"I'm not taking it," declared Mr. Murgatroyd vehemently. "When I'm hard up I'll use the Olivette for profits—not before. The money's yours, Armitage; yours and the lads'. It'll help towards buying a vessel of your own."
Naturally the Sea Scouts were surprised and delighted when Mr. Armitage told them of the owner's generosity.
"We've been wondering why the skipper of the barge was so anxious to get a tow and pay for it. He might have had it for the asking," remarked Flemming.
"We're not assisting other criminals on their weary way, I hope," added Hepburn. It was soon evident that, although the barge was "light", she was a heavy barge to tow, and it became a question whether the Olivette would save her tide down to Gravesend.
The barge brought up off her destination just in time. The young flood was making over the malodorous mud-flats.
True to his compact, the skipper of the barge put off in his dinghy and, coming alongside the Olivette, handed over ten very greasy "Bradburys" with as much unconcern as if they had been pennies.
"You've done me a very good turn, guv'ner," he remarked. "Gives me a chance to ship cargo early to-morrow morning, an' ketch the flood up the river."
"Where can we bring up for the night?" asked Mr. Armitage.
"'Longside o' we," replied the skipper promptly. "No need to worrit yourselves about no ridin' light, an' 'tis easy to get under way come mornin'. You've tidy fenders, an' you won't come to no 'arm."
The offer was accepted. It cut both ways. It enabled the Olivette's crew to dispense with the task of anchoring, while, with the Scouts alongside, the skipper and the men of the barge could go ashore without risk of finding their boat plundered by waterside thieves.