Conscious of the fact that he was bent on an unworthy errand, Fred did not care to be recognized abroad at this unusual hour.
In a few minutes he had reached the boatyard.

This was surrounded by a high board fence, and the gate was locked.
"It won't do to get over the fence," young Ripley decided.

"I might be seen and watched.

But I know a way." At one corner of the yard the fence ran almost, though not quite to the bank of the river.
Keeping well within the shadow of the fence, young Ripley hastened toward this point.
Here the amount of space was not sufficient for him to step around the end of the fence.

However, by grasping it on both sides Fred could swing himself around it and into the boatyard.