“No sail in sight,” he said, “but there’s a big boat going out of Houseboat Bay.”
“They won’t be here till after breakfast,” said Susan. “That’s another perch all round.”
“I wonder what is happening,” said John.
“Don’t think about him,” said Susan.
“All right. I won’t,” said John.
As soon as breakfast was over and done with, everybody set to work to tidy up. “I’ll look after the camp,” said the mate, “if you want to clean up Swallow . Take the boy and the able-seaman, and set them scrubbing decks and polishing up the brass-work.”
“There isn’t much brass-work,” said Roger.
“There are the belaying pins,” said Titty.
“Well, go and polish them up,” said the mate. “You can do a lot with sand and a damp rag. Here are two rags. Get along with you. Clear all the dirt out, and rub all over with a wet rag, and make her look like a new ship.”
“I’m going to bring the sail up to the camp,” said John. “It wants lacing again to the gaff, and I can do the reef points best when the sail isn’t bent.”
“I don’t care so long as you don’t get in my way,” said Susan. “I’ve got the pots to clean.”
“We’ll take Swallow round to the harbour and moor her so that she’s all snug in her berth when the Amazons come,” said John.