It looked cumbersome enough, but there was no difficulty in levering it along the deck by means of capstan bars, after which the rope running through the block high up was made fast to one side, and the doctor and Bostock began to haul: but the effect was not satisfactory, and Bostock stopped and scratched his head.
“Here, let me help,” cried Carey; but the doctor roared at him, and the boy wrinkled up his brow.
“Well,” said the doctor, when, after hauling one side up a little, they had lowered it again.
“Seems to me, sir,” said the old sailor, “that we’ve got our work cut out to haul her up and lower her down.”
“Yes, we want a couple of men to help,” said the doctor.
“And we aren’t got ’em,” growled Bostock.
“Why don’t you haul one side up till the raft’s edgewise, and then work it out through the gangway with the levers till it overbalances and tumbles in?” said Carey.
“Ah, to be sure, sir,” said Bostock, mopping his dripping face; “why don’t we?”
“What, and shake the thing all to pieces with the fall?” said the doctor.
“Nay, nay, nay, sir; don’t you say such a word as that,” grumbled Bostock. “I don’t do my work like that. I took lots o’ time over her, didn’t I, Master Carey?”