The little man backed away and came down again with enormous energy, but at the end of each maneuver his dory swung round and snubbed herself on her rope.
"We'll hev to help him, else he'll root an' seed here," said Dan.
"What's the matter ?" said Harvey.

This was a new world, where he could not lay down the law to his elders, but had to ask questions humbly.
And the sea was horribly big and unexcited.
"Anchor's fouled.

Penn's always losing 'em.

Lost two this trip a'ready--on sandy bottom too--an' Dad says next one he loses, sure's fishin', he'll give him the kelleg.

That 'u'd break Penn's heart." "What's a 'kelleg' ?" said Harvey, who had a vague idea it might be some kind of marine torture, like keel-hauling in the storybooks.
"Big stone instid of an anchor.