CHAPTER VI
The Yacht "Titania"
"I say, Sir Hugh is a thundering good sort, old man," observedBeverley.
"Only just found that out, my dear old thing," rejoined Villiers."What's the wheeze now?" The two chums were "turning in". They shareda room in Thalassa Towers, the rest of the members of the expeditionbeing accommodated in twos and threes in the spacious old building.The appropriation of "cabins", as they preferred to call them, showedHarborough's tact, the various members being invited to share theirsleeping-quarters with their special chums.
Claverhouse had elected to share a room with little Trevear on thescore that both were ex-members of that modern and glorious branch ofthe service--the Royal Air Force. There they could talk unlimited"shop ", and exchange reminiscences without feeling that the a-navalmen were being "bored stiff" with matters appertaining to aerialnavigation.
"The wheeze," replied Beverley, "concerns my young brother, Dick. SirHugh suggested that I brought him along. He'd be handy," he added inextenuation.
"Possibly," replied Villiers. "But if this is going to be a riskybusiness, is it fair on the lad? And, again, won't it cut into hiseducation?"
"We went into those questions," said Bobby. "As regards risk,everything in life is a risk, isn't it? and, given reasonableprecautions, there appears to be little reason for anxiety on thatscore. After all, we're on a cruise, not fighting Huns and doing aone-step over mine-fields. And, concerning his education, I agreedwith Harborough that travel in itself is an education, and there isno reason why Dick shouldn't keep up his studies. As a furtherinducement Sir Hugh promised that whatever way the results of theexpedition went, he'd be responsible for giving Dick a twelvemonth'scourse for Sandhurst."
"Jolly decent of him," remarked Villiers. "I wonder why he's going toall this trouble. He doesn't know Dick."
"No," replied Beverley, "he doesn't. Dick's not a bad sort," headded, which was the highest tribute Bobby dared pay his brotherbefore other people. Villiers grunted sleepily.
"In?" he inquired laconically, as he groped for the lanyard attachedto the electric-light switch--a device whereby he could turn off thelight without getting out of his cot. "My word! It's blowing. GladI'm not on an M.L. in the North Sea to-night."
"Hold on a minute," exclaimed Beverley. "I wanted to ask yousomething. Is Harborough very worried about that stolenattach?-case?"
"I don't know," replied Villiers. "I expect he is, but he doesn't saymuch."
"There are the plans and charts relating to the _Fusi Yama_ in it,aren't there?"
"B'lieve so," admitted Villiers. "Makes things a bit complicated.However, I'll back Sir Hugh against Borgen any old time. Good night."
Next morning, according to previous arrangements, Harborough,Villiers, and O'Loghlin motored to Southampton to inspect the_Titania_.
At first sight the yacht did not convey a favourable impression. Shehad only recently turned from Admiralty service, and looked verydilapidated in her garb of grey, striped with innumerablerust-stains. She was lying in a mud-berth, and, the tide being low, aconsiderable part of her weed- and barnacle-covered bottom showedabove the mud. Her tapering pole-masts, once resplendent in all theglories of varnish, were coated with battle-ship grey paint; herstanding rigging was in a deplorable condition. An unsightlydeck-house built above the original saloon added to the picture ofneglect, for most of the sheet-glass panes were broken. In herpresent state no man intent upon the joys of yachting would havelooked at her twice.
But Harborough was nothing if not practical. Appearance matteredlittle to him. In that neglected craft he saw seaworthiness andutility. Paint and varnish might make a crank vessel smart, but theywould never make her seaworthy, but the _Titania_, despite herwoebegone appearance, gave indications of being a good, all-round,hard-weather boat.
"A fairly flat bilge and a clean run aft," commented Sir Hugh. "If itcame to a push she'd take hard ground pretty comfortably. Let's getaboard and see what she looks like 'tween decks."
The _Titania_ was not a modern vessel by any means. Her schooner bowand rather long counter proclaimed her as a late Victorian. As amatter of fact her papers showed that she had been built at Dumbartonin 1900. The heavy oil-engines were fairly recent additions, orrather a substitute for the triple-expansion engines with which shewas supplied immediately following her launch.
She was built of steel with teak decks, and twenty years had had verylittle effect upon her structure. Apparently she had been used formine-laying during the war, for a steel trough had been built aftprojecting a couple of feet over her counter. Amidships were twomotor-driven winches, also added for war purposes, and evidently notconsidered worth removing before she was handed back from service.Right for'ard, in addition to the hand-operated capstan, was apowerful steam-capstan, the engine and oil-fed boiler of which wereplaced in the fo'c'sle.
"Rather cuts up the crew-space," commented Sir Hugh. "Fortunately,that doesn't affect us. But these capstans and winches are the verything. What do you make of them, O'Loghlin?"
The engineering expert plunged into a maze of technical detail.Harborough listened as if he enjoyed it, but whether he did was adebatable point.
"But will they work, do you think?" he inquired at last.
"Give me a week on them and they'll work," replied O'Loghlinconfidently.
The original engine-room had been gutted, and had been used as ahold, although, when the yacht had been converted from steam to heavyoil, the engine-space had been made into an additional saloon withstore-space below. The present propelling-machinery was well aft, andin spite of their rusty condition the twin-motors were in serviceableorder. Not only were the original oil-tanks left, but there were twolarge tanks, capable of taking a thousand gallons of fuel, installedimmediately for'ard of the engine-room.
"She's just the thing for an ocean voyage," declared Harborough."Don't you think so, Villiers?"
"Economical and easily handled, I should say," replied Jack. "Ibelieve she'd give a good account of herself in a seaway."
"Let's look at the accommodation aft," said Sir Hugh. "We've to berthtwenty without undue crowding, remember."
They made their way to the main saloon, which was lighted solely byskylights during the day. It was in a deplorable state, the teak andmahogany fittings being almost destitute of varnish and showing signsof not only hard but rough usage. Hardly a glass panel remained.
"Someone's been turning the ship into a bear-garden," commentedVilliers.
"Fortunately, we're not sybarites," added Harborough. "Comfort's themain thing. I don't suppose the absence of looking-glass panels onthe wall will worry us. She seems fairly dry, I think."
"Yes," agreed Jack. "Her decks are well laid, and that's a lot to bethankful for. Haven't spotted a sign of moisture anywhere below."
Opening out of the saloon were eight cabins, four on either side,each lighted by a port, which, when closed, was fitted with a glassscuttle. From the saloon an alley-way ran right aft to a spaciouscabin, extending the extreme width of the ship under the poop. Fourcabins large enough for double berths opened out of the alley-way.
"She's like a young liner," commented Harborough. "Plenty of room forthe whole crowd of us. Well, that's about all. The sails and the restof the inventory are in the store. Now, candidly, what do you thinkof her? Of course, she'll want a lot of refitting."
"She's just the thing, I think," declared Villiers.
"Yes," corroborated O'Loghlin. "There's precious little to find faultwith the engines, as far as I can see."
"As regards the refitting," continued Villiers, "we can do most ofthat ourselves. We are all of us handy men. The only difficulty isthe docking."
"That will have to be done by professional hands," said the baronet."If we purchase the _Titania_, docking and coating the bottom withanti-fouling will be the first job. Right-o; let's call on the agentand prepare to haggle over terms."
The yacht's agent received them without emotion. He was so dubiousabout selling
the vessel, even when there was a "boom" in shipping,that he made no attempt to sing the praises of the neglected maiden.He had had dozens of prospective purchasers during the recent periodfollowing the yacht's release from Admiralty service, and every onehad gone away without attempting to close with the deal.
"Well, Mr. Strangeways," began Sir Hugh, "you've brought us down hereto see a most disreputable old tub."
The agent shrugged his shoulders deprecatingly.
"You asked for particulars, sir, and we sent them," he replied."She's not like the _Asteria_ and the _Falala_, both of which are onour books if you wish to inspect. But consider the price asked forthe _Titania_--a mere song."
"That's what I am considering," agreed Sir Hugh, grimly. "By the timeshe's fitted out, taking into consideration present-day prices oflabour and material, she'll cost a small fortune. And even then shewon't be a modern vessel by any means. No, sorry to trouble you, butI'm afraid there's nothing doing."
"Perhaps, sir," said Mr. Strangeways, metaphorically grasping at thelast straw, "you might care to make an offer?"
"My price is fifteen hundred," declared the baronet promptly. "Not apenny more."
"Impossible, my dear sir," protested the agent, raising his hands inmock dismay.
"Sorry, good morning," said Harborough. "Come along, you fellows;we'll be late for lunch if we don't get a move on."
For the next two days Sir Hugh lay low; but he was far from inactive.As for the agent, he was simply bombarded with applications toinspect the dilapidated _Titania_, for during those two days fifteenindividuals called in person, and in every case they either declaredbluntly that they wouldn't touch the yacht at any price or elseoffered various sums none of which exceeded thirteen hundred andfifty pounds. Nor did they think fit to enlighten the now thoroughlyharassed Mr. Strangeways with the information that they were membersof a syndicate of which Sir Hugh Harborough was the head.
And since the reserve price of the _Titania_ was ?1450, and Mr.Strangeways had a reason for disposing of her promptly in order toclose an account with her present owner, Sir Hugh evinced no untowardsurprise when he received a prepaid wire:
"Does offer ?1500 for _Titania_ still hold good? If so, willaccept."
Within three hours of the receipt of the telegram the "_Fusi Yama_Syndicate" was in possession of sixty-four sixty-fourths shares ofthe yacht _Titania_.