CHAPTER XV
THE BOATHOUSE
The next morning, as Nancy had hoped, was fine weather, a clear blue sky, and a good wind. Perfect for sailing. Some of them had woken early, got themselves ready and made their way to the kitchen only to find they were not the only ones making an early start. So Dick, Nancy and John began the day with a mug of tea each from the pot full Nancy had made, and then the three of them made their way outside to go to the Beckfoot boathouse.
As they crossed the lawn that led down to the river they could see the plaque of the skull and cross-bones, somewhat weather-beaten and faded, was still on the stonewall above the wide opening of the boathouse that faced the Amazon estuary.
They could see inside there was four vessels moored, two on each side of the boathouse. There was the motor launch, this was the most obvious from its position for being the easiest to access to get on to the river, the seating well of the launch was sheeted over whereas the other three boats were all completely covered with tarpaulins.
The three of them knew very well what the boats were despite being made anonymous by the sheeting over each one, Nancy walked around the flat stone pathway inside the boathouse and began to unfasten the sheeting on the boat moored next to the motor launch. John could not remember whether Dick had been there in recent years.
"When did you last come in here?" He himself had many more opportunities now that he and Peggy lived there. Dick thought for a few moments.
"Some years back now, with Dot and me living in London we don't get much chance. It's just good of you all, and your mother before Nancy, to let us keep Scarab here."
"That's alright, it is her home port after all!" Nancy finally removed the sheeting completely from the first boat, John thought at once from the centreboard that it was Amazon, but Dick waited until he saw the stern as his and Dot's boat had one as well. They saw from the stern it was indeed Amazon, the painted letters now a bit faded. Nancy continued unsheeting the other two, they all knew Swallow from the brown sail furled around the un-stepped mast in the bottom of the boat, and so that left Scarab to be uncovered last of all. John stated what he imagined Dick would have been thinking too.
"She looks so small! Or am I so used to larger boats!" Nancy laughed and Dick agreed.
"You're probably right in both ways, Scarab seemed huge to me and Dot when we got her." The mention of Dot brought back the matter of her inheritance. "Let's hope Dot can keep the money off her mind today, it will do her good to be sailing, something to concentrate on."
"So Dick, you knew nothing of Timothy and Dot carrying on?" John seemed to be back in naval commander mode with his question. Dick took no notice of his tone.
"No, nothing. He visited her flat quite often, but then when it started I was still in the USA. But what has that to do with the money?" Dick felt he had to defend his sister's behaviour. John thought he had perhaps gone too far.
"Sorry, nothing, I was just trying to make some kind of sense of it all." Having uncovered Swallow Nancy moved on to Scarab, despite their obvious lack of use all three looked in a reasonable state of repair. Dick stopped thinking about Dot's money and began to be practical.
"When were they all last out of the water?"
"Two or three years ago, maybe longer, they all need varnishing, and Amazon needs a new sail." Nancy was wistful at this, remembering when Uncle Jim would take care of all such things. "Scarab could do with new rigging Dick, but it all costs money." This sent Dick in to deep thought. Nancy with John's help began to check each boat, between them they retrieved the oars for each vessel stored in the racks in the roof space of the boathouse.
"John, do your two have boats or do they use Swallow when they come here?"
"No Dick, they don't have their own, they use Swallow or Amazon occasionally, but they don't get much time."
Nancy took little notice of this, she had plans for today on her mind.
"There's enough of us here so we can crew all three, we could sail up to the Island. Have you been there lately?"
"Peggy and I went to look some months ago just to check all was well, we get natives landing sometimes and worse still visitors, but no damage done."
"I'd hope so, they'll be keel-hauled if they do!"
John suddenly thought of his stomach.
"Come on let's go and see if the others are in the kitchen, it must be time for breakfast!" Without waiting for Dick and Nancy he started to make his way across the lawn to the house. Dick and Nancy checked the moorings of the boats one last time and then followed John.