"Now to find out Mr. Johnson who has the key of the guardship," announced the Scoutmaster; but, before he could take further steps in the matter, an old, grey-bearded man, wearing a blue reefer suit and a peaked cap, came out of a cottage near by.
"You'rn the gen'l'man what's a friend to Mr. Tweedie's, I take it, sir?" he inquired. "Johnson's my name, master mariner for nigh on thirty-five year. I've got the keys, sir. Here they be, an' a list of where everything be to. If you'rn wantin' any help, come to Cap'n Albert Johnson, being me."
"Thanks awfully, Captain," replied the Scoutmaster. "I suppose there's a dinghy to get off to the guardship with?"
"Ay, ay, there's a nice li'l boat belonging to our Sea Scouts. She'm alongside yon steps, but there ain't enough water just now, seein' as 'ow the tide's out."
"In that case we must wait," rejoined Mr. Graham. "How long will it be before the dinghy is afloat?" Captain Johnson gave a glance at the mud-banks.
"Matter of an hour, mebbe an hour an' a half," he replied. "Say seven o'clock an' you'll be on the safe side."
"In that case," said Mr. Graham cheerfully, "we may as well get in a few provisions. Unship that gear, Desmond. The trek-cart will come in handy for the grub. Hayes, you'd better mount guard over our gear. I suppose there's fresh water aboard, Captain Johnson?"
"Ay, ay, sir," was the reply, "the lads filled up her tank just afore they went 'foreign'. There'll be a couple o' hundred gallon in a iron tank amidships. You'll find the tap in the galley, but don't use the pump. That be for salt water."
Leaving Hayes to contemplate the narrow trickle of water between the mud-flats, the Scoutmaster and the rest of the Sea Scouts set off on their task of buying provisions. By the time they returned with their well-laden trek-cart the tide had commenced to flow, and the water was already lapping the keel of the dinghy.
Ten minutes later the little craft was pushed off through the soft mud and taken alongside the bridge. The stores and baggage were passed aboard, the trek-cart put into a shed at the mill, and the Sea Scouts set off for their temporary floating home.