Much as the Tenderfoot wished to hear the end of the discussion, he went without a murmur. He realized that the Patrol Leader had the authority to send him back to duty, and Desmond's word was law when, in the absence of the Scoutmaster, he was in charge of the patrol.
"We'll tell you everything at tea," called out Desmond after the departing cook. "In fact," he added, addressing the others, "we ought to wait till the kid's present. He's one of us, although he's only a tenderfoot."
Mr. Graham was quite a long time before he put in an appearance. He had been talking with Mr. Collinson, and it was not until the whistle sounded for tea that he rejoined the rest of the patrol.
"When do we start, sir?" asked the lads.
"On Monday, all being well," was the reply. "But before we make final arrangements there are many points to discuss. The first one is, how do we get to Bude?"
"Trek there, sir," suggested Bedford. "It would cost an awful lot to go by train."
"Too far," objected the Scoutmaster. "If we had plenty of time it might be done. No, our best plan will be to walk to Cowes, take steamer to Southampton, and then train as far as Exeter. That leaves us fifty miles, mostly across Dartmoor. We might trek that distance in two days, but we'll be carrying full pack, remember."
"And camp out on the way, sir?" asked Hayes. "That will be fine."
"Let's hope it will be fine," added Findlay jocularly. "And how long will it take to sail the Spindrift round, sir, do you think? Has she a motor?"
"No, she hasn't, unfortunately," replied Mr. Graham, thinking of the old days during the war when three years in an M.L. rather spoiled him for long and possibly tedious trips under sail only. "So I can't say how long it will take us. We may get a fair breeze round the land and up-Channel; or we may get alternate calms and strong head winds. That is a matter quite beyond our control. There's another point: a couple of hands must stay here to give an eye to things. And it's up to us to assist Mr. Collinson while he's practically helpless on board his yacht."