Jennifer Jane and the dinghy race 2/4

As usual, he was very pleased to see her canoe arrive in his secret harbour on Attersea Island. Jennifer Jane explained the trouble to him.

"We'll soon have your gear all shipshape and Bristol fashion," said Barnacle Bill in his very best sailor language. "As for a new rudder, well now, that's a different matter."

Jennifer Jane explained that, if only she could get home in time, there was a spare rudder in dad's garage.

"Well then, what's so difficult about that?" asked Barnacle Bill, "I had to get a brand new paddle steamer after the last one was sunk by the giant. It had never really dried out properly inside, so if I go up the river to the giant's pool, I can be there and back by morning. This vessel carries working lights to the very highest specification of the Goblin Navigation Authority," he said proudly "and I have a certificate to prove it. You must come down to the saloon and see it hanging on the main bulkhead."

Jennifer Jane declined very politely. "Not just now, thank you," she said "but if you go home and fetch the spare rudder, how will we get the pintles straightened?"

"Easy as falling off the Royal yardarm," laughed Barnacle Bill, "I'll lend you the charts so that you can navigate to the Goblin Boatyard and I'll give you a letter of introduction to Norman the foregoblin. He'll soon fix you up."

Jennifer Jane took the charts, although she didn't really need them. After all, her canoe floated in only six inches of water. "Float on damp grass, that will,” dad had said, when he'd finished building it. Still, Barnacle Bill was being very helpful and she didn't want to hurt his feelings.

He showed her the place on the northern shore of the estuary where the Goblin Boatyard was hidden from ordinary humans and the best channels for her to take to reach it.

"I'll have to wait until dusk, when most boats are off the river," he said "but if you leave now, you should just about save your tide and come home quickly on the flood."

Jennifer Jane knew what he meant, because even in a canoe, it's jolly hard work paddling against the tide. If she worked the tides properly as a real sailor should, the current would be helping her both going and coming home again.

Off she went in "Drawrof", paddling over to the northern shore of the river Therdle. Barnacle Bill had told her to look out for a Coastguard's cottage.

"The entrance to the boatyard lies a mile to the Eastward," he'd said and then pointed out the secret channels through the saltings, which led to the slipway and worksheds.

Very soon, over to her left, Jennifer Jane was able to see the Coastguard's cottage. At first the coastline looked completely unbroken but as she drew nearer, she was able to see the saltings in front of the sea wall and at last, the entrance to the secret channel opened up just as Barnacle Bill had shown her.

Carefully she went into the channel. She really did need the charts after all, it was just like trying to find your way through a maze. She made one wrong turn and slid gently into a large muddy pool. The smell of the muddy saltings was not at all nice and she was very glad to turn round and go back until she found deeper water again. However she eventually paddled round the last corner and there was the boatyard right in front of her.