The Project Gutenberg EBook of Sea Scouts up-Channel, by Percy F. Westerman This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. 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 Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SEA SCOUTS UP-CHANNEL *** Produced by R.G.P.M. van Giesen Cover [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 image: IMAGENAME1 [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 [5] XXI. The Tables Turned XXII. A Narrow Shave XXIII. The Rebound of the Joke XXIV. Refusing a Tow XXV. And Last [6] 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!" [7] 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 [9] 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. [10] 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 meander- [11] ing 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. [12] "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. [13] 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 [14] 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 [15] 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 [16] 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." [17] 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 [18] 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 [19] 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. [20] 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 [21] 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 [22] 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." [23] "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. [24] "'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 [25] 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 [26] 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". [27] 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 [28] 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. [29] "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 [30] 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!" [31] "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. [32] 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, [33] 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. [34] 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. [35] 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." [36] 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 [37] 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." [38] "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. [39] "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, [40] 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 [41] 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 [42] 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". [43] 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 [44] 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 [45] 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 [46] 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' pai...