Fortunately they were but small, having only a mile or so to roll from the shore, but they flung enough water on board in a few minutes to spoil part of his provisions, and to set everything afloat that was loose on the bottom of the vessel.
He was apprehensive lest she should fill, for he now perceived that he had forgotten to provide anything with which to bale her out.

Something is always forgotten.

Having got the sail down (lest the wind should snap the mast), he tried hard to force the canoe back with his longer paddle, used as a movable rudder.

His weight and the resistance of the adhesive mud, on which she had driven with much force was too great; he could not shove her off.

When he pushed, the paddle sank into the soft bottom, and gave him nothing to press against.