Dave took the rope, went to the door of the tower, and descended the ladder.
"Here, Dick! Take your painter and tie it to that mooring-rope, allowing enough slack to bring your boat almost to the tower and yet not touch it. There! if that length isn't right you can try it again. Now catch this rope and make fast to the stern there. So! That's it! Now I'll pull you in."
Dave drew on his end of the rope, and pulled Dick's boat so near the ladder that Dick could spring to it, and yet the boat itself was left to swing in the waves while it could not strike the tower.
"I'll just make fast my end of the rope, Dick, and we will go up the ladder."
"All right. Glad to get out of that old boat and go up with you."
"Why, where under the sun and moon have you been?"
"Me? Been camping out on the Nub."
"You haven't!"
"But I have."
"That your tent over there?"