Sea Scouts All: How the "Olivette" was won

by Percy F. Westerman

"Thank God!" ejaculated Mr. Armitage fervently, wiping the moisture from his brow. "We're in."

CHAPTER XXI

"Pipe Down"

"Smart bit of work that of yours, Armitage," exclaimed Mr. Jackson in a congratulatory tone.

"A fluke—an absolute fluke," confided the Scoutmaster. "I didn't realize what I'd undertaken. We might have piled ourselves on out there. From a human point of view it was a slice of sheer good luck that we hit one of the fairway buoys, otherwise——"

He shrugged his shoulders expressively.

"However," he continued briskly, "we're in. That's the main point. Fog's lifting, but I don't like the idea of towing the tramp right up to Poole quay. Too many fishing-boats about."

"You can't leave her at anchor," remarked Mr. Jackson.

"No, but I can beach her on the mud," replied Mr. Armitage. "Tide's rising. We can send a tug to finish the job. Stand by to cast off," he ordered, raising his voice.