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THE SCOUTS OF SEAL ISLAND
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"They landed safely on the lee side of the stone pier."--_Page_ 132.
THE SCOUTS OFSEAL ISLAND
BY
PERCY F. WESTERMAN
AUTHOR OF"SEA SCOUTS OF THE PETREL'""THE SEA MONARCH" ETC.
_With eight Illustrations in Colour by_
ERNEST PRATER
A. & C. BLACK, LTD.4, 5 AND 6 SOHO SQUARE, LONDON, W.1
PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN
_First Published in_ 1913_This Edition published in_ 1922_Reprinted in) 1922, 1923, 1925, 1930
CONTENTS CHAP. I. SIR SILAS DISAPPROVES II. DICK ATHERTON'S GOOD TURN III. THE PATROL LEADER'S DILEMMA IV. OFF TO SEAL ISLAND V. THE ARRIVAL VI. A SPOILT BREAKFAST VII. THE MYSTERIOUS FOOTPRINTS VIII. THE MISSING THOLE-PINS IX. AT THE LIGHTHOUSE X. THE WRECK XI. HOW CAME PAUL TASSH ON SEAL ISLAND? XII. THE BURGLARY XIII. FLIGHT XIV. PHILLIPS' DISCOVERY XV. THE EXPLORATION OF THE TUNNEL XVI. TRAPPED XVII. THE MYSTERIOUS YACHT XVIII. HOT ON THE TRAIL XIX. THE FIRST CAPTURE XX. A GOOD NIGHT'S WORK
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
"THEY LANDED SAFELY ON THE LEE SIDE OF THE STONE PIER" _Frontispiece_
"LOOK HERE, YOUNG GENTLEMAN, CAN YOU GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION AS TO WHAT OCCURRED?"
"HE SLIPPED OVER THE CLIFF AND WAS SLOWLY LOWERED"
"QUITE EXHAUSTED, THE FIRST SURVIVOR WAS ASSISTED TO THE MOST SHELTERED POSITION ON THE LEDGE"
"IN BROKEN-STEP FORM THE SCOUTS CARRIED THEIR COMRADE TOWARDS THE CAMP"
"'IN THE NAME OF THUNDER, WHAT HAVE YOU SCOUTS BEEN UP TO?'"
"THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON THE WOLVES KEPT ON THE WATCH"
"'HANDS UP INSTANTLY OR I'LL FIRE!' ORDERED MR. BUCKLEY STERNLY"
THE SCOUTS OFSEAL ISLAND
CHAPTER I
SIR SILAS DISAPPROVES
"LADS," exclaimed Scoutmaster Leslie Trematon, "I am sorry toannounce a disappointment, but I trust you will receive the news liketrue Scouts and keep smiling."
The Scoutmaster paused to note the effect of his words. Practicallyevery boy of the "Otter" and "Wolf" patrols knew what was coming, butone and all gave no sign of disgust at the shattering of their hopes.Two or three pursed their lips tightly, others set their jaws grimly,while a few looked at their comrades as if to gauge the state oftheir feelings on the matter.
"We must, I'm afraid, give up all hope of our Cornish trip and setour minds upon a fortnight's camp at or in the neighbourhood ofSouthend," continued Mr Trematon. "I had an idea, when I approachedSir Silas Gwinnear, that my application would be favourablyconsidered, and that in less than a week's time you would be enjoyingthe pure bracing air of Seal Island. Unfortunately, Sir Silas doesnot see eye to eye with us. His opinion of Scouts in general is not aflattering one. Of course every man is entitled to his own opinion,but at the same time I sincerely trust that Sir Silas may beconvinced that his estimate of the qualities of Scouts isinconsistent with facts. I would not hold your confidence if I didnot read his letter to you. At the same time I feel sure you willmake due allowances for the somewhat scathing strictures upon BoyScouts in general."
Leslie Trematon, the third master of Collingwood College, was a tall,broad-shouldered muscular Cornishman of twenty-four years of age. Hewas just over six feet in height, his complexion was ruddy, thoughtanned by exposure to the sun, while his crisp, light brown hair andkindly blue eyes gave him a boyish appearance. He had been two yearsassistant master at Collingwood College, and, although a strictdisciplinarian during school hours, was the idol of his scholars. Outof harness he was almost as one of them: full of spirit, keen ongames, and sympathetic with lads who sought his confidence.
A little more than twelve months previously, Mr Trematon had raisedfour patrols of Scouts amongst the pupils of Collingwood College, andthe troop was officially designated the 201st North London. Trematonsaw possibilities in the Scout movement. His superior, the Rev.Septimus Kane, the dignified and somewhat old-fashioned Principal ofthe College, did not regard the newly raised Scouts in a favourablelight. He set his face against new institutions; but, finally, on theScoutmaster's representations he grudgingly consented to give theexperiment a term's trial.
At the end of the first term he condescended to admit that the 201stTroop justified its existence. More recruits came in, and theschool-games club flourished more than it had done before. Scoutingwent hand in hand with sport, and the Collingwood College footballteam attained a higher place in the junior league than it had sinceits formation.
The second term gave even better results. The whole school seemedinfected with the spirit. There was more esprit de corps, thephysical condition of the boys was decidedly on the improve, whilethe Midsummer Examination percentage of passes caused the Rev.Septimus to beam with satisfaction and the governors to bestow lavishpraise upon their headmaster and his staff of assistants.
Even Monsieur Fardafet, the second French master, noticed the changein the boys' behaviour, and weeks went by without his having tocomplain to the Head about the conduct of certain irreconcilables whohad hitherto been the worry and despair of his existence.
The fact was that the whole College was imbued with the principles ofscoutcraft. Every boy realised that it was incumbent upon him todevelop his individual character, and that it was impossible for hismasters to confide in him if he failed to confide in them.
It had always been a strong point with the Rev. Septimus to impressupon his assistants the necessity of appealing to a boy's honour, buthitherto there had been a flaw in the working of the Head's scheme.The boys regarded any advance on their masters' part with suspicion.It was their firm belief that masters existed simply and solely forthe purpose of driving in the dreary elements of knowledge. But whenMr Leslie Trematon arrived upon the scene matters began to improve,till, at the time our story opens, a state of harmony existed betwixtthe masters and scholars of Collingwood College.
The number of patrols had now increased to ten. Of these the "Otters"and the "Wolves" were composed solely of boarder who, through variouscircumstances, were unable to spend their holidays in the homecircle. Mr Trematon looked upon it as a pleasurable duty to give up aportion of his summer vacation to these two patrols, and, with thisobject in view, had approached Sir Silas Gwinnear to obtain hispermission to have the use of Seal Island for a fortnight in August.
Sir Silas was a city magnate whose name was generally to the fore inevery large commercial transaction that would bear closeinvestigation. With the exception of a comparatively brief holiday,invariably spent on his large Cornish estate near Padstow, Sir Silasstuck closely to his business. He was a self-made man, whose wealthhad been accumulated by sheer hard work and indomitabledetermination. In his earlier days he knew Mr Trematon's fatherin
timately, and the young Scoutmaster took decorous advantage of thisfriendship to ask a boon for his Scouts.
Seal Island, which formed but a small portion of Sir Silas' estates,is situated off the north Cornish coast, being separated from theshore by a stretch of deep water barely a quarter of a mile in width.It is a little more than half a mile in length, and half thatdistance across its widest part. Roughly, the island resembles theshape of the body of a pig, the back being seawards. It isuninhabited, save for numerous rabbits and countless sea-birds. Itsnorth-western side is honeycombed with caves; a romantic ruin, thattradition ascribes to the work of a saintly hermit, occupies thehighest position, which is two hundred and fifty feet above the sea.
Needless to say the Scouts voted that Seal Island was an ideal placeto spend a holiday, and one and all looked for the expected reply.
And now Sir Silas Gwinnear had replied, and their hopes were dashedto the ground.
"I may as well let you hear what Sir Silas says," continued MrTrematon. "You will then be able to know what some people think of usScouts:--
"DEAR MR TREMATON,
"I must apologise for the slight delay that has arisen in replying toyour letter of the 2nd.
"It is an unpleasant thing to have to refuse the request of the sonof an old friend of mine, but in so doing I merely adhere to theprinciples I am about to explain.
"I give you my reasons. They may not meet with your approval, butthey are certainly what I believe to be correct. In the first place,I strongly disapprove of the Boy Scout movement. To me, a man ofstrong commercial instincts, the whole scheme suggests militancy andis merely the thin end of the wedge of 'National Conscription,' whichto a man of peace is utterly abhorrent.
"Nor can I see that any useful purpose can be served by grotesquelygarbed youths running about the country with broomsticks in theirhands and wild cat-calls on their lips. The very privacy of a countryramble is menaced by the apparition of an inquisitive youth in aScout's hat peering through a gap in the hedge.
"To-day, too much time is wasted in outdoor amusements--in fact, inamusements of all sorts. The commercial vitality of the nation isseriously threatened. I can assure you that I've had the greatestdifficulty in obtaining a suitable junior clerk. There were scores ofapplicants for the post, but in almost every case the lads wanted toknow what holidays were given, and what the hours were onSaturdays--in order, I suppose, that they can go to football.
"By granting you permission to take your Scouts to Seal Island Irealise that I should be tacitly violating my principles. It is notbecause of the damage the boys might do: there is very little to harmon the Island. I trust, therefore, that you will understand thereason of my refusal, and accept my assurance of regret at not beingable to accede to your request.--Yours faithfully,
"SILAS GWINNEAR."
"Jolly hard lines, sir," exclaimed Jack Phillips,the Second of the "Otters." "Can't you write and explain that hisideas are wrong."
"Hardly," replied the Scoutmaster, with a smile. "Sir Silas does notask for my opinion. All the same it is up to us to show him that heis in error. All great organisations are misunderstood by some,especially during the initial stages. Time alone will wear downopposition, and in due course I sincerely hope that Sir Silas mayhave cause to change his opinions. Meanwhile, lads, we must not bedownhearted. I must say you appear to take the bad news in a trueScout-like spirit. Perhaps, after all, we will have almost as jolly acamp at Southend, although I am sorry we are not going to sample theglorious Cornish climate. But now let's to work: its bridge buildingto-night, and there's quite a lot to be done in the time."
Five minutes later the old gym., which the Rev. Septimus Kane had, asa token of appreciation, handed over to the sole use of the Scouts,was a scene of orderly bustle. For the time being the lads had putSeal Island from their minds.