"Not at all," protested the other. "All in a day's work, so to speak. No; the thieves are not yet in custody, but the police have several very good clues. The rascals apparently couldn't manage the motor, or, rather, they ran short of fuel; because they hailed a motor-boat off Christchurch Head and borrowed a couple of tins of petrol. They left the compass--your compass--as a security for payment. The crew of the boat supplying the petrol read of the robbery and the disappearance of the _Olivette_ when they returned to Poole, and they immediately reported the matter of the meeting at sea to the police." "That solves the mystery of how they carried on so far," said Roche. "I know they had only enough petrol for about an hour's run. But our compass?" "You'll get that back all right," declared the Weymouth Scoutmaster. "It will probably cost you the price of two tins of petrol, but it will be worth it. They left you your magneto, remember." Scouts and Sea Scouts wended their way to the long narrow harbour. There, moored alongside a steam yacht, lay the _Olivette_, looking, outwardly at least, none the worse for her unauthorized jaunt. "I've left the dinghy at the steps of the bridge," said Patrol Leader Rusty Rivett. "Sparrow Rogers is in charge of her. You are not starting away at once, I hope." "'Fraid so," replied Patrol Leader Peter Stratton. "As soon as we take in enough paraffin for the run home. You see, we've started our hols, and we are planning a voyage across Channel. We may even get to Paris." "How pricelessly topping!" ejaculated Rusty enviously. "It makes me wish I were a Sea Scout, although we Scouts don't have half a bad time. Sorry you can't stay, though we should have liked to show you round. But you must come to Weymouth again, and then we can give you a good time." Peter went up to Mr. Armitage and saluted. "Couldn't we invite the 5th Weymouth Troop for a trip, sir?" he asked. "We could land them at Lulworth on the way home." "Certainly," was the reply. "That is, of course, if they don't mind padding the hoof from Lulworth." The Scouts were quite enthusiastic over the proposal, while the Scoutmaster seemed quite keen to prolong his acquaintance with Mr. Armitage, for they had discovered that they had another thing in common besides Scoutcraft--both had held commissions during the war, one in the R.N.V.R., the other in the army. The Weymouth Scouts hurried off to provide themselves with food: Roche and Flemming departed to interview a garage proprietor with a view to obtaining petrol and paraffin, while the rest of the Sea Scouts proceeded on board the _Olivette_ to see if anything besides the compass were missing, and to clear up and snug down before their guests came off.