"Why, we're going better now we've stopped rowing than we were before." "That's because the wind's changed," said Wally.

"If we'd only got a sail we could make her go." "Why not stick up the two poles, and fasten our coats or something between for a sail!" suggested Percy.
"Good idea! the poles are long enough for all the nine.

One of 'em can go through right sleeves, and the other through left.

It'll make a ripping sail." So, despite the season of the year, the nine voyagers divested themselves of their coats, which were industriously threaded by the sleeves on either pole.

The top coat was spiked by the hooks, and those below were ingeniously buttoned one to the other to keep them up.
Every one agreed it made a ripping sail.