He waited until we had scrambled in, and then, unfastening the rope, took his place at the oars. Two or three strokes brought us alongside, where Bobby held the boat steady while we clambered on board over the low iron railing.
I shepherded Christine and Campbell to the cockpit, and, leaving them there, lent what assistance I could to the others in the task of getting under way.
Within five minutes of our feet touching the deck the anchor was hauled in, and we were heading out into the open estuary, with the black water rippling past our stern.
Bobby, who had taken the wheel, signalled to me to come aft.
"You'll find a pair of night glasses in the cabin," he observed. "You'd better go up into the bows and keep a look-out."
I nodded. "If you've got such a thing as a spare gun," I said, "I'll borrow that too."
"There are a couple of Webleys about somewhere," he replied. "Ask Jenkins for them and give the other one to Campbell."
I dropped down the narrow hatch, and, having discovered the glasses, made my way forward to where Jenkins was busy with the engines. He left them for a moment, to reappear with a brace of useful-looking revolvers, and thus equipped I crawled back to the cockpit.
I found Christine and the Inspector sitting side by side, apparently on the most friendly terms.
"Here you are, Campbell," I said, offering him his choice. "I promised you a bit of shooting, and the odds are that you'll get it."