BEACH END!'
the children read the name on the buoy as they sailed past it.the last time it had meant that everything was wrong.Now it meant that everything was going to be all right.Nothing could be wrong with Daddy sitting there holding the tiller.
A motorboat came towards them.'where are you from?'shouted a voice.
Daddy whispered to John,'you're the captain.Tell them you've come from Flushing,in Holland.'
'flushing,'shouted John.'in Holland.'
'we'll need to come aboard,'shouted the man in the Customs boat.
'we'll stop inside Shotley Spit,'shouted John.
'All right.We'll see you there.'
'there's another boat ahead,'called Roger.'it's got a man in it with a strange white thing round his head.'
all the children looked and John cried,'it's Jim Brading!'
'is that the young man who lost you?'asked Daddy.'by the look of him,he's been in trouble.someone or something's hit him on the head.we'll stop and bring him on board.'
as the little dinghy arrived,with Jim Brading looking quite ill,but at the same time very pleased,the children all started talking at once.
'we didn't mean to go to sea...this is daddy...I've lost your anchor and chain...we drifted away in the fog...we couldn't get back...what's the matter with your head?...Quick,Daddy,he's ill...'