Then he hauled the sheet, and the canoe swayed down until her curving gunwale was in the water.

The half-breed moved to the other side and Thirlwell beckoned Agatha.
"Come aft by me!" She obeyed, although it was difficult to crawl over the cargo in the bottom of the sharply slanted craft.

The humming noise had changed to a shriek, but it did not drown the turmoil of the water.

Short waves with black furrows between them rolled up astern and although they were not high they looked angry.

Agatha saw that Thirlwell wanted to trim the canoe.