But Mr. Armitage's surmise was out, absolutely out. Grey dawn was showing in the north-eastern sky when the footsore party arrived on the quay at Duclair. There in the dim light was the _Olivette_ riding to the flood-tide. In the stillness of the early morning could be heard the regular pulsations of the hand-pump, while at intervals one of her crew--it was not light enough to distinguish who it was--was toppling pailfuls of water over the side. "_Olivette_, ahoy!" This time the hail was answered promptly. Out of the deep, open well clambered Roche and Flemming slowly and laboriously, for they were pretty well done up with their night of strenuous toil. "They seem in no hurry to come for us," observed Warkworth, "after we've trudged all the blessed night." "Ahoy, there!" shouted Roche. "Can you find someone to put you off? We've no dinghy." "Then they have had a mishap," declared Warkworth. "I believe I can see the dinghy astern. She's waterlogged." The difficulty that now arose was how to get on board. There were dozens of small boats off Duclair, but no one was about. "We'll take French leave," decided Mr. Armitage. "Since we are in France, I take it that in the circumstances it is permissible. Find a boat with detachable bottom-boards. We can paddle her out all right, and return her when the owner shows up." This suggestion was acted upon. The "liberty men" crowded into the borrowed boat and made their way to the _Olivette_ with but little difficulty, for the flood-tide was easing off considerably. The Sea Scouts looked grave when the nature of the damage was pointed out to them. Would it be possible to continue their trip with a boat in that condition? "But we've kept her afloat, sir," declared Flemming triumphantly, as he displayed his blistered hands. "We've done enough pumping to be excused duty for the rest of the voyage." Roche, from below, added: "We're keeping the leak under and no more, sir. If we knock off for even a minute the water rises over the floor boards." "Then it's about time we came," rejoined Mr. Armitage. "We're nearly on the top of high water. Directly it's slack tide, we'll cast off and warp into that shipbuilder's yard at the head of the quay. Until the _Olivette_ is high and dry we cannot see the full extent of the damage." An hour later the _Olivette_ was safely placed upon the slipway. Two very serious-looking Frenchmen conferred between themselves, shaking their heads and gesticulating as they examined the damaged bows. The stem-piece was fractured in two places, the cracks extending diagonal fashion. Four of the planks above water-line and two below had been "started", and from the bows to a distance of ten feet aft the caulking had been forced from the seams. Had it not been for the big "pudding" fender, the _Olivette_ might have sunk within a few minutes of the collision.