Priscilla's Spies Part 20

"Nor wouldn't," said Priscilla, "because it's like the rats and the spotted fever and the bad smell, or what ever it was he told you. It's simply not there."

Miss Rutherford lit the methylated spirits in the upper part of the Primus stove. Priscilla pumped up the paraffin with enthusiasm. The water was put on to boil. Then Priscilla asked for the packets of desiccated soup.

"I find," she said, "that it's a capital plan to read the directions for use before you actually do the thing, whatever it is. Last term I spoiled a whole packet of printing paper?photographic, you know?by not doing that. I read them afterwards and found out exactly where I'd gone wrong, which was interesting, of course, but not much real use. Sylvia Courtney rather rubbed it in. That's the sort of girl she is."

"A most disagreeable sort," said Miss Rutherford. "I have met some like her. In fact they're rather common."

"I wouldn't say disagreeable. In fact I rather love Sylvia Courtney at times. But she has her faults. We all have, which in some ways is rather a good thing. If there weren't any faults it would be so dull for people like Aunt Juliet. You're not a Ministering Child, I suppose?"

"No. Are you? I expect you must be."

"I was once. Sylvia Courtney brought me to the meeting. We all had to do some sewing and afterwards there was tea. I joined, of course. The sub.

was only sixpence, and there was always tea, with cake, though not good cake. Afterwards I found that I'd sworn a most solemn oath always to do a kind act to some one every day. That's the sort of way you get let in at those meetings."

"You didn't read the directions for use beforehand that time."

"No. But in the end it turned out all right. It was just before the hols when it happened, so, of course, Aunt Juliet had to be my princ.i.p.al victim. I wouldn't do kind acts to Father. He wouldn't understand them, not being educated up to Ministering Children. But Aunt Juliet is different, for I knew that by far the kindest thing I could do to her was to have a few faults. So I did and have ever since, though I stopped being a Ministering Child next term and so wriggled out of the swear."

Frank, leaning on Jimmy Kinsella, came towards them from the boat He was bent on being particularly polite to Miss Rutherford, feeling that he ought to atone for his unfortunate blunder with the boat He took off his cap and bowed.

"I hope," he said, "that you've been successful in catching sponges."

"I've not got any to-day," said Miss Rutherford. "I haven't begun to fish for them. The tide isn't low enough yet. How are you getting on with the spies? Caught any?"

"Oh," said Frank, "we don't really think they are spies, you know."

"All the same," said Priscilla, "the president of the War Office is out after them. At least we think he must be. We don't see what else he can be after, nor does Father."

"Lord Torrington is to arrive at my uncle's house to-day," said Frank.

"Then they must be spies," said Miss Rutherford. "Not that I ever doubted it."

"That water is pretty near boiling," said Priscilla, "What about dropping in the soup?"

"Which shall we have?" said Miss Rutherford. "There's Mulligatawny and Oxtail?"

"Mulligatawny is the hot sort," said Priscilla, "rather like curry in flavour. I'm not sure that I care much for it. By the way, talking of hot things, didn't you say you had some peppermint creams?"

Miss Rutherford produced the parcel. Priscilla put two into her mouth and made a little pile of six others beside her on the ground. Frank said that he would wait for his share till after he had his soup. Miss Rutherford took one. The desiccated Oxtail soup was emptied into the pot. Priscilla retained the paper in which it had been wrapped.

"'Boil for twenty minutes," she read, "'stirring briskly.' That can't be really necessary. I've always noticed that these directions for use are too precautious. They go in frightfully for being on the safe side.

I should say myself that we'd be all right in trying it after five minutes. And stirring is rather rot. Things aren't a bit better for being fussed over. In fact Father says most things come out better in the end if they're left alone. 'Add salt to taste, and then serve.' It would have been more sensible to say 'then eat.'" But I suppose serve is a politer word. By the way, have you any salt?"

"Not a grain," said Miss Rutherford. "I entirely forgot the salt."

"It's a pity," said Priscilla, "that we didn't think of putting in some sea water. Potatoes are ripping when boiled in sea water and don't need any salt Peter Walsh told me that once and I expect he knows, I never tried myself."

She glanced at the sea as she spoke, feeling that it was, perhaps, not too late to add the necessary seasoning in its liquid form. A small boat, under a patched lug sail, was crossing the mouth of the bay at the moment. Priscilla sprang to her feet excitedly.

"That's Flanagan's old boat," she said. "I'd know it a mile off. Jimmy!

Jimmy Kinsella!"

Jimmy was securing the anchor of the _Tortoise_. He looked round.

"Isn't that Flanagan's old boat?" said Priscilla.

"It is, Miss, surely. There's ne'er another boat in the bay but herself with the bit of an old flour sack sewed on along the leach of the sail.

It was only last week my da was saying??"

"We haven't a moment to lose," said Priscilla. "Miss Rutherford, you help Frank down. I'll run on and get up the foresail."

"But the soup?" said Miss Rutherford, "and the peppermint creams, and the rest of the luncheon?"

"If you feel that you can spare the peppermint creams," said Priscilla, "we'll take them. But we can't wait for the soup."

"Take the bread, too," said Miss Rutherford, "and the peaches. It won't delay you a minute to put in the peaches!"

"If you're perfectly certain you don't want them for yourself, we'll be very glad to have them."

"Nothing would induce me to eat a Californian peach in selfish solitude," said Miss Rutherford, "I should choke if I tried."

"Right," said Priscilla. "You carry them down and sling them on board.

I'll help Frank. Now, then, Cousin Frank, do stand up. I can't drag you down over the seaweed on your side. You've got to hop more or less."

Miss Rutherford, with the loaf of bread, the peaches and the peppermint creams in her hand, ran down to the boat. Frank and Priscilla followed her. Jimmy had put the anchor on board and was holding the _Tortoise_ with her bow against the s.h.i.+ngle.

"Take me, too," said Miss Rutherford. "I love chasing spies more than anything else in the world."

"All right," said Priscilla. "Bound in and get down to the stern. Now, Frank, you're next. Oh, do go on. Jimmy, give him a lift from behind.

I'll steer this time."

She hauled on the foresail halyard, got the sail up and made the rope fast. Then she sprang to the stern, squeezed past Miss Rutherford and took the tiller.

"Shove her off, Jimmy, wade in a bit and push her head round. I'll go off on the starboard tack and not have to jibe. Oh, Miss Rutherford, don't, please don't sit on the main sheet."

The business of getting a boat, which is lying head to wind to pay off and sail away, is comparatively simple. The fact that the sh.o.r.e lies a few yards to windward does not complicate the matter much. The main sheet must be allowed to run out so that the sail does not draw at first. The foresail, its sheet being hauled down, works the boat's head round. Unfortunately for Priscilla, her main sheet would not run out Miss Rutherford made frantic efforts not to sit on it, but only succeeded in involving herself in a serious tangle. Jimmy Kinsella pushed the boat's head round. Both sails filled with wind. Priscilla held the tiller across the boat without effect The _Tortoise_ heeled over, and with a graceful swerve sailed up to the sh.o.r.e again.

"Oh bother!" said Priscilla, "shove her off again, Jimmy. Wade in with her and push her head right round. Thank goodness I have the main sheet clear now."

This time the _Tortoise_ swung round and headed for the entrance of the bay.

"Jimmy," shouted Miss Rutherford, "there's some soup in the pot. Go and eat it Afterwards you'd better come on in your boat and see what happens to us."

"There's no necessity for any excitement," said Priscilla. "Let everybody keep quite calm. We are bound to catch them."

The _Tortoise_ swung round the rocks at the mouth of the bay. Flanagan's old boat was seen a quarter of a mile ahead, running towards a pa.s.sage which seemed absolutely blocked with rocks. The _Tortoise_ began to overhaul her rapidly.

"I almost wish," said Miss Rutherford, "that you'd allowed Frank to steer. When we're out for an adventure we ought to be as adventurous as possible."