It required all their skill to accomplish this object, for the raft was a most ungainly thing to manage.

The Zephyr was so long that they could not row round so as to bring the raft alongside the bank, and when they attempted to push it in, the paint, and even the planks of the boat, were endangered.
"Can't get it in--can we ?" said Charles Hardy, after several unsuccessful attempts.
"There is no such word as fail," replied William.

"Bring me the long painter." The coxswain unfastened the tow line of the raft, and tied the painter to it.
"Bowman, stand by with the boat-hook, ready to land." "Ay, ay!" "Now, pull steady; be careful she does not grind on the rocks; easy, there.

Four of you jump ashore." The four forward rowers obeyed the command.
"Now pass this line ashore, and let them pull in on the raft," continued William.
"Hurrah! there she is!" shouted Frank.

"That was done handsomely!" "We could have done it before, if we had only thought of it," replied William, laughing.