In the first place, Tubbs could find no place to tie the boat up to, and as long as he sat in the boat and held on to the rock it was evident he could not land the grub.

So he was in a dilemma.

He did his best; he relaxed his hold for a moment and made a frantic grab at one of the brown-paper parcels.

But it almost cost him his moorings, for the boat, taking advantage of its liberty, began to slide away out to sea, and it was all Tubbs could do to catch hold of the rock again in time to stop it.

This would not do, it was clear.