In one of the crews that put up in the fishing-hut there was a lively boy of fourteen, who entertained them the whole time with tricks of all kinds, and was never quiet.

He took up a huge stone and threw it with all his might into the stern of the boat.

Instantly there rushed out, visible to every one, a gnome in seaman's dress with a great bunch of sea-weed for a head.

It had been sitting at the stern weighing down the boat, and now rushed out into the sea, dashing the water up in spray round it as it went.

After that the boat went smoothly into the water.