"Let me take a look at it," said Judd.
It took a moment or two to locate the under-gear, and then Judd examined the sea-bottom carefully. He finally arose from the examination with the air of one who had come to a decision.
"Give me that rope," he said.
Budd handed him the rope that had been used to drag the cart-bed over to "The Hummocks."
Making a running-noose in one end, Judd lowered it into the water, at the same time directing Budd to hold the yawl steady. Again and again he seemed to get his rope in the position he desired, but it slipped away. Finally he gave a quick jerk, and then a cry of exultation.
"My noose has caught over the tongue and back of the iron clevis, and no power can pull it away. Let us see now if we can start the wheels."
He fastened the rope at the stern of the yawl and took one oar. Budd took the other, and together they pulled with all their strength; but the wheels did not move. After several fruitless attempts to start the ponderous under-gear the lads gave it up, and looked around for some other way of accomplishing their purpose.
"If it was not so far off shore," remarked Budd, "we could run our rope in there and hitch a pair of oxen to it, and then I guess the wheels would have to come."
"What the oxen can't do our sloop can," said Judd with animation.
"What is that?" asked Budd.