The latter had armed himself also with a Shakespeare in case the fish didn't bite; and three towels, knowingly produced by the whipper-in, added a further pleasant suggestion for whiling away a dull half-hour.
The calmness of the day and the absence of any sign of wind induced the party to vote the mast and sails a useless encumbrance, and they were accordingly left ashore, and a spare pair of oars taken in their place.
The irony of fate left it to Dick's lot to see the anchor was in proper trim and firmly secured--a task which he discharged with almost vicious solemnity.
"What time does the tide turn, Joe ?" asked Cresswell of the boatman as they ran the boat down to the water.
"Half-past two about, mister.

Yer'll need to bring her in close ashore and give the Fiddle-sand a wide berth while the tide flows." "All right.

Shove her off, Joe." They had a glorious day.

The sea had scarcely a ripple, and the sky scarcely a cloud.

The fish seemed to vie with one another in falling upon the bait.