"Then we'll have to give her a bit more chain, sir," suggested Findlay.
"Which means that she'll drift closer to the bank," added Mr. Graham. "At high tide she'll touch the mud, then when the tide falls she'll heel over almost on her beam ends. I'm sure Mr. and Mrs. Collinson wouldn't appreciate that."
"Can't we weight the chains with something, sir?" asked Ted Coles.
"That's the game," agreed the Scoutmaster. "We'll have to get a couple of pigs of ballast and lash them to the bight of each chain. Ask Mr. Collinson if he has any short lengths of wire rope on board, Desmond; if not, we'll have to use rope, although it's not so suitable as wire."
"There's some on the for'ard port locker in the fo'c'sle," said Mr. Collinson, who had been sitting in the cockpit and watching the Sea Scouts' activities with marked approval.
The Patrol Leader went below and returned with three short lengths of flexible wire.
"Now for the pigs of ballast," exclaimed Jock Findlay.
"Be careful," cautioned Mr. Graham. "They weigh about a hundredweight, and we've got to take them in the dinghy. Two hands will be enough."
The dinghy was brought alongside. Across her gunwale, and partly supported by the transom, was placed a one-inch board, over which was folded a piece of canvas to protect the varnish work from rust and mud.
"Get in for'ard, Hayes," ordered the Scoutmaster. "Jock, you get in aft and follow my directions carefully. There's no need for haste, and remember if you bungle you'll probably swamp the boat."