Hilliard laughed.

"Well, it's time we were under way anyhow," he declared. "Tide's
running out this hour. We'll get a fine lift down to the sea."

Merriman got up and peeped out of the porthole above his locker.

"I suppose you tub over the side?" he inquired. "Lord, what
sunlight!"

"Rather. But I vote we wait an hour or so until we're clear of the
town. I fancy the water will be more inviting lower down. We could
stop and have a swim, and then we should be ready for breakfast."

"Right-o. You get way on her, or whatever you do, and I shall have
a shot at clearing up some of the mess you keep here."

Hilliard left the cabin, and presently a racketing noise and
vibration announced that the engines had been started. This
presently subsided into a not unpleasing hum, after which a
hail came from forward.

"Lend a hand to cast off, like a stout fellow."

Merriman hurriedly completed his dressing and went on deck, stopping
in spite of himself to look around before attending to the ropes.
The sun was low down over the opposite bank, and transformed the
whole river down to the railway bridge into a sheet of blinding
light. Only the southern end of the great structure was visible
stretching out of the radiance, as well as the houses on the western