"I suppose, sir," said Flemming, "that in your opinion we aren't equal to the task."
"Not at all," declared the Scoutmaster. "Otherwise I wouldn't have undertaken the contract. You are healthy, well-developed lads, but you aren't equal to full-grown experienced men. Therefore I have to be careful not to run unnecessary risks. We'll set canvas and see what the gear's like. That requires practice, I can assure you."
"In case we have to stow sails in a hurry," added Stratton.
"Precisely," agreed Mr. Armitage. "Nothing afloat looks so bad as a raw crew struggling ineffectually at stowing canvas. You should know exactly what's what, which rope is which, so that you could find them in the dark."
The sails were in excellent condition and the running-gear good. For an hour the Sea Scouts practised hoisting and stowing staysail, foresail, and mainsail, until Mr. Armitage expressed himself satisfied.
"Now," he continued, addressing Roche and Flemming, the two engineers, "we'll run the engines. We can spare you, Woodleigh, if necessary, but the Rosalie's twin engines ought to be less trouble than the Olivette's single one, because the controls are worked from the deck. Hallo! This for me?"
The last sentence was addressed to a telegraph-boy standing on the quayside with an orange-coloured envelope in his hand.
"Mr. Armitage," replied the messenger.
The Scoutmaster read the telegram. "No reply, thanks," he said.
The wire was from Mr. Jackson to say that he was leaving Liverpool Street at eight.