The day was clear and bright, with a calm sea and a hot sun shining in an unclouded sky. What little wind there was blew off the land. Provided the range of visibility held, the absence of a compass mattered but little.
The Olivette kept close inshore, so that the guests could point out the interesting features of the Dorset coast, which they knew intimately; but presently some of the Weymouth lads looked rather puzzled.
They were too polite to express their perplexity at the manoeuvres of Hepburn, who was at the helm of the Olivette.
Alan, constantly referring to the chart, was feeling none too certain of his position. He kept looking shorewards, trying to determine the various prominent objects.
Presently Phillips, who had been sitting on the coach-roof, descended into the well, made his way past the motor, and climbed upon the raised bench in the wheel-house.
"I say," he remarked, "are you taking us straight to Keyhaven?"
"Dash it all, no," replied Hepburn. "What put that idea into your head? We are going to land you at Lulworth."
"Really," rejoined John. "Do you know you are past Lulworth already?"
On deck the two Scoutmasters were enjoying the joke, although it was rather a set-back to Mr. Armitage, who had been dilating upon the youthful helmsman's skill in coastal navigation.
To them came Stratton.