“Sure you’re all right, old man?”
“Head feels pretty wobbly, but I’m still worth a dozen dead men,” the boy smiled as he looked into his brother’s face.
“Shall we take you up to your cottage or back to the grove?” Will Jenkins asked.
“Cottage,” Jack replied shortly.
No other word was spoken until they reached the little pier in front of the Golden cottage, then Will Jenkins said:
“I don’t suppose it’s any use to say anything but what Fred said was the truth. We intended to cross your bow the tiller rope stuck and before we knew it the boat had struck. If you had backed a bit it wouldn’t have happened.”
“Why didn’t you go straight ahead instead of turning?” Bob asked.
“Why—er we were heading down for the grove and turned a bit too far.”
“I’ll say you did,” Jack said dryly.
“Well, we’re sorry.”