Mr. Murgatroyd and the Sea Scouts on deck saw the danger, and precipitately threw themselves flat on deck. There was no going back now. The Olivette, in the grip of a current running as fast as, or faster than, she could go astern—even if she answered readily to her helm—was bearing down at a rate of nine knots "over the ground".
Viewed from the wheel-house it seemed impossible that the boat could escape destruction. The Scoutmaster had a brief and vivid vision of the frail wheel-house shattering itself against the crown of the masonry, yet not for an instant did he lose control of the wheel.
Under it! By inches the Olivette scraped through. Hepburn afterwards declared that there wasn't the space of a hand's breadth between the stonework and the roof of the wheel-house.
"Smart bit of work, Mr. Armitage," called out the owner. "We're having some excitement!"
"No more of that sort, I hope," said the Scoutmaster frankly. "I thought that navigating the Thames was child's play, but give me the open sea any day."
"Take on, Warkworth," ordered Mr. Armitage. "I'm going below for a few minutes. You've two miles before we come to the next lock. Send word if you want me before."
Telling Flemming to relieve Roche in the engine-room, and asking the Patrol-leader to give an eye to the coxswain, Mr Armitage went to his cabin to change a roll of films. The camera was a brand new one, and the operation required careful handling. Just as he had wound the first of the new films into position he heard Warkworth shout.
"Stop. Easy astern!"
Thinking that perhaps it was an inexperienced oarsman who had got in the way of the Olivette, the Scoutmaster hurried to the wheel-house.
"What's wrong, Warkworth?"