“Yes, sir, we got her out this morning.”
“I suppose a lot of people wanted to have her, they all went for her, I'll bet.”
“Yes, sir, a good many gentlemen asked if they could have her.”
It seemed to please Frank that he had caused so many to be disappointed. “Well, get her out, we have no time to lose.”
The man stepped from one fleet of skiffs to another, he caught at several boats with his boat-hook, but Frank's boat could not be found. He shouted to his man who was sculling towards an island opposite: “What has become of Mr. Escott's boat? I took her out myself this morning.”
“I should like to know what is the use of my sending you telegrams if I am delayed in this way?”
“My man will be here in a second, sir.”
“Now, then, do be quick, stir yourself, I don't want to stand about here all day.”
The assistant scratched his head. Finally it transpired that that party down the river—that party just gone away—must have had the boat. He didn't know anything about it, it wasn't his fault. They said they had engaged that boat over-night.
“My boat let out for hire! How dare you do this? I never heard of such a thing; I shall write to the papers.”