"Right-o!" he assented. "Be very careful."
Stratton meant to be. He knew the risk of slipping and falling between the two vessels. But he was a level-headed youngster, who knew how to use his hands and his feet as well as the "grey matter under his thatch ".
Watching his opportunity, he gained the deck of the barge, passed the bight of a rope round a bollard, and threw the ends back on to the Olivette.
"All fast!" shouted Hepburn.
With that assurance the Patrol-leader cast off the original rope. The Olivette was now held by a warp that could be slipped from her deck and the stern-post as well.
Peter did not employ the same method with the after-warp. He merely cast it off, and, before the two boats had a chance to drift apart, he regained the Olivette's deck.
"All gone aft, sir!" he reported.
"Then let go for'ard," ordered the Scoutmaster.
Roche, at the clutch lever of the engine, heard the command, and wondered why the Scoutmaster did not give the order to go ahead or astern. But Mr. Armitage realized the danger of starting under power from the lee of the labouring barge. He was content to let the Olivette drop clear under the action of wind and tide.
"Easy ahead!" he ordered. "Stratton, pass the word for all hands to go below. We want a clear deck for this job."