Forward, too, was the socket for the metal mast.

The boat was fifteen feet in length, with a beam of four feet amidships, tapering fore and aft, with a well in the centre, and the remaining space covered in with a light aluminium deck, strengthened by oak bends.

There was sleeping-room for two, so that with a crew of four there would have to be four watches of three hours each.

The peculiar features of the long, low craft were the two levers rising above the after-deck through slots, which gave each a thrust of about one and a half feet, and two saddle-like seats borne on stout supports, one near the stem facing the bows, and the other further forward facing the stem.

Venning perched himself on one seat, Compton on the other, one of the hands took the wheel, and Mr.Hume and the designer sat in the well.
Compton's clear-cut face, with well-formed jaws, showed no other sign of interest than a rather amused smile, but Venning's fair features were flushed with excitement and nervous expectation, A man pushed the boat out.