As far as an officer under instruction was concerned, the test was a simple, and at the same time a drastic one. He might be sent at a few hours' notice to bring a motor-boat round from, say, Great Yarmouth to Sableridge, a distance of between two and three hundred miles. He had to use his discretion—to remain in port should the weather look threatening, or the atmospheric3 conditions point to fog or mist. Nevertheless, it was no light task to navigate4 a half-decked motor-craft in the depth of winter, when short days and dark nights added to the difficulties of making a passage.
It was of no use for an officer to attempt to live on his reputation. He had to be prepared to execute orders rationally and efficiently5. There was one second-lieutenant who boasted that in pre-war days he had navigated6 his own yacht from Blackpool to the Isle7 of Man. Shortly after he had reported for duty at the depot8 an officer was required to bring a motor-launch round from Harwich.
"Why not send Ruby9, sir?" suggested the Major, as he and the Colonel were debating as to who should be deputed for the task. "He has taken a boat across to the Isle of Man."
So Second-Lieutenant Ruby received his sailing orders, and for the next few days he walked about like a man in a trance. The magnitude of his task appalled10 him. Finally he went to the Major and declared that he was not equal to navigating11 the boat. From that moment he ceased to be a motor-boat officer, and was given a tedious but safe shore-billet.
It was towards the end of the first week in November that Derek Daventry received his orders for his first trip as an independent command. His instructions were to take two 35-footers and proceed to Wagshot Air Station, where he was to receive a sea-plane and tow her back to Sableridge. The double distance amounted to nearly seventy miles, of which half was open sea work. The sea-plane was an obsolete12 machine, the engines of which had been removed, and was required merely for the purpose of practising how to take this kind of aircraft in tow.
All the previous day Derek was exceptionally busy. On him rested the responsibility of the voyage. He had to see that the boats' equipment was in order, that the tanks were filled with petrol, that there was plenty of lubricating oil on board, that the men had drawn14 their rations15 and blankets, and that charts and navigating instruments were on board.
Before sunset the two boats were moored16 alongside the pier17. The start was timed for six in the morning. Hardly ever had Derek studied the barometer18 so frequently and so carefully. Twice during the night he rose from his camp-bed, donned trench-coat and sea-boots, and walked down to the pier, in order to satisfy himself that the boats were riding properly in the tide-way, and that their securing-rope had sufficient slack to allow for the rise and fall of the tide.
At 5 a.m., just as he was enjoying a sound slumber19, he was awakened20 by his batman.
"What sort of morning is it?" he asked.
"Cold, sir, and fine," replied the man. "Bright moonlight, and hardly any wind."
Quickly Derek tumbled out of bed and began to dress. Experience had taught him that to be warmly clad in a boat is as necessary as when flying. Over his khaki breeches he wore a pair of thick flannel21 trousers. On his feet he had a pair of socks, a pair of woollen stockings, and a voluminous pair of india-rubber sea-boots. Walking even a short distance in loosely-fitting boots inevitably22 resulted in the total destruction of the heels of the socks, but on the other hand it would be a fairly simple matter to kick off the boots in the event of Derek finding himself "in the ditch". Sea-boots that fit tightly, and cannot be taken off quickly in an emergency, are nothing short of death-traps.
He discarded his tunic23, wearing in its place two thick sweaters. The next items were his oilskin trousers and coat, while the only outward and visible sign that he held His Majesty's Commission in the R.A.F. was his cap, with the distinctive24 badge of the crown, eagle, and wings.
By the time he had completed dressing25 breakfast was served. He ate his meal in solitary26 state in the electrically-lighted mess-room. There was no question of the excellence27 of the food at Sableridge, even in war-time. Hot Scotch28 porridge, with treacle29, eggs and bacon, toast, real butter, marmalade and jam—a square meal to fortify30 the young officer's inner man for the coming ordeal31 of a sea-voyage. Feeling rather like an arctic explorer, for across his shoulders he now carried a well-filled haversack and a pair of binoculars32, Derek descended33 the steps of the officers' mess and walked down to the pier.
The batman was right. It was a cold morning. Every bush was festooned with hoar-frost that glistened34 in the moonlight. The planks35 of the pier were slippery with ice, while there was a biting coldness in the air that gave a zest36 to life, even at six o'clock on a November morning.
The crews of the two boats were already at the pier-head, black oilskinned figures, looking like ghostly familiars in the grey light. Both craft had their engines running, the fumes37 from the exhausts rising strongly in the cold air. From the stern of each boat flew the White Ensign, while as a distinguishing pennant38 each displayed the "International F" from the short iron mast abaft39 the fore-deck.
Then came a grim reminder40 that there were war risks even on a coastal voyage. Before embarking41 every man had to give his name to the signalman on the pier-head, in order that their next-of-kin should be promptly42 informed if the boats met with disaster and the crews failed to return.
"All ready?"
"All ready, sir!"
"Cast off!"
With a slight jerk, as the clutch was slipped in, the 35-footer gathered way, her White Ensign temporarily enveloped43 in the bluish haze44 of the exhaust. A slight touch on the wheel steadied her on her helm, and soon the white signal-house on Sableridge Pier was a misty45 wraith46 in the darkness.
Half a cable's length astern followed the second boat, her sergeant-coxwain, unused to the science of navigation, although he knew how to handle a small craft, keeping station with the utmost fidelity47. At that distance she was a mere13 indistinct grey wedge, her position chiefly indicated by the "bone in her teeth", otherwise the creamy froth leaping from her knife-like bows and thrown wide on either side by her pronounced flare48.
Ahead the Bar Buoy49 winked50 its friendly greeting. No other light was visible in that quarter, and steering51 for that particular light was "not good enough", when on either hand of the narrow channel were dangerous sandbanks, on the fringes of which the surf was pounding heavily.
It was on this account that Derek kept looking astern. Over the bobbing canopy52 and beyond the fluttering ensign were two white lights, one several feet higher than the other, and actually four hundred yards apart. These were the only lights ashore53, and were permitted when the exhibition of any other illuminant would result in a fine not exceeding ￡500. In short, they were the harbour leading lights, and as long as a mariner54 kept them in line, either when entering or leaving the fairway, he could carry on in absolute confidence, scorning the hidden dangers on either hand.
The Bar Buoy at last! Giving the boat starboard helm Derek swung her round until her head pointed55 due east. Already his cap and oilskins were running with moisture, and the salt spray was stinging his face and making his eyes smart despite the scanty56 protection afforded by the "dodger57".
"Hardly so comfortable as my old 'bus," thought Daventry; "but it's jolly exhilarating. Now then, old lady, let's see how you take that one!"
"That one" referred to a crested58 "comber" that was bearing down towards the swiftly-moving boat. A slight touch on the helm and the fine bows swung round to take the advancing mass of water line on. Administrating a vicious slap to the wave the motor-boat lifted to the crested billow. Spray came hissing59 aft in solid sheets, pattering on the canvas canopy with a sound similar to that of peas being shaken in a wooden box. She was through, but immediately beyond was another wall of water.
Right down until her fore-deck ventilators were hidden plunged60 the boat. For a moment Derek thought she would never recover herself. The engine faltered61. In a second the alert engineer was at the throttle62 and the "spark".
"Water on the mag, sir," he shouted. "I'll have to ease her."
"And about time," thought Derek. "Wonder if it's like this all the blinking way?"
But soon the boat entered smoother water. The breakers were on the weather side of the bar. Beyond was easier going.
Winking63 the moisture from his eyes, Derek glanced astern. The other boat was making fairly good weather of it, although she looked to be nothing more than a double wing of white foam64.
"Good enough," declared Derek, and, calling to one of the deck-hands, he gave the wheel over into his care, admonishing65 him to report immediately Thorbury Head became visible.
"Now for a smoke!" he exclaimed, and, pulling out his favourite pipe, he carefully loaded up.
Curiosity prompted him to see what the rest of the crew were doing. Grasping the life-lines on the canopy he made his way aft, his sole foothold being the narrow, slippery water-ways.
Under the awning66 were the rest of the crew, lying helpless on top of a nondescript heap of blankets and oilskins, together with the disintegrated67 rations—fresh beef, "bully68", and loaves. In the throes of sea-sickness the hapless "George Robey's Marines" hardly cared whether they were on or in the sea.
Clearly nothing could be done to help the luckless victims of mal de mer, so Derek made his way back to the steering-well, and, standing69 behind the coxswain, surveyed the outlook.
There was very little to be seen, only a limited expanse of white-crested water, bounded by darkness that was even now struggling for mastery with the first faint tints70 of a grey dawn. Land, somewhere within three miles, was invisible. All that the helmsman had to depend upon was a small and untested compass fixed71 in a rather inaccessible72 and unhandy spot, and within three feet of the mass of metal comprising the six-cylinder motor.
There was also the danger of bumping on a drifting mine. Derek realized the peril73. Fortunately perhaps for them, the men were in ignorance of the fact that mines had been reported within thirty miles of Fisherton Harbour, and, with an onshore wind and the indraught of the tide, thirty miles was a very small distance for one of these instruments of destruction to drift in forty-eight hours.
Added to this there was the possibility of being fired upon by the batteries at Churst and Fort Edward, guarding the narrow channel leading to the tidal estuary74 on the banks of which Wagshot Air Station stands. Although the forts had been warned that the two R.A.F. motor-boats were passing, there was always a chance that a highly-strung battery-commander might mistake the two grey hulls75 for the conning-towers of a pair of U-boats and give the order to open fire. Such a thing had been done before, with disastrous76 results.
Suddenly Derek's reveries were broken by the coxswain shouting:
"There it is, sir; a couple of points on the port bow!"
Unable to comprehend the nature of the intelligence, Derek peered ahead in the direction indicated, quite expecting to see a horned mine a few yards from the bows. Then he heaved a sigh of relief, for looming77 faintly through the mist was the unmistakable outline of Thorbury Head.
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1
marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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coastal
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| adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的 | |
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atmospheric
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| adj.大气的，空气的；大气层的；大气所引起的 | |
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navigate
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| v.航行，飞行；导航，领航 | |
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efficiently
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| adv.高效率地，有能力地 | |
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navigated
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| v.给（船舶、飞机等）引航，导航( navigate的过去式和过去分词 )；（从海上、空中等）横越；横渡；飞跃 | |
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7
isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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depot
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| n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站 | |
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ruby
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| n.红宝石，红宝石色 | |
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appalled
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| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
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11
navigating
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| v.给（船舶、飞机等）引航，导航( navigate的现在分词 )；（从海上、空中等）横越；横渡；飞跃 | |
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12
obsolete
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| adj.已废弃的，过时的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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14
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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15
rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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16
moored
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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pier
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| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
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18
barometer
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| n.气压表，睛雨表，反应指标 | |
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19
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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20
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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21
flannel
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| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
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inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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23
tunic
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| n.束腰外衣 | |
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24
distinctive
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| adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的 | |
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25
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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26
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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27
excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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28
scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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29
treacle
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| n.糖蜜 | |
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30
fortify
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| v.强化防御，为…设防；加强，强化 | |
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31
ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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32
binoculars
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| n.双筒望远镜 | |
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33
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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34
glistened
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| v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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36
zest
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| n.乐趣；滋味，风味；兴趣 | |
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37
fumes
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| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
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38
pennant
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| n.三角旗；锦标旗 | |
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39
abaft
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| prep.在…之后；adv.在船尾，向船尾 | |
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40
reminder
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| n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示 | |
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41
embarking
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| 乘船( embark的现在分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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42
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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43
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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45
misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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46
wraith
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| n.幽灵；骨瘦如柴的人 | |
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47
fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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48
flare
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| v.闪耀，闪烁；n.潮红；突发 | |
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49
buoy
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| n.浮标；救生圈；v.支持，鼓励 | |
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50
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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51
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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52
canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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53
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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54
mariner
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| n.水手号不载人航天探测器，海员，航海者 | |
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55
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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56
scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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57
dodger
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| n.躲避者；躲闪者；广告单 | |
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58
crested
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| adj.有顶饰的，有纹章的，有冠毛的v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的过去式和过去分词 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
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59
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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60
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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61
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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62
throttle
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| n.节流阀，节气阀，喉咙；v.扼喉咙，使窒息，压 | |
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63
winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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64
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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65
admonishing
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| v.劝告( admonish的现在分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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66
awning
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| n.遮阳篷；雨篷 | |
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67
disintegrated
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| v.（使）破裂[分裂，粉碎]，（使）崩溃( disintegrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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68
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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69
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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70
tints
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| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
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71
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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72
inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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73
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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74
estuary
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| n.河口，江口 | |
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75
hulls
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| 船体( hull的名词复数 )； 船身； 外壳； 豆荚 | |
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76
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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77
looming
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| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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