Sea Scouts All: How the "Olivette" was won

by Percy F. Westerman

"Cheerio!" ejaculated Hepburn. "Let's have it, sir."

CHAPTER II

Two Offers

"Palaver!" exclaimed Mr. Armitage. "We'll adjourn to the boat-house and go into the matter. Now, then. The first offer is by telegram. Here it is: 'Can you undertake navigation of 50-foot motor-boat from Oxford to Teddington, starting Monday next? Terms fifteen pounds and travelling expenses. Confirming by letter. Murgatroyd.'"

"A trip down the Thames—how jolly!" remarked Reggie Warkworth.

"But it's not a sea-voyage," objected Eric Flemming. "We're Sea Scouts, not canal bargees."

"Fifteen pounds is fifteen pounds," observed Alan Hepburn sententiously. "And we'd be afloat, even if it's only on the Thames."

"What's the other offer, sir?" asked the matter-of-fact Peter Stratton.

In reply Mr. Armitage drew an envelope from his pocket, extracted its contents, and read: