And a few minutes later Kenneth and his crew were left alone amidst the chaos of piles of dirty crockery and the debris of the feast.
XI
An hour’s hard work and the task of washing up and getting the hold into some semblance of order was completed.
Then Raxworthy gave orders for the picket-boat’s motor to be started and preparations made to take the schooner in tow.
By this time night had fallen, but the storm had completely died away, and a full moon was approaching its zenith.
It was now seen that the Marie Lescaut was lying in a small harbour, the main or seaward entrance to which was entirely hidden by the high ground on either side. The subsidiary channel through which the picket-boat had been providentially driven by the gale was likewise hidden from Mautby outer harbour, and consequently the light cruiser Kirkham could neither be seen from the deck of the Marie Lescaut nor could the Kirkham see the schooner.
“Now I’ll have to explain matters to the commander,” thought Kenneth. “He’ll probably raise Cain because I haven’t got into touch with the ship before now, but there’s one blessing—he can’t spoil my Christmas Day now!”
The next question was how to get the schooner into Mautby inner harbour. It was too risky to attempt the short cut; so the midshipman decided to tow her seaward, skirt the extremity of the Mutches—the lighthouse would warn him off the outlying dangers—and gain the harbour by the buoyed channel.
Then the question arose: was the seaward entrance to the little haven free from shoals? Consulting the Frenchman’s chart Kenneth came to the conclusion that the channel ought to be feasible, although great caution was necessary. If he piled the Marie Lescaut upon a rock the consequences to him would be very serious. On the other hand he dare not leave the schooner anchored where she was until a working crew could be obtained from the Kirkham, because the Frenchmen, if they were hiding on one of the islands, might regain possession of her in the interval and take her to sea. Once outside the three-mile limit she would be immune from arrest.
“I’ll risk it!” decided Kenneth, and gave orders for the schooner’s anchor to be hove short ready for the vessel to be taken in tow by the picket-boat.