I want you, the instant I sing out, to give a slash across the painter holding us to our moorings." "What, and lose our bundle of sealskins!" exclaimed the practical Fritz.
"Lose them?
Of course! Do you think we'd have time to lug them into the boat before we'd be pooped! What are the blessed things worth in comparison with our lives ?" "I beg your pardon," said Fritz humbly, always ready to acknowledge when he was in the wrong.

"I spoke unthinkingly; besides, if we lose these, we've got plenty more under the cliff by our hut." "Aye, if we ever reach there!" replied Eric grimly.

Although taking advantage of every possible device to reach the island again, as a sailor he was fully conscious of the dire peril they were in.

"Now, Fritz," he called out presently, as a big white wave came up astern, "cut away the painter, and just give a hoist to the jib and belay the end of the halliards, half-way up.

There, that will do.