"They didn't blow no horn."
"Perhaps they don't know enough for that. I declare! What's he up to now?" went on Ralph, a second later.
He had espied a single man standing in the stern of the sloop. The man had commenced to work at the mainsail, the managing of which appeared to bother him not a little.
"He don't seem to know the ropes," returned Bob Sanderson. "I guess he's tryin' to lower sail and can't."
"He is carrying too much canvas for this breeze."
"I agree with you, Ralph. But most of them chaps with sloops are a daring set. They always want to sail at racing speed."
"He wants to go through that draw, that's certain," responded Ralph.
Going into the little house at the end of the bridge, he got out the key and the handle-bar. He unlocked the chain which held the end of the bridge in position, and then inserting the bar into the turnpost or capstan, began to walk around with it.
Slowly but surely the bridge began to swing loose from the side which connected with the permanent portion on the Eastport end and moved toward the solid foundation which was built directly in front of where the Nelson dooryard ran down to the water's edge.
It was hard work to move the bridge around, but Ralph was used to it, and he did not mind. As he walked around with the bar before him he kept his eyes on the sloop and the man sailing her.