It was quite an affair, cork-lined, and evidently capable of sustaining considerable weight when once launched in the water, but cumbersome and hard to handle on deck, more particularly because of its awkward form.
Fortunately it hung to the port side with a rather steep slant to the rail, which was not high.

The waters of the lake, threatening to engulf them with every sodden roll of the vessel, were almost within reach of an outstretched hand, while occasionally a wave danced along the bulwark, and scattered its spray over the deck.

West, working with feverish impatience, realized suddenly that his companion had deserted the place where he had left her and was also tugging and slashing at the lashings of the raft.

These finally yielded to their blind attack.

Without the exchange of a word the two grasped the sides and shoved the thing hard down against the port rail.
"Wait now," he cried exultantly.