Part 19 (1/2)
It was near high-water when they left the car at the end of a miry road and struggled across a common to the beach. The roar of the sea filled the air and driving sand stung their faces, but they carried the dinghy down and, wading out some distance through the surf, got on board. After a few minutes' hard pulling they reached the yacht, and Andrew looked about while he felt the cable.
”The anchor's holding, but perhaps we'd better take the kedge farther out,” he said.
It cost them half an hour's hard work; for they had to follow up the heavy warp while angry, broken waves splashed into the dinghy; and then, after tearing the anchor out of the sand, they had to row some distance against the drag of the rope. At last, however, Andrew was satisfied.
”I'm not sure all that was necessary, but it was wiser to make things safe,” he said, when they carried the dinghy up on the sh.o.r.e.
Whitney did not answer, and as they pa.s.sed a sod cabin on the common a man came out.
”Is that you, Jock?” Andrew asked. ”It's a wild night, and when Mr.
Staffer told me what you said I thought I'd come down to see how the boat was riding.”
”It's wild enough,” agreed the fisherman; and Whitney recognized him as the man who had come on board on the morning after their arrival.
”What was it Mr. Staffer said?”
”I can't remember exactly, but I understood you thought the boat might drag.”
”Weel, I wouldna' say that was impossible, but ye hae good ground tackle.”
Whitney looked hard at him, but he could not see the Scot's face well.
”And Mr. Staffer sent ye off in his car to see if she was a' right?”
Marshall chuckled.
”I don't know that he sent us. He said we could use the car.”
”He's a thoughtful man, but I wouldna' say Watson would be pleased--he'd be wanting to wash her. Onyway, ye needna' fash about the boat. I'll be here until the tide rins doon and if onything needs doing, I'll see til it.”
”Thanks,” said Andrew. ”Do you know if one of the whammel boats has gone west?”
”Yin's gone; I dinna ken where. A shooting man frae Edinbro' bought Tarn Grahame's _Nance_. Him and another took her off soon after ye came.”
”How do you know he was an Edinburgh man?”
”There was a Waverley label on his portmanteau and he didna' speak like us. Still, I alloo it might have been Inverness.”
”And the man who was with him?”
”Ye canna' tell where a man comes frae when he keeps his mouth shut, but he was a sailor by the way he handilt the gear.”
Andrew asked no more questions, and they went back to the car. When they reached Appleyard d.i.c.k met them in the hall.
”I've found a way of letting you have your shooting,” he said in an apologetic tone. ”Young Ross will go with you. There isn't a snipe in the mosses he doesn't know about. If there's any sport to be had, he'll see you get it.”
”I suppose this means you're going with Williamson?”
”I really want to go, if you don't mind very much. I may be back before you leave and you'll only be away a week.”
”That's so,” said Andrew, ”Well, you'd better bear in mind what the doctor told you.”