They had some supper about six and after that the time passed fairly quickly.

At half-past eight they made their way out to the _Adventurer_.

The wind had died entirely down at sunset and now the sea was probably as quiet and well-behaved as it ever was just there.

About nine they began operations.

No one was too sanguine of the results, but when, having started the engine and experimentally moved the clutch into reverse to clear the sand from around the propeller, no untoward incident happened they became more encouraged.