It was a thick and heavy rope, with a noose at its end, so heavy that none would have believed that one mortal could handle it.

Yet it shot from him till it stood out stiff as an iron bar.

Yes, and the noose fell over one of the stone posts on the quay, and caught there.

Now the rope grew straighter still, stretching and groaning like a thing in pain as it took the weight of the great, drifting ship.

She stayed; she swung round slowly and ranged herself broadside on against the quay as a berthed ship does.