A Tow
"I wonder what Mr. Murgatroyd intends doing with the _Olivette_ when
he gets her to Teddington," remarked Roche next morning, while the
crew were awaiting the arrival of the owner. "She can't be run 'all
out', and there's a good engine practically wasted."
"It puzzles me," added Stratton, "why he should be content to be on
board as a mere passenger. He hasn't taken the wheel once. I know I
jolly well would if I were in his place."
"Perhaps he's going to engage a permanent crew," suggested Hepburn.
"'Tany rate she's the wrong type of boat for this ditch," declared
the Patrol-leader. "Wouldn't I like to try her in a sea-way! Give an
eye to that bacon, Dick. We don't want it burnt to a cinder."
"How's the glass this morning, sir?" inquired Alan, as Mr. Armitage
emerged from his cabin.
"Falling rapidly," replied the Scoutmaster, giving a glance aloft at
the clouds scudding across the sky. "We're in for a short, sharp
spell of dirty weather, I'm afraid. However, we must take the bad
with the good, and keep smiling. Any sign of Mr. Murgatroyd yet?"
"He's just coming, sir," replied Flemming. "There he is, walking
along the tow-path."
It was 5 a.m.--or four o'clock by Greenwich time. The sun had not yet
risen, although it was quite light. An early morning start was
desirable, and since Mr. Murgatroyd did not wish unduly to
inconvenience the hotel staff, he arranged to have breakfast on
board.
"Good morning, everyone!" he exclaimed. "Bless my soul! What a
delicious breakfast. Who's the cook? My hunger will astonish you."
He sniffed the air appreciatively.
"Do you know that this is the first time for twenty years that I've
seen the sun rise," he continued. "I feel like kicking myself for
having wasted my opportunities. Now, then, let's see who's the best
trencherman."
Directly breakfast was finished Warkworth was told off to wash up,
while the rest of the crew set to work to get under way. Mr.
Armitage, undaunted by the previous day's events, had sufficient
faith in Alan Hepburn to place him at the wheel.
"You know what that awkward bend is like, Alan," he remarked. "That's
half the battle. Carry on."
Hepburn felt decidedly "bucked". He realized that the stranding of
the _Olivette_ had not gone against him in his Scoutmaster's opinion.
He had been given an unqualified chance of again tackling what was
admittedly a difficult bit of navigation, taking into consideration
the length and general unhandiness of the boat when running under
considerably reduced power.
That notwithstanding, Alan found himself approaching the scene of the
grounding with a sense of suppressed excitement. He wasn't exactly
nervous, but he vaguely wondered whether he would be able to do the
trick this time.
Mr. Armitage noted with silent approval that the young helmsman was
hugging the right bank. That gave him a better turning circle when
the critical moment arrived to starboard helm.
This time the manoeuvre was successfully accomplished. Then followed
an intricate bit of the river through and beyond Wargrave, where the
stream is obstructed by numerous "aits", or islands.
Mile after mile was reeled off in grand style. By this time the locks
were no longer novelties to the Sea Scouts--they became monotonous.
Marlow, with its huge weir, interested them, but they voted the river
between Bourne End and Maidenhead the best from a picturesque point
of view.
As they approached Boulter's Lock it began to rain in torrents, so
oilskins and sou'westers were donned. The downpour proved a blessing
in disguise, because the _Olivette_ was spared the intricate business
of entering a lock crowded with frail pleasure-boats. As it happened,
the most famous lock on the Thames was almost deserted.
Windsor Castle, viewed in the sunlight as the clouds temporarily
cleared, enthralled the Sea Scouts. They realized that in that noble
pile was embodied the history of nearly a thousand years.
"I wish we had time to go over the Castle," remarked Roche wistfully.
"So do I," agreed Mr. Armitage. "But this is a business proposition,
Roche; we've contracted to undertake two tasks in a given time, and
it's up to us to carry them out."
Magna Carta Island, looking much like the rest of the Thames islands,
was passed soon afterwards--a flat, uninteresting strip of ground
famous for the fact that the greatest deed that gave the English
people their liberty was enacted here, when the barons forced King
John to sign the all-important charter.
The afternoon found the _Olivette_ off Hampton Court. Her voyage was
approaching the end. There were evidences that she was nearing the
great Metropolis.
"We'll do it easily this time," said Mr. Armitage, addressing the
owner.
"Yes," replied Mr. Murgatroyd dubiously. "I can't say that I'm at all
pleased with the river. From a scenic point of view it's all right;
but what's the use of a big boat like this? I can't run her at any
speed."
He paused to watch a long, lean motor-launch glide past, overtaking
the _Olivette_ with the greatest ease, yet leaving hardly any wash in
her wake.
"That's the sort of thing," he continued.
"For the Thames above London," agreed the Scoutmaster. "I wouldn't
care to take her down to the Nore, but this boat would go anywhere."
"I wonder if I would be a good sailor," remarked Mr. Murgatroyd.
"You'll be able to find that out later, if you wish," said Mr.
Armitage. "With a competent engineer and coxswain, you ought to get
heaps of pleasure out of her on the East Coast."
"Good idea that," agreed the owner. "East Coast--bracing air, open
sea, go as fast as you can. That's sensible. No ditch-crawling with
two cylinders cut out and the throttle almost closed. I remember
spending a pleasant holiday years ago at a little place called
Brightlingsea. Know it?"
"I've heard of it," admitted Mr. Armitage. "Although during the war I
was stationed some time at Harwich, I never put into the Colne, which
is only about thirty miles distant."
"Will you take the _Olivette_ to Brightlingsea for me?" asked Mr.
Murgatroyd bluntly. "I'll willingly pay another ten pounds."
The Scoutmaster hesitated a few moments. He had to think things out.
It would give the lads an opportunity of open sea work in a boat that
they were by this time fairly well acquainted with. In addition,
Brightlingsea was well on the way to Great Yarmouth.
"We'll manage it," he replied. "If there are no delays, unavoidable
or otherwise; it will fit in with our present arrangements."
"What are you doing this sort of thing for?" asked Mr. Murgatroyd
with his natural bluntness. Needless to say, he hailed from 'twixt
Tees and Trent. "Making a living out of it?"
Mr. Armitage smiled.
"Hardly," he replied. "Otherwise I might soon find myself in the
'cart'. No, it's a scheme to help my Sea Scouts to purchase a
weatherly sort of boat, one on which they can sleep under cover.
Since by the Scout Regulations they are not allowed to receive
monetary rewards for doing nothing--in other words, cadging--they
must earn their salt honestly."
"Good scheme," agreed Mr. Murgatroyd. "Take it from me, a self-made
old buffer, that money easily acquired is not appreciated to anything
like the extent as if you'd had to work jolly hard for it. Right-o!
we're for Brightlingsea, then. Anything you require for the voyage?"
"More fuel," replied the Scoutmaster. "If we refill the
paraffin-tank, it ought to take us there. Provisions, I think, are
sufficient. I'll have to go ashore near London Bridge and buy a chart
of the mouth of the Thames. Mine is from the Nore eastwards."
It was early in the afternoon when the _Olivette_ passed through the
great lock at Teddington, and entered the tidal waters of the Thames.
It was now just after high water, and the mud-banks on the northern
shore were covered.
"Can't we increase speed, sir?" asked Stratton, noticing several
fussy, high-powered steam-tugs making quite a swell.
"Connect up all four cylinders, and see how she takes it," assented
the Scoutmaster. "Don't give her full throttle. Many a good motor has
been spoiled by opening out before the bearings have been properly
run in."
The _Olivette_ increased speed. Although there was a fair amount of
vibration, it was not so marked as when the motor was running on two
cylinders. It was possible to leave a plate on the cabin table and
not find it making steady progress from one end to the other, a
tendency that had already been responsible for several casualties
amongst the crockery-ware.
"Now she feels it!" exclaimed Hepburn, as the _Olivette_ encountered
the "wash" of a tug, lifting her bows and plunging into the trough,
at the same time flinging a shower of spray far on either side.
"Almost like being at sea once more."
Mr. Armitage thought so too. He was once more in his element. The
narrow, tideless waters of the Thames, with their crowds of
pleasure-craft, manned for the most part by inexperienced amateurs,
were left astern. Ahead was a commercial waterway frequented by men
whose business was upon the sea, and who knew the "Rule of the Road"
by heart. The Scoutmaster could take the _Olivette_ through the maze
of shipping with confidence--confidence in himself and confidence in
those in command of the craft he met, since "they knew their job".
Failure to know it on the part of one would almost certainly result
in an accident, possibly disaster; but a cool head and a steady hand
at the wheel were sure and certain passports to safety.
The Sea Scouts were most enthusiastic over the change of plans. With
the budding instinct of seamanship they welcomed the idea of taking
the _Olivette_ out to sea. There lurked a spice of danger, a
possibility of being able to achieve something.
"Now," said Mr. Armitage, as the boat passed over the half-tide
barrage at Richmond, "we are not ditch-crawling: it's sea routine.
Stratton, you take the starboard watch, with Warkworth as deck hand.
Roche will be engineer of that watch. The others, under Hepburn, will
be in the port watch, with Woodleigh for deck duties. One is quite
enough for the engine-room, except when starting up. Starboard will
take on at the first Dog Watch. That will start the routine well."
As far as London Bridge progress was rapid, except when it became
necessary to avoid lumbering lighters "shooting the bridges" with the
now strong ebb-tide. Here the _Olivette_ brought up alongside a wharf
and refilled tanks, while the Scoutmaster hied him to Potter's to
purchase the necessary chart.
"Will Gravesend suit for to-night?" asked Mr. Armitage on his return.
"Anywhere," replied Mr. Murgatroyd. "If necessary, I'll sleep on
board. In fact, I'd rather like it."
It meant turning Stratton out of his bunk, but the owner didn't know
that. On the other hand, should it become necessary for the
_Olivette_ to weigh she could do so without having to wait for Mr.
Murgatroyd.
"I have a couple of rugs in my portmanteau," he continued. "It isn't
the first time I've slept 'rough'."
"But we don't sleep 'rough' on board, sir," expostulated Roche. "It's
as comfortable as anything, even in the lockers in the cockpit."
"Lamps all trimmed, I hope, Peter?" asked the Scoutmaster. "We don't
want to be under way after dark if it can be avoided, but we must be
prepared if the contingency arises."
Throughout the trip down the Lower Thames--or London River, as it is
termed in the sea-faring world--Mr. Armitage remained in the
wheel-house, ready to give directions to the helmsman should occasion
occur. But, following his usual plan, he allowed the lad at the wheel
to exercise his own discretion--a plan that worked admirably. It gave
the coxswain confidence, but at the same time he realized that if he
did get in a tight corner the Scoutmaster was there, ready to help
him out of the difficulty. "We'll carry our tide right to Gravesend,
I think," remarked Mr. Armitage, as he shut up the tide-table book.
"The flood makes at 6.30."
"Does it matter with a motor?" asked Roche.
"Yes, but not to the same extent as if we were dependent on
sail-power. We're doing nine knots now, with a three-knot ebb under
us. That means we are doing twelve knots past the land. With the tide
against us we would be doing only six. In that case----"
"There's a barge hailing us, sir," reported Warkworth, who was
"look-out" on duty. "Wants a tow, I think."
Mr. Armitage went on deck. Eighty or a hundred yards away was a large
sprit-rigged Thames barge, light in ballast. She was dropping down
with the tide. Her large expanse of tanned canvas was hardly drawing,
for the breeze, which had held strongly during the greater part of
the day, had "petered out ".
"Tug, ahoy!" hailed the skipper of the barge, a short, rotund man,
clad in a blue jersey, tanned trousers and sea-boots, and wearing a
billy-cock hat. "Can you give us a pluck as far as Gravesen'?"
Mr. Armitage glanced at Mr. Murgatroyd.
"Go on," said the latter. "It'll be a bit of fun. Let's see what the
_Olivette_ can do with a craft like that."
"It will mean increased fuel-consumption," cautioned the Scoutmaster,
"and perhaps finishing up against the tide in the dark. We're not off
Woolwich yet."
"It's my paraffin you're burning," remarked the owner with a chuckle.
"If I don't mind, you needn't. And a run in the dark won't hurt us.
It isn't a case of 'I'm afraid to go home in the dark', is it?"
By this time the _Olivette_, although her engine was stopped, had
overlapped the barge. The skipper of the latter, evidently fearing
that his request would be "turned down", brought his hands
trumpet-wise to his mouth and bellowed:
"I'll give you ten pun' for a tow."
"Take on the job, Armitage," said his employer.
The Scoutmaster raised one arm in a gesture of assent, and
immediately the crew of the barge--two men and a boy--prepared to run
out a warp.
"All out!" ordered Mr. Armitage, when the barge had gathered way in
the wake of the powerful little motor-craft.
"I don't know whether we are transgressing and breaking regulations
by towing for hire," observed the Scoutmaster.
"We were asked," replied: Mr. Murgatroyd. "The skipper is evidently
in a hurry, or else he wouldn't have offered ten pounds."
"You've earned something by keeping on," said Mr. Armitage.
"Not I," protested the owner. "I'm only a sort of passenger."
"As owner you are entitled to a part at least of the towage,"
persisted Mr. Armitage.
"I'm not taking it," declared Mr. Murgatroyd vehemently. "When I'm
hard up I'll use the _Olivette_ for profits--not before. The money's
yours, Armitage; yours and the lads'. It'll help towards buying a
vessel of your own."
Naturally the Sea Scouts were surprised and delighted when Mr.
Armitage told them of the owner's generosity.
"We've been wondering why the skipper of the barge was so anxious to
get a tow and pay for it. He might have had it for the asking,"
remarked Flemming.
"We're not assisting other criminals on their weary way, I hope,"
added Hepburn. It was soon evident that, although the barge was
"light", she was a heavy barge to tow, and it became a question
whether the _Olivette_ would save her tide down to Gravesend.
The barge brought up off her destination just in time. The young
flood was making over the malodorous mud-flats.
True to his compact, the skipper of the barge put off in his dinghy
and, coming alongside the _Olivette_, handed over ten very greasy
"Bradburys" with as much unconcern as if they had been pennies.
"You've done me a very good turn, guv'ner," he remarked. "Gives me a
chance to ship cargo early to-morrow morning, an' ketch the flood up
the river."
"Where can we bring up for the night?" asked Mr. Armitage.
"'Longside o' we," replied the skipper promptly. "No need to worrit
yourselves about no ridin' light, an' 'tis easy to get under way
come mornin'. You've tidy fenders, an' you won't come to no 'arm."
The offer was accepted. It cut both ways. It enabled the _Olivette's_
crew to dispense with the task of anchoring, while, with the Scouts
alongside, the skipper and the men of the barge could go ashore
without risk of finding their boat plundered by waterside thieves.
The barge skipper was well satisfied. At an outlay of ten pounds for
towage, he had made to the extent of fifty or sixty pounds in times
when freightage was higher than it had ever been before.