At length the storm moderated, and on the fourth day the sea had subsided sufficiently to enable the _Olivette_ to resume her voyage. The _Acacis_, having discharged a portion of her cargo, was also due to leave Cherbourg for Le Havre. Directly the gates of the Bassin-à-Flot were opened, the _Olivette_ motored through into the Avant-Port. Here she tied up, for it was inadvisable to make a start for the east'ard before half-ebb. By so doing the _Olivette_ would "carry her tide" for eight or nine hours, and as the tides run strongly off the French coast, the question of "working them" was an important one. Mr. Armitage had to obtain clearance papers and lay in sundry stores, so that the time was not wasted, and when the _Olivette_ headed seaward, the _Acacis_ was steaming through the East Channel. "We've about one knot advantage in speed," remarked the Scoutmaster, "but we'll slow down a bit and let her pilot us. It's rather a dangerous bit of coast between here and Cape Levi. Look at that broken water. Anyone would think that there was a gale raging off that point, but it's merely a tidal race." Dead in the wake of the tramp, and about a cable's length astern, the _Olivette_ kept. At intervals members of the _Acacis_' crew semaphored jocular messages to the Sea Scouts, to which the latter replied with the greatest zest. About five miles beyond Cape Barfleur the _Olivette_ overtook a French fishing smack. One of the crew of the latter, noticing that the Sea Scouts were semaphoring, attempted to send them a message. "Dashed if I can make out what that fellow is saying," exclaimed Hepburn with a puzzled look. "Can you, Reggie?" Warkworth shook his head. He was reckoned to be a good signaller, but the Frenchman's semaphoring was beyond him. "I'm not surprised," said Peter. "The French system is different from ours. Don't you remember when we were at Dover----" The Patrol Leader's reminiscence was interrupted by a warning shout from old Tom Boldrigg, who was in his favourite post as look-out man. Simultaneously the _Acacis_ put her helm over to starboard, while a white object was hurled from her port quarter. "Man overboard," shouted Boldrigg. "A hand from the tramp's in the ditch." Mr. Armitage opened the window of the wheel-house and warned Roche to stand by with his reversing-lever. "There he is!" exclaimed Peter. "A point on our port bow." "Easy ahead!" ordered the Scoutmaster, then "Stop!" The _Olivette_ was now within fifty yards of the man, who was swimming towards the buoy. It was evident that he was not a good swimmer. He was splashing violently, and making very little headway in proportion to the energy he displayed, and already his strength was diminishing. It was a question whether he might succeed in gaining the buoy before he became exhausted.