They sprang up wide awake and saw in the starlight that he had a pair of oars and a coil of rope in his hands.
"As I launch her, take the chocks from behind and put them in front," he said in a low voice.
Then he laid the oars softly in the bows and dropped the rope into the bottom, and began to push the boat slowly down to the sea.

The boys did as he had told them to do, and in a few minutes the bows were in the rippling water.

The old sailor took off his shoes and stockings and put them on board, and rolled up his trousers.

Then with a strong push he sent her down over the pebbles and got upon the bows as she floated out.
To look at his heavy form you would not have thought that he could move so lightly and quickly when he pleased.

In a moment he was standing over the oars and backing to the beach again for the boys to get in.