Mr. Armitage refused to accept responsibility.
"Ask Mr. Jackson," he suggested.
"Not much use asking me," said the Oxford Scoutmaster when appealed to. "Mongrel, I should think, with a strain of sheep-dog about him. Wonder how he got on the sands?"
"We'll try and find out," replied Mr. Armitage. "We'll semaphore the Gunfleet Lighthouse and make inquiries. It will give our fellows a chance to test their signalling knowledge."
"Bit out of our way, isn't it?" inquired Mr. Jackson, after consulting the chart.
"Yes," admitted the Scoutmaster, "it is. But we'll have a better opportunity of setting a course across the East Swin and over the Sunk. There'll be plenty of water for us over the latter sand-bank. Get the code-book, Peter, and stand by with the ensign and code-pennant."
By this time the Rosalie had rounded the buoy marking the seaward extremity of the Gunfleet Sands, and was running down past the south-eastern side towards the pile-lighthouse.
"Up with the ensign!" ordered the Scoutmaster.
It was not long before the Red Ensign, with the red and white stripped code flag under it, was observed by the lighthouse, and an answering pennant fluttered from the latter's flagstaff.
"Hoist VOX," continued Mr. Armitage. "That means," he added in explanation, "I am going to semaphore to you'. Now, Woodleigh, stand by with the hand-flags—they're ready."