"Lay hold of this, and come right up after me." "I'll be there!" Hodge whispered back.
Then, hampered by the shoes, Merry climbed slowly aboard, and Bart swung up after him.

Together they dropped to the deck, and crouched low, with the water running in rivulets from their clothing.
Frank felt softly about, and his hands fell on a club-like maul which fishermen use for stunning the large fish they catch.

There was nothing else near in the shape of a weapon.

He passed the maul to Bart, and clutched one of the shoes as a club in his right hand.
"Good luck!" he softly whispered.

"How are you ?" Hodge was chilled to the bone, and his teeth were fairly chattering.
"I'm all right.