on rough. As
the gale increased almost to a hurricane and the waves dashed a larger
amount of spray over the gunwale of the gallant little yacht,
Warington decided to change his course and run back to Weymouth. The
night was getting dark, and the storm increased. To add to the
anxieties of the skipper his crew of boys, though showing no funk,
began to grow green about the gills, and presently Warington found
himself in command of an entirely sea-sick crew. He was unable to
leave the helm, and for over thirty-one hours he stood there, giving
his orders in a cheerful voice to the groaning youngsters who were
more than once driven to the ship's drenched and dripping side.
Fortunately Warington knew the coast well, for it was much too dark to
see a chart, and so, despite the raging tempest, the 10-tonner fought
her way through the waves while the sea broke continually over her
side, drenching the shivering boys, who stuck to their posts, and
every now and then shouted to each other with chattering teeth that it
was "awful fun."

As showing the resourcefulness of the crew, I may narrate another
yachting story. One Saturday, off Yarmouth, when the Baden-Powells
were thinking of a race for which they were entered on the following
Monday, a storm suddenly came on, which played such havoc with the
rigging that the mast was snapped in two, and the whole racing kit
went overboard. With clenched teeth the youngsters set to work and,
with many a long pull and a strong pull, got all the wreck on board.
Then with axes they slashed away at the wire-rigging, and set to work
to rig up a jury-mast. All Sunday they toiled--the spars on an
18-tonner are no child's play--and at last they were able to rig up a
jury-mast which would carry the mainsail with four reefs, while the
foresail was able to catch the wind of heaven with only two. On Monday
morning the yacht sailed out of Yarmouth fully rigged, and made off to
the regatta with as cheerful a crew as ever braved the elements. The
result of this labour was that the Baden-Powells, with a jury rig, won
a second prize, and came in for the warm commendation of wondering
and admiring sailors.

As I have said, in these expeditions the boys did seamen's work. They
learned how to set sails, how to splice, how to reeve gear, how to
moor a ship, and make all ready for scrubbing the bottom. It was a
fine sight to see the healthy younkers, with trousers rolled over the
knee, ankles well under slate