanded Truscott abruptly, turning to the Patrol
Leader. "Yes? Right-o, here you are."
Desmond found himself in possession of the tiller, while Truscott
went for'ard to bear a hand with the stubborn topsail.
It did not take Desmond very long to "get the hang" of the helm. Used
to small-boat sailing, he quickly found that it was quite an easy
matter to keep a yacht on her course without yawing. Had the
_Spanker_ been running, it might have been rather difficult; close
hauled the ketch almost sailed herself, save for an occasional touch
of the helm as she tended to come up into the wind.
"That youngster knows what he's about," remarked Truscott in a low
voice. "He won't get her in irons. I'll go aloft and clear the
blessed sail."
Truscott was a burly fellow. He went aloft, holding on to the
staysail halliards and getting a foothold on the mast-hoops. Gaining
the cross-trees, he balanced himself on the slender galvanized-iron
spreader and stretched for the jammed rope.
[Illustration: BOTH MEN TUMBLED ON THE CABIN-TOP
_Page_ 145.]
As he did so the weather-arm of the cross-trees gave way under his
weight. So quickly did the metal-work give, that Truscott had only
time to grip the topmast shroud as he fell. His grasp was sufficient
to check his downward path, but the wire shroud cut deeply into his
hands. He had to let go.
Wilde, seeing his companion's predicament, pluckily broke his fall.
Both men tumbled in a confused heap upon the raised cabin-top,
fortunately on the wind'ard side, or both might have been thrown into
the sea.
Lashing the helm, Desmond hastened to their assistance. He stubbed
his already injured toe upon a cleat as he did so, but in the
excitement of the moment he hardly noticed that the wound had
reopened.
Both men had to be assisted into the cockpit, for they were shaken by
the concussion. In addition, both of Truscott's hands were lacerated
across the palms, while Wilde had sustained an injury that Desmond
correctly diagnosed as a broken collar-bone. It was pretty obvious to
the Patrol Leader that he was the only capable hand left on board,
and that upon him would devolve the management of the ship.
Desmond's first step was to haul the headsail sheets to wind'ard.
Fortunately the _Spanker_ was an admirable craft when hove-to. She
was now as steady as she could possibly be, forging ahead at less
than one knot.
"I'm all right," protested Truscott. "There's a tar-pot and some
waste up for'ard. Nothing like a flick of tar to stop bleeding."
Desmond did not view these rough and ready methods of first-aid with
anything like approval. Tar, in itself an excellent disinfectant, was
hardly suitable for a deep wound in which, more than likely,
fragments of rusty wire were embedded.
"I've a first-aid outfit in my kit," he announced, "if you don't mind
washing your hands, while I see what I can do for your chum."
"Good lad!" exclaimed Truscott approvingly.
The Patrol Leader fetched his outfit from the fo'c'sle and proceeded
to attend to Wilde's injuries. This done, he carefully bandaged
Truscott's cuts with boric lint, and not until both men were fixed up
as comfortably as possible did Desmond re-dress his own injuries.
"Hadn't we better put back?" he inquired. "I can take the yacht into
Bude, but I don't know the Bristol Channel."
Somewhat to Desmond's surprise, Truscott, "who wasn't going to put
back for anything or anybody" according to his own words a couple of
hours ago, offered no objection. His views of Sea Scouts, and this
one in particular, had undergone a rapid change. He knew that
Desmond's plan was a sound one. It was a hazardous task for a youth
practically single-handed to sail the _Spanker_ almost dead to
wind'ard for a matter of fifty or sixty miles of strange waters, when
Bude lay an easy distance dead to lee'ard.
"Carry on," he replied. "Can you get her about? Don't gybe her."
Desmond had no intention of gybing. Casting loose the tiller, and
trimming the headsail sheets to lee'ard, he soon got way on the
vessel. Then, putting her helm down, he "went about" and steered for
the now invisible Cornish coast.
Three hours later, for the wind had dropped considerably, the land
loomed up. It was unfamiliar ground. Hartland Point, which Desmond
had noticed on the outward passage, was nowhere to be seen. Right
ahead was a bold promontory crowned with a few scanty ruins.
He called Truscott from the cabin.
"What's that point, sir?" he asked.
Truscott gave a low whistle.
"You're a little out of your course, my lad," he declared. "That's
Tintagel. Bude is twelve miles to the nor'-east'ard. Bring her close
to the wind. We may fetch it without tacking, but I'm doubtful."
It was Desmond's lack of navigation that had been responsible for the
error. Simply reversing the compass course for the return run was not
enough. He had omitted to take into consideration the strong tide
running to the sou'-west, with the result that the yacht had made her
landfall a dozen miles to lee'ard of her destination.
"Live and learn," thought Desmond philosophically. "I'll know better
next time."
The _Spanker_ was now close-hauled on the port tack, and, although
she was able to lay on her course, the wind had fallen so light that
she was hardly able to stem the adverse tide.
"It doesn't very much matter, my lad," remarked Truscott. "You
wouldn't have been able to get the _Spanker_ into harbour until close
on high-water. Better keep on sailing than lying at anchor in a
ground-swell."
"That's all very well," added Wilde, "but how about my collar-bone?"
"I've not forgotten it, nor my hands either," rejoined his chum, with
a faint show of asperity. "My head's aching like anything."
"So's mine," said Wilde, "so you've nothing to make a song about."
Desmond heard, but said nothing. It seemed strange to him that two
chums should start wrangling on board a small craft. But a few
minutes later amicable relations were resumed as suddenly as they had
been interrupted.
At six o'clock the yacht was hove-to once more, while the handy Sea
Scout prepared and served a meal. Shortly after, the tide turned, and
the _Spanker_ made better progress, although the breeze was paltry
and inclined to be fluky. Nine o'clock found her off Compass Point,
the southern boundary of Bude Haven, and Desmond had another
experience: that of waiting for enough water to make the entrance.
At last, with centre-plate up, the _Spanker_ ran in. Fortunately for
Desmond the wind was very light. Wilde, with his uninjured arm, held
the tiller, while the Sea Scout lowered first mainsail, then mizzen,
jib, and finally the staysail.
Gradually losing way, the ketch was brought alongside the stone wall
outside the lock and made fast. In the fading twilight Desmond was
delighted and surprised to recognize Mr. Graham's voice.
"Thank Heaven I've found you!" exclaimed the Scoutmaster gratefully.
"What have you been doing, Desmond?"
It was Truscott, erstwhile scoffer of Sea Scouts, who replied:
"Doing a rattling good turn, sir. We'd have been tied up in knots if
it hadn't been for Patrol Leader Desmond."
CHAPTER XVI
The Outboard Motor
It was midnight before the crew of the _Spindrift_ turned in, but for
once the regulation for "lights out" at ten was waived. Findlay and
Hayes had to be told a detailed account of Desmond's adventure; while
Desmond had to hear the story of the fruitless search for the missing
Patrol Leader. The belated supper was a protracted affair, and
yarning seemed to be going on indefinitely, until the Scoutmaster
reminded his youthful crew that, all being well, the homeward voyage
was to be commenced within the next twelve hours.
All hands were up and about by eight the next morning. There was
still much to be done, overhauling gear, taking in provisions, and
making all snug. After breakfast they paid a visit to the _Spanker_.
Truscott and Wilde had both received medical attention, and the
doctor had inquired who had dressed their injuries.
"He said it was a splendid job," declared Truscott. "They call
sailors 'handy men', but, by Jove! I think Sea Scouts run them pretty
close."
"When are you putting to sea again?" asked Mr. Graham.
"We don't know exactly," was the reply. "We've got to get fit, and
we've sent for some chums of ours to give us a hand with the yacht.
Fortunately, we are not tied to time."
"Let's hope you'll have better luck for your next venture," observed
the Scoutmaster.
"We might have had a jolly sight worse luck than we did," rejoined
Wilde, "if it hadn't been for Desmond. The average lad would have
been scared stiff if he'd found himself on a strange yacht in the
Bristol Channel with a couple of crocked-up blighters like us."
"Hurry up, if you want to pass through the lock!" shouted a
peremptory voice.
The Sea Scouts brought their visit to a hasty termination.
Scoutmaster and Scouts ran back to the _Spindrift_, the ropes were
cast off, and the ketch tracked along the bank and through the wide
open gates.
"Good luck!" shouted the crew of the _Spanker_ as the _Spindrift_
glided past.
"Jump aboard, lads!" ordered Mr. Graham.
Findlay and Hayes, who had been tracking the ketch to the gates,
leapt upon her deck. Desmond was at the helm, while the Scoutmaster
directed the setting of the canvas.
"Up staysail and mizzen first, lads!" he ordered. Slowly the
_Spindrift_ forged ahead, aided by the light south-easterly breeze.
Not until mainsail and jib were set did she heel slightly to the
wind, and the water began to ripple and gurgle as her stem cut its
way seaward.
"Isn't this fine, sir!" exclaimed the Patrol Leader. "She's carrying
just a little weather-helm. She's as stiff as a house."
"Let's hope she'll prove so in a hard blow," rejoined Mr. Graham, as
he unfolded a chart and spread it upon the cabin top.
"Where are we making for to-day, sir?" asked Desmond.
"Only to Padstow," was the reply. "I want to test the _Spindrift's_
capabilities before we undertake a long run. This coast isn't like
the Essex shore. There aren't harbours every few miles. Keep her on
Carnbeak, Desmond. That's the point right ahead--but I suppose you
know that already."
"Do I not, sir!" said the Patrol Leader with a laugh. "I thought
yesterday that we'd never pass it. The tides do run hot on this
coast."
It was a pleasant, almost uneventful sail. Mr. Graham exercised the
crew, getting them to go-about, gybe, heave-to, and shoot the yacht
up into the wind in order to pick up the lifebuoy, which he threw
overboard without warning--to practice "man overboard!" evolutions.
People ashore must have speculated on the cause of the _Spindrift's_
antics; but there was method in the Scoutmaster's madness. It was all
very well to put to sea under ideal conditions and to be unprepared
for eventualities. Mr. Graham meant to make his crew capable of
"knocking down a couple of reefs", and, until they could do this
smartly and without unnecessary fuss, he kept them at it.
By the time the _Spindrift_ was abreast of Carnbeak the Scoutmaster
announced his satisfaction at the way the crew had carried out their
task. Already they had "got the hang of things". They knew where
each sheet and halliard was belayed, so that there would be no
confusion when it came to shortening or stowing sail. Each lad took
his trick at the helm, so as to get accustomed to the pull of the
tiller and the amount of helm necessary to put the yacht about
without causing her to miss stays and get in irons, for the
_Spindrift's_ long keel and pronounced forefoot made her rather slow
in going about.
There was no need to hasten. The day was long, the run short. So the
_Spindrift_ hugged the shore as closely as possible without danger of
hitting any of the numerous outlying rocks. She edged inside Meachard
in order to give her crew a peep at the miniature Boscastle Harbour;
Tintagel Head and Castle were viewed from seaward, the legendary
fortress of King Arthur affording the crew a source of deep interest.
Then, skirting Trebarwith sands, the yacht brought up in Port Isaac
while the crew had a meal on deck, satisfying the inner man while
their eyes feasted upon the picturesque aspect of the little Cornish
fishing village.
Six o'clock found the _Spindrift_ off Pentire Point with the whole of
Padstow Bay opened out.
"We'll be anchored by half-past six," observed Hayes the optimist.
But alas for that conjecture! He had reckoned without the baffling
entrance to Padstow, where, if the wind be light outside, it is
necessary to depend upon either power or oars to make the intricate
channel; while, if there is a strong, commanding breeze, the breakers
on the dreaded Doombar render the approach to Padstow unsafe.
All went well with the ketch _Spindrift_ and her crew until she was
abreast of Stepper Point on the starboard hand. Then the sails began
to shake. Gradually she lost way until the coast no longer appeared
to glide by.
"Timber topsails, lads!" exclaimed Mr. Graham cheerfully. "A little
work with the sweeps won't do us any harm."
Bidding Desmond keep his weather eye lifting for puffs that might
sweep down over the cliff, the Scoutmaster took one oar while Findlay
manned the other. It was hot, tiring work. Progress was slow, and
although, after half an hour's unremitting toil, the _Spindrift_ was
a mile inside Stepper Point, the anchorage off Padstow seemed as far
off as ever.
"I wish we had a motor," said Findlay, breathlessly, as he wiped the
perspiration from his forehead.
"Well, we haven't," rejoined Hayes, "and we aren't likely to have one
yet awhile. We're jolly lucky to get the yacht as she is."
"Then come and do a bit with the sweeps," was Findlay's pointed
invitation.
Before Hayes could "take on", Desmond exclaimed:
"Stand by! There's a breeze ahead!"
The next instant the _Spindrift_ heeled to a free puff. Gathering way
she quickly glided up the channel, rounding to and dropping anchor
within half a cable's length of Padstow Quay.
After everything was made snug, the dinghy was manned and the three
Sea Scouts set out for the shore, Mr. Graham volunteering to keep
anchor-watch in their absence.
Close to the _Spindrift_ was a "sixteen-footer", in the stern sheets
of which knelt a very red-faced man, struggling with a refractory
outboard engine. Through sheer exhaustion he desisted as the Sea
Scout's dinghy passed.
"Say, you lads," he exclaimed breathlessly. "Do you ever use strong
language? If you don't, you would if you had this brute of a pig to
deal with."
"What's wrong, sir?" asked Desmond, signing to his chums to lay on
their oars.
"What's wrong?--everything," declared the exasperated man. "I bought
this diabolical contraption ten days ago. Unpacked it--shoved it into
a bath and started it up. First swing of the fly-wheel she fired--the
wallpaper isn't dry yet, and my cat got a stream smack in her face. I
haven't seen her from that day to this. Took the engine on board next
day and tried again. Fire she wouldn't. Did every mortal trick I knew
to get her to go--I've had twelve years experience with internal
combustion engines. All that day I struggled with her; then I wrote
off to the makers. They replied they'd send an expert down if I'd pay
expenses."
He broke off his narrative to give a couple of vicious tugs at the
fly-wheel. The motor remained silent and vibrationless.
"It does me good to get it off my chest," he continued breathlessly.
"You lads interested?"
"Yes, sir," was the reply.
"Well, I made the makers a sporting offer. 'Send the expert down,'
said I, 'and if he gets the brute to go within half an hour I'll pay.
If he doesn't, you jolly well pay all expenses.' They agreed, and
next day the expert comes over from Plymouth. 'Now then, my dear
sir,' said I, 'get on with it.' Get on with it he did. He fiddled
about for less than a minute, gave one pull at the fly-wheel and off
she went like a Maxim gun. 'There you are,' he exclaimed. 'Give her
sufficient petrol and I'll guarantee her to keep going for
twenty-four hours.' That did me. I paid him up and back to Plymouth
he went. Next morning I came on board to start her up. That was as
far as it got. From that day to this I haven't got as much as a kick
out of her--the obstinate mule!"
He took out the plug, "doped" it with petrol, and replaced it. Half a
dozen swings produced no desired result.
"Close on forty pounds she cost me!" he exclaimed. "I've a jolly good
mind to heave the blessed thing overboard."
"I wouldn't do that, sir," said Findlay.
The man gave him a swift glance. He was one of those easy-going
moneyed men who act upon impulse.
The forty pounds was little or nothing to him. The motor, having
aroused his resentment, was of no value in his eyes.
"Then I won't," he replied with a laugh. "Where are you from?"
Desmond told him.
"Look here," continued the internal combustion engine expert, "I'll
make you a sporting offer. Take the bundle of scrap iron on board
your boat and tinker about with it. I've done with the beastly thing.
If you can make it go within the next hour you can have it for a
fiver."
"I haven't anything like that amount," declared the Patrol Leader.
"Does that offer hold good as far as I am concerned, Sadler?" called
out Mr. Graham. In the calm air he had heard every word of the
conversation.
"By Jove! Graham, old son!" almost shouted the jaded victim of the
outboard motor. "How on earth did you come to this part of the world?
Here, you fellows, help me to unship the infernal contraption and
take me aboard your craft."
The engine was unclamped from the transom and dumped on board the
_Spindrift's_ dinghy. Into her jumped Mr. Sadler, and the Sea Scouts
rowed back to the _Spindrift_.
"Now we'll have a long kag about the good old times in the Harwich
Patrol, Graham," exclaimed Sadler, gripping the Scoutmaster's hand.
"Let your youngsters carry on with that rotten infernal machine. To
see your familiar old figure-head again more than compensates me for
hours of toil with that low-down motor. Now, then; fire away and tell
me all the news about yourself."
While the two ex-R.N.V.R. men were exchanging reminiscences the three
Sea Scouts took the motor for'ard. Findlay directed operations. He
had a fairly sound knowledge of motor-bicycles, and the principles of
an air-cooled engine varied very slightly from the two-stroke
outboard motor that had completely baffled Mr. Sadler.
Findlay's first step was to clean the magneto. There were distinct
evidences of moisture in the "make-and-break". Testing the plug on
the cylinder he obtained a very healthy spark, but, when the plug was
screwed home, there was not the faintest trace of firing.
"A regular mystery!" declared Jock. "Have that plug out again,
Desmond old son."
Four times Findlay repeated the tests. The current easily ignited the
dope in the plug when the latter was laid on the cylinder, but, as
soon as the plug was replaced the petrol squirted, but it remained
unfired.
"The clearance between the points is all right," he remarked,
speaking to himself rather than to his companions.
For about half a minute he toyed seemingly aimlessly with the plug;
then in an excited whisper he continued:
"I've got it, lads. At least, I think I have. Hand over that small
spanner, Hayes. Thanks. Now bring our dinghy alongside. We'll try
this little lad."
Very softly, so as not to disturb the occupants of the cabin (Findlay
meant to give them a surprise), the outboard motor was clamped to the
dinghy's transom. For the umpteenth time the engine was doped, and
with bated breath Desmond and Hayes watched Jock grip the fly-wheel.
One vigorous swing and the trick was done! With a series of rapid
explosions the engine fired. Ahead shot the dinghy, the sudden
acceleration capsizing Desmond and Hayes and throwing them in a heap
upon the thwarts, while Findlay had only sufficient time to grasp the
tiller and steer the dinghy clear of the yacht's side.
The roar of the motor brought Mr. Sadler and the Scoutmaster on deck.
They were just in time to see Hayes and the Patrol Leader sorting
themselves out, while Findlay, with a grin of triumph on his face,
was steering the dinghy round the _Spindrift_ at a speed that she had
never before attained.
"By Jove!" exclaimed Sadler in sheer amazement. "However did they
manage the trick?" Scoutmaster Graham smiled.
"You repent of your bargain, George?" he asked.
"Frankly, yes," was the reply. "Now that the old engine is letting
out so nicely I rather regret my rashness. But a bargain's a bargain.
Your lads have carried out their part, and I'll carry out mine."
The Sea Scouts careered about the harbour for nearly half an hour,
and then brought the dinghy alongside and switched off the ignition.
"Will she start up again?" queried Mr. Sadler. In reply Jock gave the
fly-wheel a sharp pull over. The engine fired immediately.
"She's yours," said the late owner, carelessly stuffing the five
one-pound notes that Mr. Graham had given him into his pocket. "But
tell me: what was wrong?"
"The plug, sir," replied Findlay.
"But it was a brand new one," rejoined Mr. Sadler.
"Yes, sir," explained Jock. "But the central rod was a little loose.
There was the correct clearance between the points when the plug was
out of the cylinder. When it was screwed home the rod touched one of
the points, so there was no spark-gap."
"Well, good luck to you and your engine," said Mr. Sadler. "You
deserve it, and the tip is well worth knowing. I'll order another
outboard of the same type to-morrow."
CHAPTER XVII
Advantages and Disadvantages of Cement
"A regular Paddy's hurricane!" commented Desmond as he came on deck
next morning.
Not a breath of wind stirred the air. The sky was clear; the placid
waters of Padstow Harbour were as smooth as a mirror. The smoke from
the various chimneys ashore went up as straight as a plumb-line.
Findlay, stopping only to tap the barometer, followed his chum into
the cockpit.
"Gass high and steady," he observed. "It's going to be a top-hole
day. Wind nor'-east, when it does come, I fancy."
"It's a good thing we have a motor," added Hayes, glancing at his
blistered hands. "The _Spindrift_ is a regular brute to sweep along.
How's that toe of yours, Desmond?"
"Much better, thanks," replied the Patrol Leader.
Mr. Graham, clad like the others in a bathing-suit, came on deck,
glanced over the side to make sure that the tide was slack, and gave
the signal.
The next instant four distinct splashes indicated that the crew of
the _Spindrift_ were taking a personal interest in the waters of
Padstow Harbour. A vigorous swim, followed by a brisk rub-down, gave
the lads a most healthy appetite.
"When do we make a start, sir?" asked Desmond, during breakfast.
"As soon as we've stowed everything away," was the reply. "We've a
fairly long run to-day."
"Round Land's End, sir?" asked Hayes.
"Hardly," rejoined Mr. Graham. "We'll have to be satisfied if we make
St. Ives before night. There'll be wind before very long. By the by,
Findlay, while we are clearing away and snugging down, you might go
ashore and get a couple of tins of petrol and a quart of lubricating
oil."
Jock went off in the dinghy. Whilst he was away Hayes washed up, Mr.
Graham dried the breakfast things, and Desmond stowed them away.
"Are we going to tow the yacht out with the dinghy, sir?" asked
Findlay on his return.
"No, we'll have the motor on the _Spindrift's_ transom," replied the
Scoutmaster. "For one thing, the propeller will be a fairly big drag
for the dinghy when we're towing her under sail."
"We can unship it from the dinghy, sir," said Findlay. "It only
weighs about forty or fifty pounds."
"Quite so," agreed Mr. Graham, "but even that weight requires some
lifting in a small dinghy. If there's any roll on outside it will be
a difficult matter to unclamp the motor and transfer it on board the
yacht. We'll see what we can do now."
Luckily the edge of the transom projected a couple or three inches
above the _Spindrift's_ after-deck, and to this projection the
outboard engine was clamped, and the propeller adjusted until it was
the right depth below the surface. Meanwhile Findlay had mixed the
petrol and oil in the right proportions and had filled the tank.
"We've quite a lot of water in the bilges, sir," announced Hayes, who
had lifted up one of the floor-boards.
"Yes, by Jove, we have," agreed Mr. Graham. "She's probably not taken
up properly. Get the pump going, Hayes."
The Sea Scout fitted the plunger and primed the pump. Then he gave a
dozen vigorous strokes, without the desired result.
"Pump's not working, sir," he declared.
The Scoutmaster looked to see what was amiss. The lower valve was
adrift. It was of the double-mushroom pattern, with a flange in the
barrel and a nut in the suction-pipe to keep the valve in its place.
Removing the lower valve by means of a hooked rod, Mr. Graham found
that the nut had come unfastened, and was probably half-way down the
pipe. Without it the valve was lifted completely out of its resting
by the suction of the plunger.
"That's awkward, sir," said Desmond. "The pipe's soldered to the
barrel instead of having the usual union. What's to be done?"
"We can't go to sea with a pump out of action," rejoined the
Scoutmaster. "What do you suggest, Desmond?"
"Unshipping the whole concern and taking it ashore to be set right,
sir," was the reply. "It's a plumber's job."
"It would mean a day wasted," objected Findlay. "It's a pity to miss
this fine weather."
"Then what do you suggest, old son?" asked the Patrol Leader. "If
you've a stunt in the back of your mind, out with it."
"I'd scrap the lower valve," declared Findlay.
"But you must have one, Jock," interrupted Mr. Graham, "otherwise the
pump won't act."
"Yes, sir, I know," said the Sea Scout. "All we want is a hollow
india-rubber ball, slightly smaller than the bore of the pump, and a
handful of cement. Punch a small hole in the ball, fill it with dry
cement, and then put it in water to set. That's your lower valve."
"Yes, and I fancy that will do the trick, Jock," agreed the
Scoutmaster. "Nip ashore and see if you can get the things."
Findlay made a second trip in the dinghy. During his absence the
others got rid of the bilge-water by the tedious process of baling
out, since some hours must necessarily elapse before the cement would
set.
On Jock's return the motor was started and the anchor broken out. At
a modest three knots the _Spindrift_ glided easily toward the open
sea, as if to demonstrate the superiority of the little 2 3/4
horse-power engine over a pair of sixteen-feet sweeps manned by Sea
Scouts.
Desmond was at the helm; the Scoutmaster and Findlay were engaged in
setting canvas in contemplation of a breeze outside; while Hayes,
armed with bucket and mop, proceeded to remove the mud from the
ketch's deck and to clean the slimy ooze from the anchor.
"We're in luck, sir!" exclaimed the Patrol Leader, as Trevose
Lighthouse opened out on the port bow. "There's a breeze coming up
right aft."
It was a fairly long time coming, but when it did arrive the breeze
was a fair and steady one. The motor was switched off and hoisted
inboard, sheets were trimmed, and lee-runners slacked away. Although
the tide was against her, the _Spindrift_ was soon slipping steadily
past the rock-bound coast.
Findlay set to work with the cement and the india-rubber ball. It was
rather a troublesome task, as, in the rising wind, the powdered
cement was blowing all over the yacht; but at last the ball was
filled as tightly as possible and then dropped into a pail of water.
"It will be set by the time we drop anchor," he declared.
Three hours steady run brought the _Spindrift_ abeam of Newquay.
Then, clearing the Goose and the Chick--two outlying rocks--she
squared off towards St. Agnes' Head.
"Fine piece of coast, this," observed Mr. Graham. "You'd hardly
imagine those cliffs contained little harbours that did a roaring
trade in the old smuggling days. There's Hanover Cove, Trevellas
Porth, and Trevaunance Cove--picturesque little holes that from
seaward would easily pass notice."
"What's the matter with the sea, sir?" suddenly exclaimed Hayes.
"It's red!"
At that moment the _Spindrift_ had passed over a clearly defined
line. On one side the sea was of a deep green, on the other it was of
a vivid red, the red patch extending in semicircular formation with
its base shorewards.
"Mundic--a sort of arsenic refuse from the mines," explained the
Scoutmaster. "There's a large mine over there, close to Trevaunance,
and the pumps throw out the mundic waste into a stream that in turn
carries it to the sea. All along the coast you'll see the same sort
of thing. Now, how about lunch, you fellows? I'm jolly hungry, if you
are not."
Findlay, as "cook of the day", went below to start up the stove and
prepare the meal. There was a certain amount of rivalry between the
lads in the matter of providing an appetizing meal, and Jock meant to
"keep his end up".
Presently the fragrant odour of grilled steak wafted aft. The
Scoutmaster, Desmond, and Hayes sniffed the air and nodded knowingly.
Jock was going to do them well.
"All ready, you fellows!" he shouted.
The _Spindrift_ was hove-to on the starboard tack, which meant that
if she made any way at all it would be away from the shore. By this
time the tide had changed, so that although hove-to she was still
being carried towards her desired haven.
Into the cabin Scoutmaster and Sea Scouts scrambled. Findlay, proud
as a peacock, served up the first course--pea soup. The hungry crew
attacked it ravenously. They were too eager to talk.
After a few spoonfuls Desmond slowed down and watched his companions.
Mr. Graham was somewhat critically examining the soup on his plate.
Hayes had given up his portion as a bad job and was awaiting
corroborative evidence.
"What's wrong?" asked the Patrol Leader.
"I don't know," replied Hayes. "It doesn't seem quite right, somehow.
Does it, sir?"
Mr. Graham, thus appealed to, was about to give his verdict when
Findlay came into the cabin from the fo'c'sle.
"Ready for second course, sir? Hello! Not finished yet. Is there
anything wrong?"
"I suppose, Jock," observed the Scoutmaster, "I suppose you did make
the soup from the packet labelled 'pea soup'?"
"Yes, sir," replied Findlay, getting red in the face.
"I thought perhaps it might have been a packet of ground
oyster-shells for chickens that the grocer had given you in mistake
for pea flour."
Findlay tasted a spoonful of soup.
"It certainly is gritty, sir," he admitted. "All right, I'll bring
the steak. Hang on to those plates, Hayes."
Hayes, who was nearest to the fo'c'sle door, took the pile of tin
plates, as requested. He promptly dropped the lot.
"They're hot!" he exclaimed, holding his tingling fingers.
"Sorry," murmured Jock. "I meant them to be warmed. Pick them up with
that cloth. I'm bringing in the steak and potatoes."
Judging by the rich brown appearance and savoury odour, the steak was
done to a turn. But alas! Both meat and potatoes were as gritty and
as unpalatable as the pea soup. It was only by carefully scraping the
steak on all sides that it could be rendered eatable; while the
potatoes, boiled to softness, would not yield to such treatment. Nor
was the bread much better.
"I can't think what's happened, sir," said Findlay, abjectly
apologetic.
"I can tell you, I think," rejoined the Scoutmaster. "Everything's
smothered with cement dust, and the powder has solidified into little
pellets. Look! This shelf is thick with white dust."
Desmond laughed good-humouredly.
"Poor old Jock evidently forgot that we belong to the Seal Patrol,
sir," he exclaimed. "He thinks we are ostriches. Ostriches swallow
chunks of stone and nails, don't they, sir?"
There was yet another course--jam tart--but Findlay had not the
courage to produce it. Surreptitiously, a couple of hours later, he
dropped it overboard. The pastry, as hard as iron, sank like a stone,
which was not to be wondered at when Jock found that the remainder of
the cement had toppled over into the jar containing the flour. In the
dim light of the fo'c'sle he had failed to notice the catastrophe
--hence the pastry composed of flour and cement in almost equal parts.
There was nothing to be done but to fall back upon bully beef and
biscuits. Fortunately, these were in air-tight tins and had escaped
the sand-storm which had swept over the cabin and fo'c'sle.
"Cheer up, Jock!" exclaimed Mr. Graham. "There's no harm done." ("I
don't know about that," remarked Hayes _sotto voce_.) "It's merely a
little object lesson in the advantages and disadvantages of the use
of Portland cement."
CHAPTER XVIII
Good Luck in Disguise
The sorry repast over, the crew repaired on deck. Headsails were
trimmed, and once more the _Spindrift_ heeled to the freshening
breeze. Godrevy Island and its lighthouse were presently abeam, and
the expanse of St. Ives Bay lay ahead.
"Clinking breeze, isn't it, sir?" remarked Desmond.
"M'yes," admitted the Scoutmaster.
The Patrol Leader glanced inquiringly at him. The none too emphatic
affirmative needed some explanation.
"This wind," continued Mr. Graham, "is rather bad for the tidal
harbour of St. Ives. It may send in a nasty lop unless it pipes down
before night."
Mr. Graham was particularly anxious to put into St. Ives, as it was a
good port of departure for rounding Land's End, or "The Land" as it
is described by seamen. But, with the wind east or nor'-east, the
anchorage was undesirable, although there was little danger. An
alternative was Hayle, where a safe but congested anchorage was to be
found, but that meant considerable delay and increased distance for
the next day's run. A high and steady glass decided the point; Mr.
Graham made up his mind to make St. Ives.
Shortening sail, the _Spindrift_ passed the end of the partly
demolished breakwater and rounded-to. In ordinary circumstances it
would have been possible to run out a warp to an iron post ashore and
a stern line to one of the buoys; but such a course was now
impracticable. The tidal harbour was so full of fishing craft that no
post or buoy was available.
"We'll have to anchor, lads," he exclaimed. "Stream the buoy--clove
hitch on the crown, there Jock. Let go!"
The wind was dying down, and there was only a slight roll. The
picturesque little harbour took the Sea Scouts' fancy immensely. They
were all eager to go ashore.
"Can't we have a meal in the town, sir?" inquired Hayes artlessly.
"If we had it on board we might have to swallow another peck of
cement."
"All right!" agreed Mr. Graham. "See that there's nothing loose on
deck."
"Are there thieves about?" asked Findlay.
"No, I'm not thinking of that," replied the Scoutmaster, "otherwise
one of us would have to remain on board. As a rule it's quite safe to
leave anything about in these Cornish ports. The people are quite
different from those of certain Thames Estuary places, where you
daren't leave the slightest thing of value and expect to find it in
the morning. No; what I'm thinking of is that the _Spindrift_ may lie
over a bit when the tide leaves her, and things on deck may roll
off."
Ten minutes later the crew of the _Spindrift_ were exploring the
crooked, narrow, and picturesque streets of old St. Ives, built on a
narrow neck of rocky ground called, for some inexplicable reason, The
Island. There they inquired for the post office, for Mr. Graham had
arranged to pick up letters at St. Ives.
There was a goodly budget, all hands receiving three or more
missives. One was from Patrol Leader Bradley, of the 9th Southend
Troop, who was one of the lads who had arranged to join the guardship
at Wootton.
"DEAR SIR" (it ran),
"Johns, Dexter, Phillips, Wenlock, and I arrived
here yesterday. We think it a top-hole place, but we wish we were
with you on the yacht. There's not much news. Bedford cut himself
last night, and this morning Coles fell overboard.
"Yours truly,
"WILL BRADLEY,
"P. L. 9th S. on S. Sea Scouts."
Another letter was from Tenderfoot Coles:
"DEAR SIR,
"We hope you are having a good time on the _Spindrift_. I
hope to have a telegram from you telling Bedford and me to come to
Plymouth as soon as possible. The other fellows came here
yesterday, so we are pretty lively. I've just fallen overboard. A
rope parted as I was hauling up the dinghy. There was no tide
running, so I swam to the gangway, and Dexter hauled me up. I've
changed and now I'm quite all right. Bedford cut his little finger
with a tin-opener. It's not much. Phillips and I bound it up, and
this morning it is almost healed.
"Yours Sea-scoutingly,
"EDWARD COLES."
"Two youngsters write about the same incident," thought Mr. Graham.
"One omits the most important part--how the accidents occurred and
how they resulted. The other gives just the necessary details and no
more. Coles will, I fancy, turn out to be a better Patrol Leader than
Bradley is. One is practical, and the other is unimaginative. Bradley
is a worker, but he has no initiative."
After a long walk along the cliffs, the Sea Scouts returned to the
harbour to find the _Spindrift_ lying high and dry, and with a
pronounced list to starboard. Fortunately, she was fairly
flat-floored and had been fitted with bilge-keels, so there was no
cause for anxiety on the score of her not lifting to the rising tide.
Taking off shoes and stockings, the crew dragged their dinghy over
the sandy bed of the harbour until they were close enough to secure
the painter to the yacht's bumkin. Then, scrambling on board, they
made the best of a bad job until the rising tide brought the
_Spindrift_ to an even keel.
It was now ten o'clock. Assuming that the tide would be half an hour
later on the morrow, Mr. Graham announced that he hoped to get under
way sharp at eleven.
"And have a good night's rest, lads," he added. "To-morrow's cruise
will be the heaviest of the lot, I fancy. We may not make Penzance
until after dark."
The lads had a fairly restful night, but at five in the morning those
sleeping in the bunks on the port side were summarily evicted by the
_Spindrift_ heeling well over as the tide left her. Findlay and
Hayes, being on the starboard side, slept on, sublimely unconscious
of their companions' discomfort, until Desmond slackened off their
cot-lashings and tumbled them unceremoniously upon the floor.
They had breakfast in undignified postures, sitting on the rise of
the starboard bunk with their feet propped against the panelling of
the cabin. To the happy-go-lucky Sea Scouts it was part of the game.
They made light of their discomforts, and of a heavy and substantial
meal at the same time.
A trip ashore, performed almost dryshod on the bed of the harbour,
occupied a part of the time before the _Spindrift_ lifted. Then, as
the tide rose and the angle of the yacht's deck became less and less,
all hands set to work to prepare the vessel for sea.
At last she was afloat. With a light nor'-westerly breeze sweeping
down over The Island the canvas was set and the cable hove short.
Already the bilge had been pumped dry. The yacht had almost "taken
up", and the pump now acted admirably, thereby compensating in a
measure for Findlay's lavish use of powdered Portland cement.
"All ready?" shouted Desmond, who had charge of the yacht during this
stage of the proceedings. "Cant her off on the starboard tack, Jock.
Up with the anchor, Hayes, smartly now!"
The _Spindrift_ heeled as Findlay hauled the staysail sheet
a-weather. Hayes at the winch plied the lever vigorously. At first
the cable came home quickly, then the strain became greater and
greater until Hayes was unable to move the winch lever another inch.
"Up with it, Hayes," yelled the Patrol Leader.
"Can't," was the laconic response.
Quickly belaying the staysail sheet, Findlay went to his chum's
assistance. Another half a dozen links came home, and then the cable
remained rigid and immovable.
"Anchor's foul of something, sir!" reported Findlay breathlessly.
"Carry on!" was the Scoutmaster's only rejoinder.
The Sea Scouts knew the meaning of that "Carry on". It meant that
they were on their mettle. They had to extricate the anchor by their
own devices. The first thing they did was to secure the anchor-trig
and haul on the trip-line. The latter was unequal to the strain. It
parted well below the surface. Not for the first time was a trip-line
a broken reed.
Then Desmond tried to break out the anchor by "sailing it out".
Telling Jock to pay out plenty of chain, he got way on the yacht,
first on one tack and then on the other. Every time the cable snubbed
violently, but still the stubborn anchor retained its hold.
It was now about time, thought Mr. Graham, that he had a look in.
Gaining experience was all very well when time was no object; but,
with a long day's run in front of him, the Scoutmaster realized that
every minute counted. Not only that, the tide was making rapidly, and
the deeper the water the more difficult would be the task of freeing
the fouled anchor.
Telling Findlay and Desmond to heave short, Mr. Graham went for'ard
with a long boat-hook and a coil of three-inch manila, one end of
which was bent to the anchor buoy. Sounding, the Scoutmaster
confirmed his suspicions: the anchor had caught in a heavy
ground-chain. His next step was to submerge the buoy with the
boat-hook until he could pass it under the bight of the chain. This
took a considerable amount of time and patience, but at length the
buoy reappeared on the surface, while the rope to which it was
attached had been passed under the chain itself. "Now we've settled
the problem!" exclaimed Mr. Graham. "Cast off the cable from the
wind, Findlay, and take a couple of turns with the rope. That's
right, now heave on the winch." The two Sea Scouts did so until the
three-inch manila was strained almost to breaking-point. They now
realized what the Scoutmaster was about. The strain on the rope
lifted the mooring chain clear of the ground. It now ought to be a
simple matter to shake the anchor clear, stow it on board, and ride
to the rope until it required to be slipped.
It was a simple operation in theory. In practice Mr. Graham had done
it successfully on several occasions, but this time the Scoutmaster
had the mortification of finding that his practical demonstration was
a failure. The anchor stubbornly refused to release its hold, and no
power available could raise the bight of the mooring chain above the
surface. For half an hour Mr. Graham persevered. By that time the
strain on the rope had brought the yacht's bows down a good eighteen
inches above her water-level.
"Slacken away, lads," he exclaimed. "We'll have to wait till low
tide. There's no sailing for us to-day."
During the afternoon, a heavy ground-swell set in, followed by a
gusty sou'-westerly wind. Consulting the barometer the Scoutmaster
found that the glass had dropped three points in less than a couple
of hours.
He no longer regretted that the _Spindrift_ had been compelled to
remain in port.
Presently the fishing-boats in St. Ives Bay came heading up for home
under close reefed canvas. A little later a couple of boats ran round
Fisherman's Reef with their mizzen sails set on their main-masts.
Their mainsails had been split to ribbons. They were followed by a
smack under jury-rig, her mast having parted five feet above the
deck.
The Scoutmaster was immensely relieved that the _Spindrift_ was not
off Land's End.
At low tide all hands went over the side to retrieve the fouled
anchor. One fluke had caught in a link, and the strain had forced it
in so far that it could only be released by heavy blows with a
hammer.
To prevent a repetition of the occurrence, the anchor was unshackled
and the cable passed under the ground chain and brought back on board
again.
"That will hold us all right," declared Findlay.
"My word, sir," said Hayes. "It would have been a bit rough outside,
wouldn't it?"
"They say--those fishermen over there," remarked Desmond, "that the
Sennen lifeboat had to go out to rescue the crew of a couple of
schooners. Where is Sennen, sir?"
"Close to Land's End," replied Mr. Graham, while in his heart he was
giving thanks to Providence that the _Spindrift_ and her crew were
not lying fathoms deep off the pitiless rocks of Cornwall.
CHAPTER XIX
The Fog
For the next two days the _Spindrift_ remained at St. Ives,
alternately rolling like a barrel or lying well over on the bottom of
the harbour, according to the state of the tide. On the first of
those two days it would have been sheer madness to attempt to put to
sea: the yacht would have been dismasted or sunk before she came
abreast of Pendeen. On the second the brief summer gale had
moderated. The _Spindrift_ might have made the passage round The Land
successfully, but Mr. Graham deemed it prudent to wait until the sea
calmed down. It looked quiet enough when viewed from the heights
above St. Ives, but there were those long Atlantic rollers between
Cape Cornwall and Land's End to be taken into account, to say nothing
of the strong current setting towards the deadly Brisons.
The greater part of the time was spent ashore. Enthusiastic
sailor-lads though they were, the Sea Scouts found that life afloat
under these conditions was neither comfortable nor instructive.
Sleeping on board, with the deck at an angle of 45 degrees was bad
enough, but when it came to eating and living in a confined space
that was rolling monotonously until the yacht's planks were awash, it
was too much for the crew to endure.
At length, the glass began to rise slowly, after suffering a relapse
that threatened a harder blow. The weather reports stated that a
cyclone of considerable violence and with a narrow path had shifted
towards the North Sea. Vessels putting in from the west'ard reported
calm seas, while on the morning of the third day a grey dawn
prognosticated a return of fine weather. On a falling tide, and with
less than a foot of water under her keel, the _Spindrift_ slipped the
friendly mooring-chain--their blessing in disguise--and stood out
bound round The Land. A light nor'-westerly breeze was in her favour,
although it was a case of long and short tacks until Zennor Hill was
abeam.
"Is that Land's End, sir?" asked Hayes, pointing to a bold promontory
on the port bow.
"No," replied the Scoutmaster, "that's Cape Cornwall. It looks to be
the most westerly point of England, and its bold appearance rather
bears it out. Don't expect too much of Land's End. Viewed from
seaward it has rather a disappointing aspect compared with Cape
Cornwall."
The latter cape rounded, the _Spindrift_ stood well out to avoid the
Brisons, tall detached rocks connected with the shore by a submerged
reef, over which the tide swirls furiously.
Right ahead, a tall lighthouse reared itself from a low-lying ridge
of rocks. It was the Longships, one of the beacons lighting the
"Chops of the Channel ".
"We don't have to go outside that, sir, do we?" asked Desmond, who
was taking his trick at the helm. "The chart shows plenty of water
between the Longships and the shore."
"No, inside," replied Mr. Graham. "You'll have to keep on a
stern-bearing--keep the highest part of the northern Brison west'ard
of the highest part of the southern Brison. That will take you
through. There's Land's End, lads."
Before the noted promontory drew abeam, Mr. Graham saw something that
caused him certain misgivings. He had wished to round The Land in
calm weather. That wish was being satisfied; but with the calm came a
sea-fog. Already the high ground above Land's End was being obscured
by a pall of fleecy vapour.
To make matters worse the wind died away, leaving the _Spindrift_
rolling sluggishly, with her canvas hanging idly from her swaying
yards.
"We're in for a fairly thick fog, Desmond," said the Scoutmaster
quietly. "Take a compass bearing of Land's End before it's shut out.
Good: now keep her head on sou'-by-east. Jock, start up the motor.
The sooner we get into the English Channel the better."
Five minutes later the _Spindrift_ was enveloped in the dense, clammy
fog. From the cockpit it was impossible to see the bowsprit end,
while the headsails, grey and grotesquely distorted, seemed baffling
in their size and appearance.
Somewhere astern, the Longships Lighthouse was throwing out its
fog-signals--two explosive rockets every five minutes. Faintly, and
far ahead, came the hoarse bray of a steamer's syren. Ashore a dog
was barking dismally--the noise too close to be appreciated by the
crew of the fog-bound yacht; while in the flat calm, the roar of the
surf upon the iron-bound coast was an audible reminder of the fate a
small craft might expect should she be carried upon that dangerous
shore.
It was the Scoutmaster's plan to hold on the present course until the
yacht was well clear of the coast; then to shape a course up-Channel
until the fog lifted. He was of opinion that it would be far safer to
spend a day and a night afloat, if necessary, with plenty of
sea-room, than to attempt to find his way into Penzance in a blinding
fog, and to risk being swept ashore or being carried upon one of the
numerous reefs or detached rocks which abound on the west side of
Mount's Bay.
Although the _Spindrift's_ compass had no deviation card, the
Scoutmaster had verified it by taking various bearings on the run
from Bude to St. Ives. He found that the compass was remarkably
accurate with the vessel's head pointing between west and sou'-west;
but whether there was an error in the compass on an easterly course
he had not the slightest idea.
Consequently, he decided to take no undue risks on that score, and
when, after an hour's steady progress under motor-power, the
_Spindrift_ was, according to his calculation, four miles south of
Land's End, he ordered a course east-by-south.
The Sea Scouts had been caught out in fogs off the Essex coast
several times. Then the usual procedure was to stand shorewards and
drop anchor in about one fathom at low water, until the fog lifted.
In such shallow water there was very little risk of being run down.
But in the present circumstances anchoring was out of the question.
All they could do was to carry on with the utmost caution, until a
lifting of the pall of vapour gave them a chance of verifying their
position.
Although the lads did not realize the gravity of the situation to the
same extent as did their Scoutmaster, they felt far from happy. It
was an eerie experience, forging ahead at about three knots through
the mist. No longer could they hear sound from the shore. The noise
of the exhaust from the motor deadened everything, the sharp reports
reverberating as the sound was thrown back by the enclosing vault of
fog.
Suddenly a loud whistling noise rent the air, its weird shriek
outvoicing the roar of the motor.
"Down helm!" shouted Mr. Graham.
Findlay, who had relieved the Patrol Leader at the helm, put the
tiller hard over. Even as he did so, a faint light appeared through
the fog almost on top of the yacht. Then the crew had a brief glimpse
of a large can-buoy, painted in black-and-white vertical stripes, as
it swept past them, straining at its moorings in the strong tideway.
It was a narrow squeak. A few feet nearer and the _Spindrift_ would
have crashed violently into the buoy. Even her stout planks and heavy
timbers could not have withstood the shock.
Five seconds later the buoy was lost in the mist, but as a parting
reminder it emitted another long-drawn whistle.
"It's the Run-something Buoy, sir," said Desmond. "I saw the first
three letters painted on the side."
"Runnelstone," said Mr. Graham. "It marks a dangerous rock off the
coast. Fortunately, we were outside the buoy. Put her east-sou'-east,
Jock."
Mr. Graham realized that there was something wrong. Although he had
allowed, as he thought, ample margin, the original course was not
sufficient to give the coast a wide enough berth. Either the compass
was in error, or else a strong indraught of tide was setting the
yacht ashore. By steering another point to the south'ard the
_Spindrift_ ought to be clear of everything.
Hour after hour passed in nervous tension. All the crew kept on deck,
straining their eyes needlessly, and listening for the faintest
sound. In spite of oilskins, they were wet through. The fog, cold and
clammy, seemed to penetrate everything. At one time, the fog-horns
and wrens of several craft were distinctly audible. At another a bell
clanged dolorously. But for the most part the yacht was in a zone of
silence, broken only by the noise of the engine and the sullen splash
of the water against her bows.
"Switch off the motor, Jock," said the Scoutmaster. "We haven't any
too much petrol, and we may want the engine to help us into port."
"How far are we from Penzance now, sir?" asked Hayes.
"Bother the boy: he does ask awkward questions," thought Mr. Graham.
He could not say, for the simple reason that he was out of his
course; and to state that fact would be an admission of incompetence
as far as his crew were concerned. It might also tend to put them in
a state of alarm.
"We are not making for Penzance," he replied. "With the fog hiding
everything it would be too risky to close the coast. So we are going
to carry on all night, if necessary. With plenty of sea-room and a
calm sea there's nothing much to worry about. Now, then. All hands
below for tea. I'll take the helm until Desmond comes on deck to
relieve me."
At length, the murky daylight began to fail. Night was approaching.
The fog was as thick as ever, notwithstanding a faint westerly breeze
that had sprung up.
Already canvas had been hoisted, and the _Spindrift_ was gliding
through the water at about 3 1/2 knots--forcing her way through the
dense bank of vapour that, in the gathering darkness, could be
felt--actually felt.
For hours not a sound had been heard from without. An uncanny silence
was in the air. Even the breeze failed to give its tuneful song as it
usually does when it hums through the rigging.
At ten o'clock a large steamer, going at high speed and blaring
incessantly with her siren, passed within fifty yards of the little
_Spindrift_; for a temporary lift in the fog showed her port light
like a gigantic blur of fire. So great was the steamer's speed, that
her bow wave broke completely over the yacht's weather side, causing
her to roll so furiously that Hayes afterwards said it was as if the
_Spindrift_ was standing on her head.
"Not much use blowing our fog-horn," remarked Findlay. "They didn't
take the slightest bit of notice."
"There's one good thing: they missed us," said Desmond.
Within the next half-hour half a dozen other craft were heard at
varying distances, fortunately not close enough to cause
apprehension.
Evidently the yacht was either crossing or converging upon one of the
regular "lanes" of shipping; but curiously enough, Mr. Graham failed
to detect any fog signals from shore stations. He had listened for
the Lizard, and later on, the Eddystone, but in vain. He had to admit
that he was completely out of his reckoning, but he made this
admission to himself.
"Turn in, lads!" he ordered briskly. "Turn in all standing, except
your shoes, in case you're wanted on deck in a hurry."
"How about you, sir?" asked the Patrol Leader. "Can't I take a watch,
and let you turn in? I'm not at all sleepy really, sir."
"All right, then," agreed the Scoutmaster, inwardly glad to have
company during the night watches. "You can do a trick with me on the
understanding that you turn in at dawn. You others, watch below!"
Scoutmaster and Patrol Leader, both clad in oilskins in addition to
their pilot jackets, prepared for their long trick. Desmond,
supremely confident in his officer's capabilities, had lost that
sense of dread which had gripped him in the early stages of the fog.
He was rather enjoying the novelty of a night at sea in thick
weather.
But not so Mr. Graham. The fog had upset all his calculations. Added
to this, the obvious unreliability of the compass had destroyed his
sense of direction. The leadline was all but useless. It was but
twenty fathoms in length, and at no time during the fog had the crew
been able to strike soundings.
It was a long night. At intervals Mr. Graham consulted the luminous
dial of his wristlet watch, and was surprised to find how slowly the
hours passed. Then there was more trouble with the compass. The light
did not burn well, and condensation on the underside of the binnacle
glass made it a matter of great difficulty to read the points. It was
only by flashing his electric torch directly upon the card that the
Scoutmaster was able to shape a course.
Yet he "kept his end up", chatting on various subjects with his
youthful companion, the while stifling the ever-present suggestion
that the _Spindrift_ was lost in the fog-enshrouded English Channel.
At last the blackness of the night gave place to a greyish light that
indicated dawn. The fog still held and showed no sign of dispersal,
while the wind held steadily from the same quarter.
"Daybreak, Desmond!" exclaimed the Scoutmaster, stretching his
cramped limbs and yawning. "Down below you go. Turn Findlay out, and
get him to make some hot cocoa before you turn in."
Five minutes later Jock thrust a tousled head through the companion
and sniffed inquiringly.
"Where are we now, sir?" was the question Mr. Graham expected--and
got.
"Still running up-Channel," was the Scoutmaster's unsatisfactory
reply. "Until the fog lifts we must not close the shore."
"I'll give you a spell, sir, directly I've made the cocoa," said
Findlay. "We haven't much fresh water left, sir. Only about a
gallon."
Left to himself, Mr. Graham threw a used match over the side and
watched it drift until it was lost to sight in the fog. By the rate
at which it drifted, the Scoutmaster estimated the yacht's speed at
three knots. Assuming that that speed had been maintained from the
time the _Spindrift_ rounded Land's End, she had already covered a
distance of forty miles in thirteen hours--the time the tide was
against her being equalized by an equal period when it was in her
favour. That meant that she ought to be fifteen or twenty miles
east-sou'-east of the Lizard, but Mr. Graham felt none too sure about
that.
Presently, Findlay appeared with two cups of steaming cocoa and half
a dozen dry biscuits on the lid of a tin.
"I've served out cocoa to the others, sir," he reported.
The Scoutmaster drank his cocoa gratefully, and began to nibble a
biscuit. It was only then that he realized how thirsty and hungry he
was. He had carried on throughout the night without any desire to eat
or drink, and maybe could have held on much longer had not Jock
brought the meal on deck.
Then came the almost overpowering desire for sleep. More than once,
Findlay, who was as fresh "as paint", caught Mr. Graham nodding his
head over the tiller.
"Won't you turn in, sir?" asked the lad. "I'll keep her going and
call you if there's anything to report."
Mr. Graham shook his head.
"I'll stick it," he declared. "When the fog lifts I may snatch a few
minutes."
But alas for the Scoutmaster's resolution! Five minutes later he
awoke with a start as the yacht ran up into the wind, and the
slatting of canvas brought the three Sea Scouts hurriedly on deck.
"Take her, Jock," said Mr. Graham wearily, as he handed over the
helm. "I must have a spell-o. I'll turn in on the cockpit floor. Kick
me if you want me."
CHAPTER XX
Captured
"Fog's lifting, sir!"
The Scoutmaster opened his eyes and blinked at the welcome light. The
good news seemed too soon to be true, but right ahead the sun was
visible--a watery disc looming faintly through the dispersing vapour.
"Nine o'clock!" exclaimed Mr. Graham. "Have I slept all that time?"
"Only four hours, sir," replied Jock. "Nothing's happened, so we let
you sleep on."
Stiffly, the Scoutmaster sat up. A grating makes a hard bed, oilskins
and greatcoat notwithstanding. Looking over the port coaming of the
cockpit he found that the range of vision was limited to a distance
of about a hundred yards, but there were indications that matters
would improve in that direction. The wind too had increased, and was
blowing more to the starboard quarter.
"That's much better, lads!" exclaimed the Scoutmaster. "I hope we've
seen the last of the fog. It hung about much longer than usual."
"Where are we, sir?" asked the three Sea Scouts in chorus.
"That's a problem I'll leave you to find out," was the reply. "Get
hold of the chart and let each of you pin-prick the position you
think we are in. The winner gets a coco-nut when we put into port."
This competition kept the crew busy, as they argued amongst
themselves and plied parallel rulers and dividers in an attempt to
solve the problem.
The tail-end of the fog cleared fairly rapidly. By ten o'clock the
horizon was visible, but land was nowhere in view.
"Shin aloft and see if you can sight land, Hayes," said the
Scoutmaster.
Hayes, lithe and active as a kitten, went up to the cross-trees,
grasping the main halliards and using the mast-hoops as foot-holds.
Arrived at his perch twenty-five feet above the sea, he surveyed the
horizon.
"There's land on our port quarter, sir," he reported. "Or it may be
clouds," he added dubiously.
"Then that's the high ground behind the Lizard," thought Mr. Graham.
"Steer nor'-nor'-east, Desmond," he added aloud, "and we'll make
Plymouth Sound in a few hours."
At noon, when the Sea Scouts went to dinner, land was not in
sight--not even from the cross-trees. At three in the afternoon, a
faint blur to the nor'-west looked like land. Half an hour later the
surmise proved to be correct.
It was a rocky coast, broken by lofty hills, but nowhere could Mr.
Graham pick out the triangular-shaped promontory of Rame Head, the
western portal to the approaches of Plymouth.
It was land, and that was all to be said about it. Somewhere within a
few miles was a harbour. The Scoutmaster had no intention of having
another night at sea, if it could possibly be avoided.
Again and again he examined the chart, and consulted _The Channel
Pilot_, hoping to recognize the coast by means of the illustrations
given in the book.
It might be Falmouth, or Fowey, or perhaps Plymouth--that gap in the
coastline. He hoped the last, but he was far from feeling confident
about it. Instinctively, the crew realized that their Scoutmaster was
out of his reckoning. They treated it as a huge joke.
With a pair of binoculars slung round his neck, Desmond went aloft.
Scanning the coast-line from his post of vantage he at length solved
the knotty problem.
"It's the Start, sir!" he reported confidently. "And I can see Prawle
Point, where we semaphored about young Gregory."
"Nonsense!" exclaimed Mr. Graham sharply.
"It is, sir," declared the Patrol Leader.
Telling Desmond to come down, the Scoutmaster went aloft. Desmond was
right. Through the powerful binoculars, the white lighthouse
buildings on Start Point and the signal station at Prawle Point were
unmistakably clear.
"That settles it," decided Mr. Graham. "We'll make for Dartmouth."
"Dartmouth, sir!" exclaimed Desmond. "I thought we were going to pick
up Bedford and Coles at Plymouth?"
"Out of the question," rejoined the Scoutmaster. "We can't beat to
wind'ard all that way and retrace our course. We'll wire them to join
us at Dartmouth."
About twenty minutes later a topsail schooner, close hauled on the
port tack, showed evident intention of crossing the _Spindrift's_
bows. By the "Rule of the Road at Sea" the latter, running free on
the same tack, had to make way for her.
As the ketch passed astern of the schooner, whose name, painted in
vivid yellow letters, was the _Gloria_, of Fowey, a short, thick-set
man, wearing a reefer suit and a bowler-hat, hailed the _Spindrift_.
"Ahoy!" he bawled. "Can you heave-to, an' take a lad ashore?"
"What's the game, I wonder," remarked Mr. Graham to his companions.
"Another sort of Gregory stunt?"
Apparently the skipper of the _Gloria_ considered his request acceded
to, for he ran the schooner up into the wind and backed his top-sail.
The _Spindrift_ also put her helm down, and hove-to about fifty yards
from the schooner's starboard quarter.
"Anything wrong?" queried the Scoutmaster.
"Nothin' to speak of," was the reply. "'E's nephew o' mine, an' his
old mother do live at Dartmouth. Us'll pick him up when we loads up
at Plymouth for Littlehampton!"
"Right-o," rejoined Mr. Graham. "We'll put him ashore. We'll send our
dinghy."
Although the sea was calm, the Scoutmaster decided that it was not
worth the risk to run the _Spindrift_ alongside the schooner. Findlay
jumped into the dinghy and rowed off, returning with the passenger.
The crew of the _Spindrift_ were not particularly impressed at the
appearance of the newcomer. He was a freckled, red-haired youth of
about eighteen, with a loose lip, and greenish eyes that had a
strained, worried look. He waved his hand to the _Gloria_ as the
schooner filled her top-sails and resumed her course.
The youth was not at all backward at asking questions. He wanted to
know all about the _Spindrift_ and her crew, where they came from and
where they were bound for; why they weren't running the motor, and
when did they expect to make Dartmouth?
On the other hand, he was very communicative when the Sea Scouts
questioned him, and was as outspoken as the misjudged Gregory had
been reticent.
Choosing the inshore passage inside the Skerries, Mr. Graham
suggested that it was time for another meal. Findlay went below to
light the stove and prepare the food, and, when he announced that all
was ready, the crew and the guest went into the cabin, leaving Hayes
at the helm.
"Keep her as she is, Hayes," cautioned Mr. Graham. "I'll be on deck
to relieve you long before we open out Dartmouth Harbour."
The Sea Scouts were hungry; so was the stranger. There was food in
plenty, but, owing to the shortage of fresh water, there was only one
cup of cocoa for each person.
Suddenly, the passenger made a hurried exit into the cock-pit. The
Sea Scouts looked at each other and grinned. They had seen similar
precipitate rushes to the open air before. Even Mr. Graham raised his
eyebrows knowingly.
But the next turn of events completely took the wind out of their
sails. Almost before they realized what was taking place, the cabin
doors were slammed to and the sliding hatch drawn over. They heard
the rasp of the securing hasp, and the sharp click of the key in the
padlock.
"Forehatch, quick, you fellows!" exclaimed the Scoutmaster, who,
seated at the after end of the cabin, could not make his way into the
fo'c'sle as quickly as Findlay and Desmond. Both lads attempted
simultaneously to squeeze through the sliding door between the cabin
and the fo'c'sle. By the time Jock had given way to the Patrol Leader
it was too late. There was a scuffling of feet on deck. The forehatch
was shut with a bang, and a marline-spike inserted through the
securing-bar. The Scoutmaster and two of the crew were prisoners.
Meanwhile, Hayes was still at the helm. Not until the young ruffian,
whom they had befriended, had secured the forehatch did he grasp the
situation. It was useless for him to leave the tiller. Without a key,
it was impossible for him to open the companion-doors, while to throw
back the fore-hatch was out of the question while the red-haired
youth was in possession of the deck.
For several minutes the fellow remained for'ard, watching the
vibrations of the hatch cover under the the united efforts of the
imprisoned crew to burst it open. Satisfied that the metal bar defied
their united strength, the red-haired youth came aft, ostentatiously
fingering a large clasp knife.
"Look 'ere, kid!" he exclaimed. "Me an' you's goin' for a trip
together, friendly-like. S'long's you gives no trouble, well an'
good. Any tricks, mind you, an' it'll be the worst for yer. Got
that?"
Hayes felt very hot in the throat. He was up against something this
time. He racked his brains to know what to say or do. To attempt to
try conclusions by force with this tough-looking fellow seemed out of
the question. Hayes was small but sturdy, but he was no match for the
huge-limbed, bull-necked youth who had taken charge of things.
"I don't know what you mean," he said. "We're expecting to fall in
with another Sea Scout motor-boat off Dartmouth, so I don't see what
you can do."
"We ain't goin' to no Dartmouth," declared the youth with a leer.
"We're goin' for a run in that there dinghy. Your pals will go for a
cruise on their own till someone picks 'em up. They can't come to no
'arm. What's that place over there?"
Hayes shook his head.
"Where's that map of yours I seed you with?" continued the young
ruffian. "Chuck it over 'ere."
He studied the chart intently, at the same time taking frequent
glances at the helmsman to guard against surprise.
"'Allsands, that's wot it is," he declared. "Now, look 'ere, mate.
Throw the yot up in the wind and put that there engine into the
dinghy. Can you work it?"
Hayes shook his head again.
"You'll jolly well 'ave to," continued the young pirate. "Look
slippy."
Obediently the Sea Scout threw the _Spindrift_ up into the wind and
drew the dinghy alongside. His ready brain was evolving a plan. He
meant to make a flying leap into the dinghy and push off, leaving the
other fellow in possession of the yacht. It was unlikely that the
red-haired youth would jump overboard and swim after the dinghy
before Hayes had time to ship rowlocks and man the sculls. If he did,
a tap over the head with one of the oars would bring him to his
senses--or otherwise.
But the Sea Scout reckoned without his host.
"'Ere, 'and me that painter," said the pirate with a grin. "Do you go
aft an' fix up that motor. Look sharp, there."
Hayes clamped the outboard motor, and adjusted the controls. As he
did so, he noticed that the fellow had not belayed the painter, but
was holding it in his hand. If the engine were put suddenly into the
reverse, the chances were that he would have to choose between
letting go or being dragged overboard.
The engine fired. Quick as thought Hayes raised the tiller, thereby
setting the propeller blade at full astern. As the Sea Scout had
surmised, the painter tautened suddenly, and the next instant it was
jerked out of the red-haired youth's hands.
As soon as the dinghy was sufficient distance astern the triumphant
Hayes put the engine ahead, in order to keep within hailing distance
of the fellow in possession of the _Spindrift_, and to deliver an
ultimatum.
But Hayes's elation was short-lived. He had forgotten the painter
trailing in the water. A jerk and the engine stopped dead, with half
a dozen turns of rope round the propeller.
Shipping the oars, the Sea Scout paddled within five yards of the
yacht.
"You're done for," he exclaimed to the furious youth. "I'm going
ashore to summon assistance, if you don't instantly let my chums out
of the cabin. The wind's falling light, and the yacht won't get very
far before you're caught."
"Don't you crow, you young blighter!" was the reply. "I'm not done
yet. See that beach? That's where I'm jolly well goin' to run this
'ere yot ashore and trust to luck. If anythink 'appens to your pals
it won't be my fault."
Hayes realized the import of this sinister threat. Even in the light
breeze, the _Spindrift_ could sail much faster than he could row the
dinghy, impeded as the latter was by the drag of the useless
propeller. And on the desolate beach a heavy swell was breaking,
sufficient to smash the _Spindrift_ into firewood in a few minutes.
And how would Mr. Graham and his two chums fare? They looked like
being drowned like rats in a trap. And, now he came to think of it,
Hayes stood a poor chance of getting ashore in the dinghy, unless
there were help at hand to save the little cockleshell from the
breakers.
CHAPTER XXI
The Tables Turned
"What is the game, sir?" asked Desmond, after the efforts of the trio
to burst open the fore-hatch had to be abandoned as hopeless.
"Can't say, I'm sure," replied Mr. Graham breathlessly. "Let's hope
it's a practical joke, but I'm afraid it isn't."
"Do you think it's Greening or Greener, or whatever his name is?"
asked Findlay. "Or perhaps it's another Borstal boy escaping from
Portland."
"That thought occurred to me," admitted the Scoutmaster, "but there's
one flaw in the argument. The skipper of the _Gloria_ vouched for
him. It might be a case of sudden mental disorder. 'Ssh! He's
speaking--listen."
In silence they listened to the almost one-sided conversation between
the red-haired youth and Hayes. They heard the outboard motor
starting up, and the ominous silence when the painter fouled the
propeller. Then followed the cold-blooded threat to run the
_Spindrift_ ashore.
"It's time we took drastic measures, lads," said Mr. Graham calmly.
"Fortunately, Hayes isn't on board the yacht. That's what was tying
my hands, as it were."
The Scoutmaster took down his portmanteau from one of the racks,
opened it, and fumbled amongst an assortment of articles. Producing a
small leather holster, he laid it on the cabin table and withdrew
from it a short-barrelled automatic taking Service ammunition. "It's
rather an un-Scouting article," remarked Mr. Graham, as he proceeded
to fill the magazine. "I had doubts about bringing it, but I think
the circumstances warrant it."
"Are you going to shoot him, sir?" asked Findlay, rather awe-struck.
"Not if I can help it," was the decided assurance. "We'll have to
rush the fellow. Remember, he has a knife."
Desmond armed himself with a knotted towel in which was wrapped up a
large iron shackle. Findlay laid hold of a rolling-pin from the
galley. It was the first time that it had been used for any purpose
since the Sea Scouts took over the yacht, and in Jock's hand it
looked a formidable weapon.
The _Spindrift_ was now heeling to starboard--an indication that the
young rascal on deck had put the helm up and was getting way on the
yacht.
"Stand by!" whispered Mr. Graham.
Raising the automatic he placed the muzzle against the cabin door and
pressed the trigger. A deafening report shook the confined space. The
air reeked of burnt cordite.
Another shot followed in quick succession, then, hastily setting the
safety-catch of the pistol, the Scoutmaster thrust his shoulder
against the door.
Already the two bullets had done their work. The hasp had been torn
from the teak door, and it required very little effort to clear a
way.
Into the cockpit rushed the Scoutmaster, the two Scouts hard on his
heels.
Alarmed by the shots, the miscreant had run for'ard, evidently under
the totally wrong impression that they were meant for him. Then,
grasping the lever of the winch, he stood on the defensive, looking
more like an infuriated beast than a human being.
"Drop that and give in at once!" said Mr. Graham sternly, pointing
the muzzle of the automatic at the fellow's stomach. The safety-catch
was still set, as the Scoutmaster knew, but he was also aware that a
man, who will face the muzzle of a pistol without outward signs of
fear, will begin to quiver and quake when the weapon is pointed at
the buckle of his belt.
The boy dropped the lever and began to raise both hands. Desmond and
Findlay ran for'ard to secure him, but with a yelp of rage the
hardened youngster leapt overboard.
He reappeared half a dozen yards astern, waving his hands and yelling
until he dipped for the second time. To all on board it was evident
that he was unable to swim. The _Spindrift_, although running up into
the wind, was still carrying a lot of way. Hayes in the dinghy was a
cable's length astern, rowing strongly, but making slow progress
owing to the drag of the outboard motor's propeller.
The Scoutmaster picked up a life-buoy and threw it to the drowning
youth. So careful was he to avoid hitting the lad with the buoy, that
it fell short.
Simultaneously, there were two splashes. Without waiting even to kick
off their shoes, Desmond and Findlay had both "taken to the ditch"
and were swimming strongly to the aid of the lad in distress.
It was an unwise and unnecessary step for both to dive overboard. One
would have been sufficient to make for the buoy and push it within
reach of the drowning youth. It also left Mr. Graham to manage the
yacht single-handed, and, although he was quite capable of so doing,
it was a tough proposition to go about, huff, and pick three persons
out of the water.
Putting the helm up, the Scoutmaster soon had the yacht under
control. Already she had "eaten her way" well to wind'ard of the lad
in distress. To go about would mean placing a still greater distance
between them. So Mr. Graham still kept the helm hard up, at the same
time checking the main-sheet until the _Spindrift_ gybed. Then
running to lee'ard he close hauled and lulled up.
By this time, Desmond had reached the life-buoy. Findlay, a quicker
and more powerful swimmer, made no effort to get hold of the
life-buoy. He saw that the object of his efforts was pretty far gone.
Incautiously, Jock made a grab at him, and the next instant the Sea
Scout was seized round the neck by the brawny arms of the frenzied
youth.
Both went under at once. Findlay, although he had not time to take a
deep breath, fortunately retained his presence of mind, and, keeping
his arms down and using his feet vigorously, brought himself and the
drowning youth to the surface.
But only for a brief instant. The other fellow, gripping like a bear,
strove to raise himself out of the water, with the result that Jock
went under again. Desmond, marking time with the buoy, hesitated to
approach lest he should be entangled in the meshes of this human net.
Deciding that something must be done--and that quickly--to avoid a
double fatality, the Patrol Leader swam behind the struggling youth,
raised the life-buoy, and brought it down heavily upon the latter's
head.
Desmond went under in the process, but when he broke surface, the
desired result had been obtained. Jock was treading water, holding up
the now unconscious lad.
[Illustration: "DROP THAT, AND GIVE IN AT ONCE!"
_Page_ 206]
"Thanks!" he exclaimed breathlessly, as Desmond pushed the life-buoy
to within reach. He could say no more, as he was spluttering and
coughing up copious quantities of salt water.
"Stand by!" shouted Mr. Graham.
The two Sea Scouts looked round. The _Spindrift_ was luffing up.
Ably managed, she lost way within an oar's length of the trio in the
"ditch". Seizing a rope thrown to him, Desmond made a bowline round
the unconscious youth. Then, telling Jock to clamber on board--it was
about as much as he could do, and then only by means of the
bobstay--the Patrol Leader remained in the water until the rescued
lad could be hauled into safety.
It was a tough task. Mr. Graham had to hook on the runners before the
heavy burden could be hoisted on deck. Then Desmond came aboard,
after having placed the life-buoy on deck.
"You two go below and change," said the Scoutmaster. "I'll see to
this young gentleman. And Hayes is almost alongside. He'll give a
hand."
Desmond and Findlay were not long in shifting into dry kit. When they
came on deck they found the _Spindrift_ hove-to and the rest of the
crew engaged in first aid work.
"Take the helm, Jock," said the Scoutmaster. "I'll give you the
course until we arrive off the entrance to the harbour. The sooner
the better."
"Did I hit him too hard, sir?" asked Desmond anxiously. "I simply had
to do it."
"That's nothing," replied the Scoutmaster reassuringly. "A tap on the
head wouldn't hurt his thick skull. It's the quantity of the English
Channel down his throat that's causing the trouble."
The mysterious youth did not recover consciousness until the
_Spindrift_ entered Dartmouth Harbour, and tied up alongside the quay
abreast of the boat-pond.
Hayes was dispatched to find a policeman. He hadn't far to go, and
the guardian of the Law came on board, a crowd of curious sightseers
lining the quay-side.
The policeman produced his notebook.
"Name, please, sir," he began, "and the name of the yacht."
"Don't you think you'd better get an ambulance, or a doctor?"
suggested Mr. Graham, when he had given the information that had
little to do with the case.
"What's the name an' address of this person?" continued the unruffled
constable.
"That I can't tell you," replied the Scoutmaster.
"Why not?"
"Because I don't know it myself. Get the boy taken ashore and given
medical assistance. Then, and only then, I'll give you all the
information I know. It will be interesting, constable, very."
The policeman went away, returning in ten minutes with a couple of
ambulance men. The patient was taken ashore and carried off "to an
unknown destination", as far as the crew of the _Spindrift_ were
concerned. Mr. Graham yawned. The rest of the crew yawned too.
"Dog tired, the lot of us," remarked the Scoutmaster. "Fortunately
we're in a snug berth, although rather open to the public eye. Now,
lads, supper and early to bed. We'll sleep the clock round!"
The meal was just fairly under way when the yacht rocked under the
weight of a heavy foot on deck. It was the policeman thirsting to
give and receive information.
"Lively young limb you've brought in here, sir," he began, producing
his inevitable notebook. "We've got him all right this time. Broke
out of Portland a week or ten days ago."
"Really?" remarked Mr. Graham. "I'm not surprised. But are you really
sure? On our way down Channel last week--not in this boat--we rescued
a lad who was arrested at Plymouth as the Borstal boy at large."
"Answerin' to the name o' Gregory, sir?"
"Yes," replied the Scoutmaster. "Do you know him?"
"A lad from Abbotsbury. His people are puttin' in a claim for
compensation for illegal arrest. But we ain't made a mistake this
time. Here you are, sir; look at this photo."
There certainly was a striking resemblance to the young ruffian. Now
he was properly laid by the heels.
"How came you to find him, sir?" asked the policeman.
Mr. Graham had already made up his mind how much to tell and what to
keep back. He merely said that he had been put on board from the
schooner _Gloria_ from Fowey, and that some time later he had fallen
overboard and had been gallantly rescued by Desmond and Findlay. The
story of the rascal's escapade he kept dark. The crew of the
_Spindrift_ would be no better for the telling of it, and they did
not want to waste time by having to give evidence in case other
proceedings were instituted. The young rogue would be punished
severely for his spell of liberty; he had had a very narrow escape
from drowning; and these two cases could be written down as a "set
off" to the attempt to seize the yacht. As it turned out, the affair
was not serious. Beyond the shattered cabin-doors there was no harm
done.
At length the policeman departed and the crew sat down to finish
their interrupted supper. This they did. By common consent the ritual
of washing up after the meal was placed in abeyance. They were just
longing to turn in.
But the fates were against them.
"Yot ahoy!" bawled a voice from the quayside. "You can't a-stop here.
'Arbour Master's orders. You're to shift your berth across t'other
side abreast yon coal-hulk."
There was no refusal. The mandate had to be obeyed. The weary crew
turned out, started up the ready engine, and motored across to the
Kingswear side. Here they anchored, and hurrying below were soon deep
in dreamless slumber.
CHAPTER XXII
A Narrow Shave
Suddenly, Hayes was awakened by a slight jar upon the yacht's hull.
He looked up, sleepily, at the patch of greyish light filtering
through the starboard scuttle. Already dawn was breaking.
"Swell of a passing steamer, I guess," he said to himself, as he
replaced his head on the pillow.
Another slight shock roused him before he had fallen asleep again.
"It must be the dinghy bumping alongside," he declared. "I suppose I
ought to drop a bucket over her stern. That'll keep her clear."
Still drowsy, the Sea Scout rolled out of his bunk, and made his way
through the sliding-door into the cabin. Although the yacht was
moving slightly, the floor was sloping decidedly to port. Hayes
thought that this was rather unusual, but in his semi-torpid state
the fact did not trouble him.
Treading softly with his bare feet, so as to avoid disturbing the
slumbering occupants of the cabin, Hayes went on deck with the
laudable intention of preventing the dinghy grinding against the
yacht's side. But, when he gained the open air, he could only stand
stock still and rub his eyes in sheer amazement.
The _Spindrift_ was not in the spot where she had been anchored the
previous night. She was not even in the harbour; she was outside of
it and about half a mile from the entrance. Hayes could make out both
Dartmouth and Kingswear Castles in the growing light. She was
aground, listing slightly to port, with some jagged rocks showing
just above the water within a dozen yards of her starboard side.
Hayes was now fully awake. His first step was to rouse his
companions.
"Below there!" he shouted. "We're adrift!"
"Shut up, you noisy blighter," replied Desmond sleepily. "It's not
time to turn out. Go to your bunk and stop skylarking."
Mr. Graham, too, stirred himself and added to the protest, only to
fall fast asleep again in a valiant endeavour to fulfil his promise
of "sleeping the clock round".
"G-r-r-r-r!" gurgled Findlay. "Chuck it, you idiot."
But Hayes was not to be "choked off". Descending the cabin steps he
gripped the Patrol Leader by the shoulder.
"I'm not joking, Desmond," he said earnestly. "We are adrift. We're
aground right outside the harbour." Desmond rolled out of his cot.
"Right-o," he replied, glancing at the dog-tired Scoutmaster. "Hike
Jock out of it. Don't bother to disturb Mr. Graham."
Findlay was turned out without ceremony, and the three lads hurriedly
threw on their clothes. By the time they went on deck, the tide had
fallen considerably, leaving the yacht still heeling slightly to
port.
"By Jove!" exclaimed the Patrol Leader, sounding with a boat-hook.
"We've done it this time. We're properly in the soup. There's three
feet of water to starboard, and I can't touch bottom on the other
side. If she rolls right over she'll be done for. Bring the dinghy
alongside, Hayes. Jock, bear a hand with the kedge. We'll have to lay
it out and get a strain on the warp by the throat halliards. It's our
only chance."
The Sea Scouts worked like Trojans. The kedge was carried off to the
rocks and a strain taken up on the mast by means of a tackle. So
great was the tension that the port shrouds were as taut as
fiddle-strings, while those on the starboard side were quite limp.
But it was impossible to get the yacht on an even keel. All that
could be done was done--and that was to prevent the _Spindrift_
toppling over the ledge into deep water.
"Now," continued the Patrol Leader, "no jumping about. Keep on the
starboard side as much as possible. Bring the dinghy aft: we may want
her in a hurry."
"I suppose we can just breathe," remarked Findlay jocularly. "That
wouldn't disturb the balance, would it?"
The others laughed. The mental tension was broken.
"You can breathe as hard as you jolly well like, Jock," replied the
Patrol Leader. "But you won't develop anything like the horse-power
that my heart did just now. It was thumping against my ribs like a
sledge hammer."
For some minutes the lads remained silent, watching the falling tide.
Fortunately there was not a breath of wind and the sea was calm, save
for the ripples as the ebb poured through the narrow entrance to the
harbour.
"What beats me," remarked Desmond, knitting his brows, "is how we got
here. I suppose the anchor tripped. It's a wonder we didn't foul any
of the other yachts and vessels in the harbour."
"I suppose the chain didn't part?" suggested Jock. "We can see,"
replied the Patrol Leader. "Jump into the dinghy. There's still
enough water for her." The three Sea Scouts boarded the little
cockleshell and paddled towards the bow of the _Spindrift_. By this
time the yacht was well out of water, resting in a shallow groove in
a flat-topped, weed-covered shelf of rock. Only six inches of
slippery rock separated the keel from a sheer drop into twelve or
fifteen feet of water, and, should the supporting tackle give, there
was nothing to prevent the yacht falling with a terrific crash into
the depths.
"I say," exclaimed Findlay, pointing to the _Spindrift's_ bows. "Who
anchored the yacht last night?"
"You did," replied Desmond and Hayes simultaneously.
"Then a pretty mess I made of it," admitted Findlay frankly. "Look at
it!"
There was the anchor, which was supposed to have been well down into
the mud on the bed of the harbour, one of its flukes hung up on the
yacht's bobstay, while a bight of fifteen fathoms of chain trailed
uselessly across the rocks.
Back to the yacht the lads went, exercising the greatest caution in
getting on board. The sight of the yacht viewed from bows-on had not
allayed their fears, but rather the reverse. Almost high and dry she
looked immense, and it seemed impossible that the two-inch warp could
preserve the balance of the dangerously listing craft.
"We'd better wake Mr. Graham, after all, I think," said Desmond. "He
can do nothing--nor can we--but if the yacht did fall over he'd be
drowned like a blind kitten in a bucket."
The Patrol Leader went below and touched Mr. Graham's shoulder.
"Hello, up and dressed!" exclaimed the Scoutmaster. "What's the time?
Why, it's only half-past six! And the yacht's listing. What's
happened?"
Briefly, Desmond explained. Mr. Graham did not even wait for the
report to be concluded. Grabbing his clothes he went on deck, the
Patrol Leader following cautiously and eagerly. He didn't fancy being
below. It was a jolly sight safer on deck, he decided.
"Well, she's all right if that tackle holds," said Mr Graham. "You
could not have done much more. It's merely a question of waiting till
the tide rises. Low water isn't till seven o'clock. With luck we'll
be afloat by eleven."
"No grub till then," added Findlay.
"We can run round in the dinghy," continued the Scoutmaster. "That
will give the yacht a better chance than if we remained on board."
"How about sending for Bedford and Coles, sir?" suggested Findlay. He
knew that, according to arrangements, Hayes and he would have to
return to Wootton, and, although loath to miss the rest of the run
round in the _Spindrift_, he wished to see that his chums had a "look
in".
"Not much use doing that until we know we've a yacht for them to sail
back in," rejoined the Scoutmaster, glancing gloomily at the
precarious state of affairs. "All aboard the dinghy--don't jump about
too much."
The dinghy was manned. The Sea Scouts pushed off and rowed slowly
towards the channel. As it was, the keel grated on the rocks as she
drew clear.
Then the dangerous position of the _Spindrift_ could be fully
realized. She was high and dry, with the exception of her keel. Her
mast was at an angle of about 15 degrees from the perpendicular.
There was a risk of two accidents happening: either the mast-head
tackle might part and let the yacht over, or else her keel might slip
off the ledge, with the result that she would strike the sharp edge
of the rocky shelf and be stove in. Either might happen should a
strong wind spring up.
For a couple of hours the crew paddled about in the dinghy, until it
was dead low water. They had to keep an eye on the yacht, not that
they could prevent disaster, but with the object of salving anything
that floated should she sink.
It was a weird sight, for at low tide the keel of the _Spindrift_ was
five feet above the water-level, while a plummet from her starboard
side would sink in ten feet of water.
"I'm afraid it was my fault, sir," said Findlay.
"Don't let that worry you, Jock," replied Mr. Graham. "You are not
the first person who thought he'd let the anchor go properly. There's
always that risk on a dark night."
"I'll take good care in future to see that the fluke hasn't caught up
on the bobstay," said Findlay with grim resolution.
At last the pangs of hunger drove the crew ashore. The tide was now
rising, and every minute lessened the danger of disaster to the
yacht; but it was an unwise proceeding to attempt strenuous work on
empty stomachs.
After a hearty "breakfast-and-dinner-combined", the crew re-embarked
in the dinghy and rowed towards the mouth of the harbour, taking
advantage of the strong counter-eddy to the main flood.
To everyone's delight the _Spindrift_ was still in the same position
as when they last saw her, but the water was now within a foot of her
load-line.
"It's quite safe to get aboard," said Mr. Graham. "Directly she feels
lively we can ease off the throat-halliards, recover our kedge and
lay it out in the stream. Let's hope there's no steamer coming in or
out, or her wash will give the yacht a nasty hammering on the rocks."
All hands set to work with a will. The yacht was pumped dry, although
she did not appear to have more water in the bilges than usual. Then
the kedge, with thirty fathoms of grass line, was dropped in deep
water.
The loud bray of a syren, echoing along the wooded hills on the
Kingswear side of the harbour, warned the Sea Scouts that what they
didn't want to happen was taking place. Already the bows of a large
collier were visible as she rounded the precipitous bluff of St.
Petrox.
"Driving for all she's worth," exclaimed Desmond. "Look at her
bow-wave. Do you think she'll slow down for us, sir?"
"Hope so," replied the Scoutmaster laconically, and standing on the
cabin-top he semaphored to the oncoming vessel to ease down.
The collier showed not the faintest sign of so doing. She passed at
full speed, a couple of men on the bridge grinning at the plight of
the yacht as she did so.
"Look out!" shouted Mr. Graham. "Mind you aren't jerked overboard."
The Sea Scouts took the warning promptly. It was lucky for them that
they did. A huge wave was approaching, but, as generally happens when
a vessel is steaming hard in a narrow channel, the water on either
side was sucked away like the undertow of a receding breaker.
The _Spindrift_, already practically water-borne, lifted heavily as
the swirling stream struck her side. The next moment she was swept
from her precarious position into deep water.
So far so good. But there still remained a great risk of disaster.
Would the rapidly-approaching wash hurl the yacht back again upon the
granite-like ledge?
Quick to act, the Scoutmaster rushed for'ard and began hauling in the
kedge-warp. Desmond, grasping the situation, scrambled for'ard also,
maintaining his balance like a cat. Together they hauled their
hardest, then:
"Belay!" exclaimed Mr. Graham.
The Patrol Leader took a turn round the bitts. It was impossible to
haul in any more of the rope before the swell struck the yacht.
The _Spindrift_ dipped her bows well under as the curling mass of
water poured over the fore-deck, drenching Mr. Graham and his
companion to the skin. Back she staggered until the warp tautened
like a violin-string. Then, aided by the undertow, she plunged
forward again, this time well clear of danger.
It had been a narrow shave. Findlay and Hayes, who had been hanging
on to the cockpit coaming, afterwards told Mr. Graham that the
yacht's transom was within a couple of yards of the rocks. Had she
struck, the terrific shock would have broken her back and she would
have sunk like a stone.
"Thank goodness!" ejaculated Mr. Graham. "That was a close thing. I'd
like to meet the fellow in charge of that collier. I won't call him a
Master. A sailorman wouldn't do a thing like that. I say, lads,
where's our dinghy?"
CHAPTER XXIII
The Rebound of the Joke
In the excitement no one had given a thought to the dinghy. She had
been made fast to the shrouds, and apparently the violent wash had
caused her to break adrift.
She was now a good fifty yards to leeward, drifting slowly, but
evidently uninjured. A portion of the painter still remained bent to
the shroud, so there was some slight satisfaction in the knowledge
that Hayes had not made a slippery hitch. The two-inch rope, almost
new, had parted like pack-thread.
"I'm soaked as it is," said Desmond, kicking off his shoes. "Another
little drop won't do me any harm! The oars are in the dinghy, aren't
they, Hayes?"
The Sea Scout nodded. That was good enough for the Patrol Leader. The
next instant he dived in over the side and began striking out for the
errant dinghy.
The first twenty yards was a hard struggle, for the flood-tide was
setting strongly athwart the swimmer's course, but, as soon as he was
over the ledge on which the _Spindrift_ had grounded, the
cross-current was not so perceptible. There was now six feet of water
over this part of the reef, but the long trailing kelp, which at low
tide had been lying dormant on the rocks, was now rising vertically
to within eighteen inches of the surface.
It was an unpleasant sensation when Desmond's feet touched the
trailing tentacles of weed. Although slimy, they had a distinct
tendency to entangle him. They impeded his progress. He tried to keep
his feet closer to the surface to evade the kelp, but to no purpose.
The while the dinghy was drifting slowly but steadily towards a
cluster of rocks, appropriately named The Verticals, against which
the surf was lashing. Once she got within the limits of that broken
water she would be done for, and Desmond would have all his work cut
out to swim back to the yacht.
At length, finding his progress tedious and difficult, the Patrol
Leader turned over on his back. His feet were in consequence nearer
the surface, and, aided by the fin-like movements of his hands,
Desmond found that the weed no longer hampered him.
Steadily he gained upon the truant, until, with a feeling of relief,
he grasped the gunwale. Even then, fairly tired with his strenuous
efforts, he had to hang on for a minute or so before clambering in
over the transom.
There was only one oar in the boat. The other had been jerked
overboard by the steamer's wash.
Apart from the actual loss, the fact that only one oar remained did
not daunt the resourceful Patrol Leader. Sculling over the stern is
an accomplishment that almost every Sea Scout is capable of. The
average amateur is "tied up in knots" if called upon to scull a
dinghy.
Fortunately the little craft had a sculling notch in the transom.
Quickly Desmond had the dinghy under control, and was making good
progress towards the _Spindrift_.
"There's the other oar!" he exclaimed to himself, as he caught sight
of the missing article. Offering no resistance to the breeze, it had
drifted much slower than the buoyant dinghy, and on that account it
had escaped the Patrol Leader's notice as he swam. Standing up and
sculling, he commanded a larger "field" of vision--although the
"field" was an expanse of sunlit waves--and thus was able to spot the
drifting oar.
"Well done, Desmond!" exclaimed Mr. Graham, as the dinghy came
alongside the _Spindrift_. The other Sea Scouts gave their plucky
comrade a rousing cheer.
"We'll want a new painter, sir," he remarked.
"Findlay will reeve a fresh one," rejoined the Scoutmaster. "Nip down
below and shift your wet gear."
Aided by the flood-tide and the little outboard motor, the
_Spindrift_ was soon back at the anchorage from which she had taken
French leave. This time there was no mistake. The crew took good care
to see that the anchor was down properly, and in addition they laid
out a kedge.
"Here we stop until we weigh for the Solent, lads," said Mr. Graham.
"Unless the Harbour Master takes it into his head to make us shift
our berth. Now, Findlay and Hayes, have you packed up ready for your
train journey to Southampton?"
The two Sea Scouts pulled long faces. It was one of those occasions
when they forgot the Scout precept "Keep Smiling ".
"No, sir, not yet," was the reply.
"I'm going ashore to telegraph to Bedford and Coles to join us here,"
continued the Scoutmaster. "But I've been thinking matters over.
Bradley and the other fellows will be quite at home on the guardship
at Wootton by this time. We can very well do with a larger crew, so I
think you two will be better employed on the _Spindrift_ than going
back to Wootton."
"Thank you, sir, awfully!" exclaimed Jock, while Hayes began a
horn-pipe on deck, which came to a rapid and premature end when his
bare toe came in painful contact with a gun-metal cleat.
Accordingly, a telegram was dispatched to Sea Scout Frank Bedford,
telling him to arrive at Kingswear at 7.30 p.m. on the following day
and that Coles was to accompany him.
"Why did you say Kingswear, sir?" inquired Hayes, as they came out of
the post office.
Mr. Graham pretended not to hear the question, and Hayes did not
press the point.
After wandering through the streets of Dartmouth and viewing the
old-style half-timbered houses of the Butterwalk, the crew of the
_Spindrift_ made their way towards the castle.
They had not gone very far when Mr. Graham touched Hayes on the
shoulder.
"Just run over to Dartmouth railway station and see if there's a
parcel for me, please," he said. "We'll wait here till you get back.
Be as sharp as you can."
Hayes hurried off on his errand. When he was out of sight, Mr. Graham
laughed.
"It's a little joke," he explained to the others. "There isn't a
railway station at Dartmouth. Kingswear, across the harbour, is the
terminus for Dartmouth passengers. It will be rather curious to know
how Hayes progresses in his search for something that doesn't exist."
"Are you expecting a parcel at Kingswear station, sir?" asked
Findlay.
"No, I'm not," replied Mr. Graham, enjoying the joke immensely.
"We'll sit down by the side of the river and wait for developments."
Ten minutes passed--twenty--then half an hour. The Scoutmaster began
to wonder what had happened to his messenger.
"Perhaps he's found out you are pulling his leg, sir," suggested
Desmond.
"And then?"
"He's gone on board," continued the Patrol Leader. "Fed up sort of
feeling."
"I don't think Hayes would take it that way," declared Mr. Graham,
"or I would not have played a joke upon him. A joke always falls very
flat if the victim cannot take it good-temperedly."
Three-quarters of an hour passed. The Sea Scouts were about to return
to search for the absent member of the crew when Hayes came into
view, running and rather short of breath.
"It's there, sir," he began. "There's no railway station at
Dartmouth, but the first fellow I asked--a Scout--told me to go
across the harbour to Kingswear. There's a ferry across. The chap in
the parcel office told me that your box had come, but he wouldn't let
me have it. It has to be claimed by the consignee in person."
"I suppose you're trying to pull my leg?" asked Mr. Graham smilingly.
Hayes looked at him in open-eyed astonishment.
"Pulling your leg, sir," he repeated. "Of course not. I saw the box
there--it's a pretty heavy one." The Scoutmaster was puzzled. He had
arranged for a package to be sent to Plymouth, to be picked up on the
voyage; but, as far as he knew, no one had been instructed to forward
it on.
"Well, I suppose I must solve the mystery," he remarked. "You fellows
carry on. Have a good old ramble round the Castle. Take your time,
provided you are at the quayside at seven."
Making his way back to the town, Mr. Graham crossed the harbour in
the _Spindrift's_ dinghy, in order that he might take his parcel
straight on board the yacht.
At the station he found that the Sea Scout's statement was correct.
There was a large box--about as big as one man could
handle--addressed to: W. Graham, Esq., Kingswear Station--To be
called for.
"Four shillings and twopence, please, sir," said the official in
charge of the office. "Passenger train--special rate. And please sign
here."
The Scout Master signed the buff form, paid the four shillings and
twopence, and took possession of the box. Failing to find any
porters, he manhandled the bulky article himself, but, by the time he
deposited it in the stern-sheets of the dinghy, the perspiration was
pouring down his face.
All the while he was racking his brains to think who could have sent
the box. It had been dispatched from Paddington, but there was no
indication on the label as to the consignor.
"Gear from head-quarters, that's what it is!" exclaimed Mr. Graham.
"Wonder I hadn't thought of that before, but how came they to know I
am at Dartmouth--I'll give that part up."
It had been a fairly difficult single-handed job to transfer the box
from the stationary pontoon to the lively little dinghy. The
difficulty was increased ten fold when it came to transhipping the
"gear" from the dinghy to the higher level of the gently rocking
yacht.
At length, with the assistance of the throat halliards, the
Scoutmaster succeeded in getting the heavy box on to the waterways.
Then he dragged it aft, and toppled it carefully into the cockpit;
but in spite of his caution, he contrived to bark the knuckles of his
left hand.
The box was corded, every knot--"grannies" most of them--was
smothered with sealing wax. Mr. Graham was too good a seaman to spoil
a sound piece of rope by cutting it. Deliberately he undid the knots
and did the rope up into a neat coil.
The next step was to prise open the lid. It was nailed down, with a
French nail at every two inches all the way round. By the aid of an
axe, a screw-driver, and a hammer, Mr. Graham removed the lid,
although in the attempt he split the wood into five or six pieces.
Full of pleasurable anticipation following his strenuous endeavours,
Mr. Graham tore aside the canvas wrappings. Then he broke into a cold
sweat, for the box was crammed with theatrical effects--wigs,
eighteenth century costumes, partly used grease paints, and a pile of
old posters in which the name--Wilfred Graham, Acting Manager
--appeared conspicuously.
Evidently the gear belonged to a touring company billed to appear for
a two night's performance at Dartmouth, and the Scoutmaster pictured
the most unholy row that the actors would kick up when they found
that their "props" were not forthcoming.
Hastily Mr. Graham replaced the things he had removed, nailed down
the lid and re-corded the box. Then came the labour of hoisting it
over the side into the dinghy and taking it back to the station.
He arrived almost breathless at the parcels office, just as a very
irate man was coming out. The two W. Grahams were face to face.
"Confound you, sir!" roared the Acting Manager. "What are you doing
with my property?"
"Returning it," replied the Scoutmaster. "You'll find nothing
missing."
"Of no value to you, I suppose?" snapped the other, sarcastically.
"That," rejoined Mr. Graham, "is beside the point. If you will listen
to my explanation I think you will see the funny side of the affair.
My surname happens to be the same as your own; so do the initials."
As the explanation proceeded, the Acting Manager's face grew less
angry, until he actually laughed.
"All right, dear old boy," he exclaimed. "Come and have a drink?"
The Scoutmaster declined the invitation.
"Then let me give you a couple of tickets for to-morrow night's
show," persisted the theatrical man.
"Sorry, but we're away to-morrow," was the reply. The two men shook
hands and parted, the Scoutmaster, hot and tired, making his way to
the dinghy.
* * * * *
At seven sharp, the Sea Scouts were at the quay landing steps. There
was no sign of the _Spindrift's_ dinghy. The yacht was not visible
from where they stood, a large tramp steamer lying between her and
the Dartmouth side of the harbour.
At half-past seven, no Scoutmaster being forthcoming, Desmond
suggested going on board.
"We can get a boatman to put us off," he said. "It's quite possible
Mr. Graham has gone for a row in the dinghy, and it's taking longer
to get back against the tide than he thought."
"And we can have grub ready when he returns," added Findlay.
"Something hot and tasty, you know."
He winked at Hayes. Desmond, being "cook of the day", didn't greet
the suggestion with boisterous enthusiasm.
Returning on board the _Spindrift_, the lads prepared for the overdue
Scoutmaster's arrival. It was not until eight-thirty that Mr. Graham
showed up, looking very hot and tired.
Offering no explanation, he sat down at the table where the meal was
in readiness. The rest of the crew couldn't understand it. It was not
like their Scoutmaster.
But half-way through the meal, Mr. Graham rather astonished them by
roaring with laughter.
"Hayes, my boy!" he exclaimed, when the fit of merriment was over, "I
tried to play a little joke on you this afternoon; but, by Jove! it's
rebounded on me with a vengeance."
"How, sir?" asked Hayes.
Mr. Graham explained. He was one of those people who enjoy telling a
joke against themselves.
CHAPTER XXIV
Refusing a Tow
At the appointed time, the _Spindrift's_ crew was augmented by the
arrival of Bedford and Coles. The new members were delighted with the
yacht and her surroundings. The only grievance--if grievance it can
be termed--was that their share of the voyage had been shortened by
the distance from Plymouth to Dartmouth.
"Well, what's the news from Wootton?" inquired Mr. Graham, after the
two Sea Scouts had taken in the details of their new acquisition, and
had been told of her exciting run round The Land.
"Everything's all serene, sir," replied Bedford. "Patrol Leader
Bradley has got the rest of the Troop well in hand. Makes them do
physical jerks every morning before breakfast. We had to before we
came away at nine o'clock."
"You look very fit, Bedford," said Desmond. "You've worked down a lot
of your fat."
"And you haven't put any on," retorted Bedford, looking at the lean,
weather-beaten features of the Patrol Leader.
"And how are the Collinsons?" asked Mr. Graham.
"Mr. Collinson's doing well, sir," replied Bedford "His arm is
mending rapidly. He told me the other day that we were so jolly handy
that he meant to ship a couple of Sea Scouts on board his yacht
instead of a paid hand. When do we start, sir?"
"At daybreak to-morrow," answered the Scoutmaster. "The glass is high
and steady, and the weather forecast--if that's anything to go by--is
for westerly winds of moderate strength. We've a goodish run across
West Bay, and I want to be well to the east'ard of Portland Bill by
the early evening."
Grey dawn was appearing over the Devon hills when the crew of the
_Spindrift_ turned out.
"Isn't it cold for August!" exclaimed Bedford, swinging his arms.
"You're cold, eh?" rejoined the Patrol Leader, jumping at the
opportunity afforded by Bedford's remark. "Right-o; nip below and
start up the stove. You're cook of the day."
The Sea Scout obeyed readily enough. By the time the rest of the crew
had uncoated the mainsail, got the headsail and mizzen ready to
hoist, and had broken out and stowed the kedge, the "galley-slave",
as Hayes termed the youth told off for cooking meals, reported that
hot cocoa was ready.
A large cup of the sustaining beverage and a couple of very hard
biscuits provided the "stand-by" to commence the working day, as
breakfast was to be served while under way.
The little motor acted admirably, in spite of the cold, starting up
at the first swing of the fly-wheel. "All ready?" shouted the
Scoutmaster.
"Ay, ay, sir!"
"Heave her up."
The pawls of the winch clattered merrily as the cable came home.
Presently the big galvanized anchor appeared above the surface.
Findlay promptly caught the gravity-band shackle with the lower block
of the handy-billy, and in double quick time the "killick" was
secured on deck.
By this time the _Spindrift_ was forging slowly ahead, and the
hitherto fully occupied lads had an opportunity of seeing the last of
Dartmouth for no doubt a considerable time.
Within the harbour the water was as calm as a millpond, save for the
rippling wake of the outward bound yacht. Outside, the sea was
dancing under the influence of a light westerly breeze, which
promised to grow in strength as the sun rose higher.
Sail was now set, and the engine switched off.
Desmond, as sailing master, told off Hayes for the first two hours at
the helm.
"Keep the East Blackstone on your port bow," he cautioned. "When
that's abeam, we'll set a compass course."
"May we fish, sir?" asked Findlay. "We heard last night that there
are shoals of mackerel off the East Blackstone."
"Certainly," replied Mr. Graham. "Only take care to keep your hooks
clear of the main and mizzen sheets!"
Findlay had brought mackerel hooks and spinners. Quickly two lines
were paid out, one on each quarter, Jock tending one and Coles
handling the other.
The _Spindrift_ was now moving just at the right speed for this sort
of work. In less than a minute a jerk of the line nearly pulled it
out of the Tenderfoot's hand. Hauling in the line he secured a
good-sized fish.
Coles caught a dozen before Findlay hooked his first fish, which
puzzled and chagrined the latter considerably.
"Perhaps it's because my line is to lee'ard," suggested Coles. "Take
mine, and I'll try my luck with yours!"
The exchange was effected, but still Coles was the lucky one. In less
than an hour he had secured twenty-one mackerel to Findlay's four.
Then, contrary to expectation, the breeze died utterly away, and the
lines no longer trailed astern.
"We've caught enough, anyway," remarked Findlay, coiling away his
lines.
"Yes, mackerel fresh from the salt sea for breakfast," added Desmond.
"I'm jolly glad it's not my turn to be cook."
That post on board was no sinecure, and there was no competition for
the job; but whoever took it did the work cheerfully and generally
well. The Sea Scouts believed in the maxim: "a well fed crew makes a
happy ship ".
For the next two hours the _Spindrift's_ progress was tediously slow.
Breakfast was cooked and eaten, and the plates and dishes washed up
and stowed away, before the breeze sprang up; and Berry Head and the
red cliffs of Devon were still plainly visible.
"Rather slower than when we passed here last time, sir, in the
_Olivette_," remarked Desmond.
"But we've the best part of the day before us," Mr. Graham reminded
him.
"We're afloat," declared Bedford. "That's the main thing."
He no longer had cause to complain of the cold. The day grew hotter
and hotter as the sun rose and the wind dropped, till by ten o'clock
the thermometer in the cabin registered 90 degrees.
So far the _Spindrift_ was not alone. She was in company with nearly
twenty Brixham trawlers, all practically drifting. They made a pretty
sight, with their huge tanned sails casting shimmering reflections on
the gently heaving water.
At noon the wind sprang up again and quickly rose to a fresh sailing
breeze from the sou'-west. Sheets were soon trimmed, and once more
the "kick of the helm"--that delightful sensation to keen
sailor-men--asserted itself.
It was not until four in the afternoon that Portland Bill became
visible. It was now too late to attempt to round the Bill close to
and make for Portland Harbour. To have attempted to do so would have
resulted in the little craft being swept into the dreaded Race.
Accordingly, a course was shaped to pass four miles south of that
notorious headland.
As long as the breeze held, there was little to worry about; but
should it fail, as it often does towards evening in summer, there was
the prospect of another night afloat. Mr. Graham was anxious to make
Swanage or even Poole Harbour. He did not hanker after another night
in the Channel, but the Sea Scouts rather hoped for one.
The Brixham fleet was no longer in sight. The boats had stood well
away to the south'ard. All around the horizon was unbroken, save to
the east'ard, where the wedge-shaped Bill cut the skyline.
At tea-time all hands went below, with the exception of Bedford at
the helm. There was now a fairly heavy sea running, for there was a
weather-going tide.
In the midst of the meal there was a violent crash. The yacht heeled
over on the opposite tack, nearly capsizing the Sea Scouts on the
port settee, and flinging most of the things off the table.
Instantly, there was a wild rush on deck. A scene of confusion met
their eyes. The helmsman had let the yacht gybe all standing, and
before he could check the main sheet the boom had flown violently
against the set-up runners on the starboard side. The sudden shock
had carried away that part of the gear, and the strain was thrown
upon the mast. It had parted fifteen feet above the deck, letting
mainsail and headsails down in utter confusion. The mizzen, being
still set, was tending to turn the yacht head to wind, with the
trailing canvas dragging over the bows.
It was not an occasion to demand or receive explanations. The first
thing to be done was to get the yacht under control.
Under the Scoutmaster's directions, the broken-off portion of the
mast was parbuckled on board and secured, and the headsails recovered
and stowed. The next step was to set up temporary halliards and
shrouds on the fractured mast, a difficult business owing to the
erratic motion of the yacht.
Working quickly and well, Desmond and Findlay succeeded in passing
three strops round the top of the broken mast and shackling blocks to
them--two for'ard and one aft. Then the shrouds, shortened by means
of sheepshanks, were sent aloft and secured sufficiently to take up a
considerable amount of strain.
"Now we can set the headsail," announced Mr. Graham. "Take two reefs
in the staysail, or you won't get it right home; and set No. 2 jib."
All hands were so busy that they failed to notice the approach of a
steam drifter until she gave a warning blast on her syren. Slowing
down, she drew within twenty yards of the _Spindrift_.
"Want a tow into Weymouth?" shouted her skipper.
Mr. Graham had to decide quickly. On the one hand he was responsible
for the safety of the lads under his charge; on the other he did not
like the idea of "chucking up the sponge" so quickly, especially as
he would have to pay for the salvage. He glanced to wind'ard; the
breeze was fair. The barometer was high and steady. It was a strong
temptation when he looked from the disabled _Spindrift_ to the
powerful steam drifter.
"How much?" he asked.
"Twenty-five p'un," shouted the skipper.
"Don't do it, sir," said Desmond in a low voice. "We'll be all right
without having to pay that."
"Sorry, nothing doing!" replied the Scoutmaster, then turning to the
Patrol Leader he added: "Desmond, you're a brick!"
The skipper of the drifter pulled up the window of the wheelhouse
with a savage jerk, that implied plainly enough what he thought of
Mr. Graham.
"Carry on, lads!" exclaimed the Scoutmaster. "Up with the staysail!"
As the flapping canvas rose, the skipper of the drifter lowered the
pane and thrust his head through the window.
"Ahoy!" he bawled. "Make it twenty. It's 'ard earned money."
Mr. Graham shook his head.
"Fifteen, then; I likes to do a good turn to a fellow in distress."
"No, not for five pounds," shouted the Scoutmaster resolutely. "We
don't want any assistance, thank you." The engine-room telegraph bell
clanged, and the drifter began to draw astern. The crew of the
_Spindrift_ paid slight attention to her: they were busy at their own
job.
Under reefed staysail, the yacht paid off, and began to gather way.
The setting of the jib helped still more, so that with three sails
drawing well she began to make a good three knots.
"Now the mainsail," continued Mr. Graham. "We can't set the peak, so
we must set it as a trysail. We'll have to double reef first, or we
cannot hoist the throat close up."
"Look, sir! There's something wrong with that drifter!" exclaimed
Coles.
All eyes were directed upon the would-be Good Samaritan (at a price).
Her engines were stopped, but she still carried way. Clouds of steam
were issuing through the fidleys.
Raising his binoculars, Mr. Graham kept the vessel under observation.
She was now about two cable lengths away, and slowing down steadily.
Through the hatchway appeared the engineer, with his hands to his
face and steam coming from his clothes.
"Main steam pipe burst," exclaimed Mr. Graham.
"She won't sink?" asked Hayes.
"No; she can set fore and aft sail. It's that poor fellow, the
engineer, who has suffered by the accident. He looks badly scalded."
"First aid, sir?" asked Findlay hopefully.
"We'll ask them," was the reply. "Stand by to semaphore."
It was five minutes or more before Findlay attracted the attention of
the skipper of the drifter.
"Do--you--require--first--aid?" semaphored Jock. The answer was
emphatic if not to the point.
"You go to blazes!" was the message given by the irate skipper's
arms.
By this time the drifter had set her headsails and mizzen, but the
_Spindrift_ was gaining rapidly on her.
"It will be a race," declared Hayes. "We are beating her already, and
we haven't our motor going."
"Wait till she sets her mainsail," said Desmond. "Then she'll show us
her heels."
"We may as well set ours," added Mr. Graham. "All reef points
secured? Good--hoist away on your throat halliards."
The mainsail was set as a trysail, the peak lowered to its full
extent. Even that comparatively small expanse of canvas made a
difference, for the yacht quickly drew abreast of the drifter.
Up went the latter's mainsail. She too increased her pace, but it was
soon evident that the under-canvased yacht more than held her own
with her bulky rival, hampered as she was with the drag of her
three-bladed propeller.
"We've company," observed Bedford, "although a surly fellow at that.
Is he making for Weymouth, do you think, sir?"
"If he does, he'll have his work cut out to work up the east side of
the Bill," replied Mr. Graham. "We won't risk it."
The _Spindrift_ had now obtained and was holding a useful lead. An
hour later she was a quarter of a mile ahead, with the drifter
following dead in her wake. Portland Bill was abeam at last; the
drifter starboarded helm and made towards the Shambles Lightship,
while the yacht shaped a course for the distant St. Alban's Head.
"She's making for Weymouth by the east side of the Race," said the
Scoutmaster. "More than likely she'll get a tow into harbour. Well,
we've saved money this time."
The tide was now setting strongly to the east'ard. Under its
favourable influence the _Spindrift_ quickly reeled off the distance
between the Bill and St. Alban's, passing through the Race off the
latter headland without taking much water on board.
The wind had now veered a couple of points, and on rounding St.
Alban's Head the change of direction of the coast line necessitated a
close haul on the port tack if the yacht were to make Swanage or
Poole.
Mr. Graham glanced at his watch, consulted the barometer, and took a
survey of the sky to wind'ard.
"Lads!" he exclaimed. "We'll carry on for the Solent. We've four
hours' fair tide, and with decent luck we'll be inside the Wight
before dark."
"Good enough, sir!" agreed the crew in chorus.
CHAPTER XXV
And Last
"What are we going to do with the _Spindrift_ when we get her back to
Wootton, sir?" asked Findlay.
"Find a suitable spar, use the old fittings and make a new mast,"
replied Mr. Graham.
"I don't mean that exactly, sir," continued Jock. "Do you intend to
keep her there or sail her back to the East Coast?"
"That is a matter for all of you to decide," said the Scoutmaster.
"Personally, I think she draws too much water for the Essex
estuaries. That would limit us to the deeper channels. Here, on the
South Coast, are plenty of harbours capable of taking her at any
state of the tide, and it would take two seasons to explore the
Solent, Portsmouth, Langston, and Chichester Harbours, to say nothing
of Poole Harbour."
"I vote we keep her on the South Coast, sir," suggested Desmond.
"It's a new cruising ground, and we can get six weeks every summer.
We still have our cutter at Southend to go afloat in during the
week-ends."
To this the others agreed.
"That settles it, then," added Mr. Graham. "We can go into details
later. What's that on your starboard bow?"
The lads looked in the direction indicated. Just above the horizon
was a faint, triangular-shaped patch of white.
"Looks like a sail, sir," said Coles.
"Six hundred feet in height, eh?" exclaimed the Scoutmaster. "No,
it's not a sail, Coles, it's the chalk cliff at the western end of
the Isle of Wight, sixteen miles away."
At eight o'clock Christchurch Head was abeam, distance two miles,
with the needle-like shaft of Hurst High Light showing ahead against
the sky.
"We'll do it if the breeze holds," declared Desmond. "How much petrol
have we on board, Jock?"
"Three full tins and one about half full," replied Findlay.
"You took in enough while you were about it," commented the Patrol
Leader.
"Nothing like being on the safe side," was Findlay's rejoinder.
"Look!" exclaimed Hayes, pointing to a craft about a mile on the
starboard bow. "Isn't that the _Olivette_?"
"Believe it is," said Desmond, picking up his binoculars. Then,
leaning over the companion, he announced:
"_Olivette_ in sight, sir."
Mr. Graham, who was consulting a chart in the cabin, came on deck.
"She's spotted us," he exclaimed. "She's slowed down to have a run in
company. Perhaps they've noticed our broken mast."
"Jolly decent of them," said Hayes.
A quarter of an hour later, the two vessels were within hailing
distance.
"Hello! Armitage," called out Mr. Graham. "Going to give us a tow
in?"
"Wish we could," was the reply. "We're broken down--out of fuel."
"Tank's leaking," supplemented Woodleigh, to dispel any suggestion
that the fault lay in not providing sufficient fuel. "It's done that
before, but we thought we'd fixed it up all right."
The _Spindrift_ ran alongside the "fifty-four footer", and a line
was thrown and made fast. Although the breeze still held, the sea was
comparatively smooth.
"You can't tow us," objected Mr. Armitage. "You've as much as you can
do to carry on with that broken mast. I was about to send a boat
ashore for some paraffin."
"No need," replied Mr. Graham. "Your engine will run on petrol. We
can let you have a couple of tins--three if necessary, and we've
about three gallons of paraffin for the stove. You can have that."
"What are you doing with petrol, then?" asked Mr. Armitage.
"Oh, we've a motor too," replied Desmond proudly. "A dinky little
outboard."
The offer of the petrol and paraffin was gladly accepted. Already the
leak in the tank had been soldered, and all that was required was to
fill up and restart the engine.
"Stow your canvas, Graham," said Mr. Armitage. "You won't want that
again this evening. We'll tow you into Keyhaven. That will suit, I
hope?"
"Perfectly," was the reply.
The _Olivette_ gathered way, the _Spindrift_ following meekly at the
end of a four-inch grass hawser, and well before dark both boats were
safely moored in the narrow and sheltered waters of Keyhaven.
"I think we can fix you up with a spar to-morrow," said Mr. Armitage,
when the Milford Sea Scouts boarded the _Spindrift_ to see what sort
of craft the Southend lads had obtained. "A yacht came ashore at
Milford last month and became a total wreck. We bought a lot of her
gear, including her mast. I think it would just suit you."
"Thanks awfully," replied Mr. Graham. "What do you want for it?"
"Pooh, pooh!" protested Mr. Armitage. "We are not dealers in marine
stores. We bought the stick for a mere song, thinking it might come
in handy for a signal mast for our hut. But it would be a jolly sight
more useful in a yacht, I take it."
"And we have all the tools for the job in our boathouse," added
Woodleigh. "We'll all turn out to-morrow and lend a hand. Many hands
make light work."
"And too many cooks spoil the broth," laughed Flemming. "However,
we'll all see if we can help without tumbling over each other."
Early next morning, as soon as the dew had vanished, the Milford Sea
Scouts gathered at their boat store. The mast and a couple of stout
scaffold-poles were placed on a truck and wheeled down to the quay.
Here they were joined by the crew of the _Spindrift_, and while one
party sandpapered down the mast and applied a coat of quick-drying
varnish, the others brought the yacht alongside and rigged up a pair
of sheer legs. These were set up with their heels wedged alongside
the shroud plates, and guyed fore and aft with strong tackles.
By this means the broken mast was lifted out and carried ashore. The
running and standing rigging and halliards were then removed and
transferred to the new mast, which by this time was quite dry.
It was a tricky job shipping the new mast. Not only was it longer
than the broken spar but considerably heavier, and the height of the
sheer legs was not enough to hoist it in an almost perpendicular
position.
"We can hold the heel down," said Findlay.
"No," objected Mr. Graham, peremptorily. "I'm not going to allow
anyone under those sheer legs in case anything carries away."
"I don't see how we can do it otherwise, sir," remarked Jock.
"There is a way," observed the Scoutmaster. "We'll have to make the
mast heavier."
The Sea Scouts looked at him to see if he were joking, but Mr. Graham
was perfectly grave.
"Yes," he continued. "If we get a pig of ballast and secure it to the
mast three feet above the heel, that will cant the mast at the
required angle. We can then guide the heel to the proper position by
means of rope, and lower away."
This task was successfully accomplished, and by noon the mast wedges
were driven home and caulked, the shrouds set up, and the boom and
gaff placed in position.
"Now you're all shipshape and Bristol fashion!" exclaimed Mr.
Armitage.
"Thanks largely to your assistance," added Mr. Graham.
The Scoutmaster of the Milford Troop made a deprecatory gesture.
"That's nothing much," he protested. "It's all part of the game--the
Brotherhood of the Sea. We've been helped out of difficulties before
to-day, and much of the zest of life is derived from helping others."
"I hope we may never have to do you a good turn of this sort,
Armitage," said Mr. Graham, "but, if we do, you will know that it
will be a pleasure for us to do so. One never knows."
"That's a fact," declared Mr. Armitage sententiously. "No doubt we'll
come across you again, especially as you're keeping the _Spindrift_
in commission on the Solent."
At two o'clock the _Spindrift_ got under way, amidst an exchange of
hearty cheers between the two troops. Outside Keyhaven they picked up
a favourable breeze, but progress was slow owing to the foul tide.
Nevertheless, it was a pleasant sail, and it was six o'clock before
the tide changed and swept the yacht quickly through Cowes Roads.
"There's our home port," exclaimed Desmond, as the yacht rounded Old
Castle Point and opened up the wooded shores of Osborne Bay. "Wonder
if the other fellows will spot us when we're abreast of Wootton
Rocks."
"Sure thing," declared Findlay. "Patrol Leader Bradley is dead nuts
on watchkeeping. I don't suppose many craft pass within sight of the
guardship without his knowing it."
"We shall see," rejoined Desmond. "I don't suppose they expect us
before the beginning of next week."
"Give Bradley a chance, anyway," said Hayes. "Let's hoist our patrol
burgee. Are you starting the motor, Findlay?"
Findlay looked inquiringly at Mr. Graham.
"It would show your seamanship if you beat into the creek," remarked
the Scoutmaster.
"Very good, sir," replied Desmond. "We won't use the engine. A pull
on the main sheet there!"
The _Spindrift_, hitherto running, was now close hauled on the
starboard tack. This would take her up the "boomed" channel, but
above the coastguard slipway it would mean almost a dead beat before
squaring off for the final reach.
"Ready about--lee-o!" ordered Desmond as the beat began.
Mr. Graham sat on the top of the companion ladder, watching the
manoeuvre but resolving to let the crew carry on under the Patrol
Leader's orders.
It was a narrow channel and the wind was fluky, but the crew were
smart at their work, and by this time they knew their ship. She was
fairly slow at coming about, but sure. Not once did she show a
tendency to miss stays.
Every board brought the _Spindrift_ nearer and nearer to the
guardship. The crew could see the _Ocean Bride_ moored astern of her,
but on neither craft was there any sign of animation.
"By Jove!" ejaculated Desmond. "We've got 'em cold! We'll run right
under her lee, and give them our Patrol call."
Blanketed by the high wooded ground to starboard, the _Spindrift_ was
now making very little way. At intervals faint puffs of wind swept
down upon the land-locked estuary, but the faint flood-tide was
sweeping the yacht steadily inward.
"Down mainsail!" ordered Desmond. "Stand by to lower headsails and
mizzen smartly. Bedford, you tend the for'ard warp; Hayes, look out
for the quarter-rope--a bowline round the guardship's bollard as we
go alongside, but check her gently."
Like a band of conspirators, the crew of the _Spindrift_ prepared for
the surprise of their chums on the guardship. The _Ocean Bride_ was
passed without attracting the attention of the Collinsons. Then her
bows drew level with the stern of the guardship.
Desmond made a sign with his hand. Down fluttered the rest of the
canvas, with hardly a sound, save for the _cheep_ of a stiff
running-block. Deftly the securing ropes were thrown and belayed. The
Patrol Leader raised his hand again.
Instantly the crew yelled their hardest, making the wooded shore echo
and re-echo to their ear-splitting Patrol call.
The effect was almost instantaneous. At every open lower-deck port,
one, two, or three heads were thrust out--wide-eyed astonished Sea
Scouts who could hardly grasp the fact that their comrades had
returned from their long coast-wise voyage. And with them were Mr.
Collinson and his wife.
"Caught you napping, lads!" exclaimed Mr. Graham.
"Spoilt my yarn, you mean," rejoined Mr. Collinson laughing. "I'll
admit I kept their attention pretty well until you fellows raised
that infernal din. That tore it! So you've brought the old ship
round: what do you think of her?"
"A rattling good little craft," replied the Scoutmaster.
"Thought you'd find her so," rejoined Mr. Collinson. Then he looked
up with a puzzled air. "I say, you've got a new stick?"
"Yes, mast carried away in an accidental gybe in West Bay," said Mr.
Graham. "We haven't had an uneventful time, and it's been quite
enjoyable."
"It has," added Desmond. "I'm sorry it's over."
"The holidays aren't over yet," remarked Findlay optimistically.
"And you have a large and new cruising ground open to you," said Mr.
Collinson. "If the _Spindrift_ serves you as well as she has me,
you'll have no cause for complaint. Well, lads, here's good luck to
the _Spindrift_ and her crew."
[Transcriber's Notes:
This book contains a number of misprints.
The following misprints have been corrected:
[Binstard Hard] ->
[Binstead Hard]
Taking into account that "Binstead" does exist
(and "Binstard" doesn't) and "Binstead" is also mentioned
in this book, and furthermore that "Binstard Hard" is
supposed to be at an hours' rowing distance from
"Wootton Creek", this probably is a typographical error.
[Scoutmaster and Sea Souts] ->
[Scoutmaster and Sea Scouts]
[to summons assistance] ->
[to summon assistance]
A few cases of punctuation errors were corrected, but are
not mentioned here.
]
End of Project Gutenberg's Sea Scouts up-Channel, by Percy F. Westerman
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