With the departure of the attendants and their charge, Mr. Pendennis prepared to return to his own craft. “We won’t be starting before two o’clock, I suppose,” he remarked. “We’ll carry our tide right through to Chichester. Ought to get there by eight with the breeze. By the way, how’s that hand of yours, Grant? Oughtn’t you to see a doctor and get it lanced?” “No need,” replied Mr. Grant. “The poison’s out and the wound is healing nicely. It will be all right in a day or so. Now, lads! Who’s for the shore?” CHAPTER XIX The Convict If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening. It was a combination of adverse circumstances. Running the _Kestrel_ aground was excusable but hardly avoidable. Many a yachtsman with local knowledge has done much the same, for the beacons, instead of marking the edge of the channel, are some distance away from it and well up on the mud. The _Kestrel_ “took the putty” badly and, in spite of the _Merlin’s_ efforts to tow her off, she remained there for nearly two hours. The change of the direction of the tidal stream and the dropping of the wind, which finally backed to due east, were conditions for which the Sea Scouts could not be held responsible; but the same could not be said in excuse for the _Merlin_ running out of petrol. As a matter of fact, the Sea Scout in charge of the motor had examined the gauge of the petrol tank, which registered eight gallons. Unfortunately the indicator had stuck, and the actual amount when the _Merlin_ went to her consort’s assistance was only one gallon. It was now _nil_. This discovery was made when the two yachts were abreast of Egypt Point and within a mile or so of Cowes Harbour. In vain they attempted to beat up for that anchorage. Gripped by the steadily increasing foul tide they were rapidly swept down the Solent until, realising that any further efforts would only result in their being carried more to the west’ard, they dropped anchor off Newtown River. “There’s a hamlet called Newtown and another place called Shalfleet,” observed Mr. Pendennis, after consulting the chart. “We may be able to get petrol at one of them. Are any of your fellows coming ashore with us?” “We may as well go if we leave a couple of hands to look after the yachts,” replied Mr. Grant. “The glass is steady and the tide won’t change for another five hours. It’s good holding ground, and there’s no fear of either craft dragging her anchor. Right-o! Who’ll volunteer to remain?” Craddock and Heavitree offered to act as ship-keepers. Two Cornish Sea Scouts also elected to stay on board the _Merlin_. The others manned the two dinghies and prepared to make for the mouth of the river.