He was a good fellow and quite willing to take a hint, so before I had been twenty-four hours on board he was telling me all his difficulties, and I was doing my best to cheer him.

And difficulties came thick, because the next night was New Year's Eve.
I knew that that night was a season of gaiety in Scotland, but Scotland wasn't in it with the Fatherland.

Even Schenk, though he was in charge of valuable stores and was voyaging against time, was quite clear that the men must have permission for some kind of beano.

Just before darkness we came abreast a fair-sized town, whose name I never discovered, and decided to lie to for the night.

The arrangement was that one man should be left on guard in each barge, and the other get four hours' leave ashore.