But man's rage could avail nothing.
They had missed the passage by a few feet, and now they had to wait the fall and rise again of the tide ere they could hope to get off.
In the confusion that followed, Bob Croaker suggested that Martin and he should take one of the punts, or small boats which hovered round the vessel, and put out to sea, where they might spend the day pleasantly in rowing and fishing.
"Capital!" exclaimed Martin.

"Let's go at once.

Yonder's a little fellow who will let us have his punt for a few pence.

I know him.

Hallo, Tom!" "Ay, ay," squeaked a boy who was so small that he could scarcely lift the oar, light though it was, with which he sculled his punt cleverly along.
"Shove alongside, like a good fellow; we want your boat for a little to row out a bit." "It's a-blowin' too hard," squeaked the small boy, as he ranged alongside.