Wally paced one, and found it measured eighteen feet.
"Ought to do," said he; "it's bound not to be deeper than that." So the punt, which was christened the "Cock-house" for the occasion, was loosed from her moorings, the Abernethys and knuckle-bone and other stores were put on board, the boat-hooks, by a combined effort, were got into position, and the party embarked for the rescue of Rollitt.
Thanks to the stream, their progress at first was satisfactory.

They were delighted to find how easily they went.

Wally with one boat-book on one side, and Percy with the other on the other side, had comparatively little to do except to prevent their hooks getting stuck in the mud at the bottom, and refusing to come out.

Any one watching them would have said these boys had been born in a barge.

They carried their long poles to the prow, and plunged them in there with a mighty splash.