"Here it is, complete in every detail; and you are perfectly at liberty to call in an independent surveyor whenever you like."
"I don't think there is any necessity for that," replied my father. "When could she be ready for sea?"
"We can get her off these next tides—say, the day after to-morrow—and everything could be placed aboard by Thursday night."
"And the price?"
"Seven hundred and fifty pounds; including fitting out."
"Very well, then. We will regard the transaction as completed; allow me to have the use of your office while I write out a cheque."
I doubt whether a yacht had ever before been sold in such a record time; but such was the ease, and before leaving the shipyard we were in possession of the yacht's papers, Mr. Roach having reiterated his promise to have the "Fortuna" ready for sea in four days' time.
I understood now why the pater had taken single tickets; he had set his heart on the "Fortuna" directly he saw the announcement, and had meant to bring her back to Fowey.
The four days, in, spite of the long hours (for we were up from sunrise to sunset), passed very quickly, and, true to his word, Roach had the yacht afloat, her spars varnished and sails bent, the motor reinstalled, and all gear and stores on board within the specified time. No doubt we should have been quite capable of working her home without assistance, but, acting on Uncle Herbert's advice, we engaged a couple of hand's to be on the safe side in case of heavy weather.
Just before ten on the Thursday night the "Fortuna" slipped her moorings and made for the mouth of the river. It was a clear moonlight night, with the faintest suspicion of a breeze from the nor'-east, so the motor was brought into use, and with a gentle purring the powerful little engine urged the yacht through the calm waters of the land-locked estuary.