One of the partners of the firm received the arrivals with cordiality.
"Yes, she's lying well up the canal," he replied, in answer to the Scoutmaster's question. "All the gear is on board, and we've filled the tanks with fresh water. You have merely to provision your ship and start away as soon as the tide serves. Oh, no: there is nothing to pay. Mr. Collinson instructed us that the account was to be sent on to him. We did so, and received a cheque in settlement this morning."
"By the by," said Mr. Graham, "has a Sea Scout named Desmond—one of our troop—called here this morning?"
"No—at least I think not," was the reply. "I was out for about an hour, so he may have looked in. I'll ask the foreman."
The foreman, on answering the summons, volunteered the information that he had seen a Scout hurrying along the other side of the canal.
"I didn't take much notice, sir," he added, "seeing as there be plenty of them lads up-along in the holidays."
"Then perhaps he went straight on board," suggested Mr. Graham. "Did you notice that he limped a little?"
"Seein' as how you mentions it, sir," replied the foreman, "I think he did."
"That's Desmond," declared the Scoutmaster with conviction. "Well, we'll go aboard. She's not locked up, by any chance?"
"No," replied the yacht agent. "We left the cabin door open to give plenty of fresh air. We've a couple of hands working on a boat alongside, so everything will be quite safe, even if your Sea Scout isn't on board."