"You lost her, then," remarked Mr. Graham.
"Yes, only temporarily, I hope," was the reply. "Of course, I put about and tried to pick her up, but by that time she was close to the edge of the mud. I had no wish to risk getting the yacht aground on a lee shore, so I put about again and carried on. I noticed some fishermen on the beach, so they no doubt have got hold of her.
"It did not take long to fetch the entrance to Wootton Creek. In fact, I was too early. There wasn't enough water for Ocean Bride—she draws six feet two—so I had to anchor.
"At ten o'clock, or thereabouts, I prepared to go in under power. It was still sufficiently light for me to discern the beacons, although down below it was almost dark. I suppose I must have accidentally advanced the ignitor lever, for, at the first pull of the starting-handle, the motor back-fired. She had never done so before, and I never anticipated her acting in that manner. So much so that I did not take the simple precaution of keeping my thumb underneath the handle.
"The result was a crack that knocked me silly. I suppose I must have fainted. Then, when I pulled myself together a bit, I found out what the damage was. My only course was to signal for assistance. I trusted to the NC flags, meaning to try a flash lamp if they failed to be seen, but your Patrol Leader tells me he got the signal all right. What I was afraid of was my anchor dragging."
"As a matter of fact it did, sir," remarked Desmond; "but Mr. Graham hauled it aboard, and we got away in the yacht just in time."
"How about your dinghy?" inquired the Scoutmaster. "If you like we will fetch her for you."
"I'd be awfully pleased if you would," replied Mr. Collinson gratefully. "The men who picked her up will want payment, naturally, but I hope I shan't have to be bothered with formalities with the Receiver of Wrecks. I loathe that sort of business."
So during the forenoon, at about three hours before high water, Mr. Graham, Desmond, Bedford, and Hayes went off in their dinghy, leaving Ted Coles on board the guardship to act as cook, and Jock Findlay as officer of the watch.
It was a beautiful day for the trip—a calm sea with a light off-shore breeze. Rowing steadily and without undue haste and exertion, the Sea Scouts took a little less than an hour to make Binstead Hard.