One of the soldiers sprang ashore and began trying to cast off the line,
which was drawn as taut as a four-mile current could make it. He worked
for several moments, but, of course without success (for the line should
first have been slackened up on board), and then called out:

"Loosen up that other end, there!"

"No, no!" replied the lieutenant, "that would allow the boat to swing
away from the bank, and then how would you get on board? It must be
untied from that tree first."

What difference it could possibly make in regard to the boat's swinging
away from the bank, whether the line was first slackened up on shore or
on board, Frank could not determine.

He was astonished at the lieutenant's ignorance, and amused at his novel
mode of casting off a line, while the sailors, who had gathered in a
group on the forecastle, watched the operation with a smile, wondering
how the affair would end, as they knew that the line could not be
"untied" from the tree unless first slackened up on board. But the
lieutenant seemed to have his own idea of the manner in which it ought
to be accomplished, and was constantly ordering the man to "Hurry up,
there!" The soldiers worked and pulled, but all to no purpose, and the
lieutenant, becoming impatient, ordered two more of the men to his
assistance. But the knot, which had been awkwardly made, was jammed, and
resisted their utmost efforts.

"I never did see such a clumsy set of fellows," said the lieutenant, at
length, turning to Frank, who stood beside him, making use of his
handkerchief to conceal his laughter. "We ought to have been two miles