134 ALONGSHORE i« 



and to make at once for the drifter if it gave 

 the same signal. Jim came along the beach sea- 

 booted; spare guernseys, oilskins, a bottle of tea, 

 and a paper bag of sandwiches under his arm. 



'Coom on !' Richard growled. 



'Plenty o' time, ain't there?' said Jim un- 

 hurriedly. Mast, sails, sweeps, and ballast were 

 bundled into the drifter. With an 'All together, 

 boys!' we shoved them off. And afterwards we 

 hauled the smaller sailing-boat down to the water. 



We were about to put to sea ourselves when a 

 visitor came down the beach to the boat. 'Where 

 are you going at this time of day In that boat?' 

 he demanded as If by right. 



Benjie hitched up his trousers, put his hands 

 into his pockets, and gazed into the man's face 

 with mischievous candour. 'Where be us going, 

 sir? Why, we'm going lame duck hunting.' 



'Lame duck hunting? Is that allowed? Isn't 

 it poaching? Where are the ducks?' 



'That's for us to find out, sir.' 



'Well, what d'you do with them?' 



'That depends on w'er us finds any. Time we 

 was oft. Good-afternoon, sir. — Shove!' 



Once afloat, Benjie broke into loud laughter. 

 'Aye!' he said, his mind no doubt harking back 



