It was as much as they could yet do to drag their own bodies about, much less a heavy ship's boat.
Murtagh suggested breaking it up, and letting the fragments float off upon the waves.

But Captain Redwood did not approve of this mode.

The craft that had so long carried them through an unknown sea, and at length set them safely ashore, deserved different treatment.

Besides, they might again stand in need of it; for it was not yet certain whether they were on the coast of the Bornean mainland, or one of the numerous outlying islets to be found along its eastern side.

If an island, the boat would still be required to carry them across to the main.
While they were engaged in discussing this subject on the day they had made discovery of the maleos' eggs, Saloo's sharp eye, wandering about, caught sight of something that promised a solution of the difficulty.
It was the little stream not far off, or rather, the estuary formed by its current, which, flowing out through the sands, had cut a channel deep enough for the keel of a much larger craft than a ship's pinnace.
"Why we no blingee boat up libba ?" he asked.
"Saloo is right; it may be done," assented the captain.
"Troth an' that may it.