"PENNINGTON HALL,
PARKSTONE, DORSET.
29th July, 19—.
"DEAR SIR,
"With reference to your advertisement, I should be glad to avail myself of your offer. I have recently bought the 35-ton motor-yacht Rosalie, now lying at Great Yarmouth, and wish to have her brought round to Poole Harbour. As I am unable, owing to professional engagements, to sail her round myself, and quotations from agents being prohibitive, the idea of engaging a crew of Sea Scouts rather appeals to me. I, therefore, offer the sum of twenty-five pounds, in addition to travelling expenses and incidental charges, for your services, the boat to be delivered, weather and other circumstances permitting, not later than the 16th August. I might mention that Rosalie is an excellent sea-boat, and has been in Auxiliary Patrol in the North Sea during the late war. If you are agreeable to my terms, will you kindly wire or write by return, and I will forward the necessary documents to obtain the yacht from her late owner.
"Yours truly,
"ANDREW TRELAWNEY."
"Now, boys," said the Scoutmaster, "discuss, as Shakespeare puts it."
He charged and lit his pipe, and listened.
Mr. Armitage was quite content to let his Sea Scouts do the debating, only volunteering a statement when it was asked for, until the time came for him to arrive at a decision upon the matter in hand. It gave the boys confidence in themselves, and, although he was a boy at heart himself, he recognized the advantages of allowing the lads to build their own plans.
"The Yarmouth stunt's the thing!" decided Peter.
"M'yes," remarked Woodleigh dubiously. Never having sailed beyond the shelter of the Isle of Wight, the suddenness of the proposition rather took him aback. "About three hundred miles, isn't it?"