Jehosophat spied it.

"The very thing!" he cried.

It was a big gate which had been carried off by the flood; and it was
tossed first to this side and then to the other by the brown water.

"I hope it catches on something an' stops," cried Marmaduke. And they
hurried down the Brook towards the Pond. They had to walk pretty fast,
too, almost run, to keep up with the gate.

Jehosophat looked ahead.

"Those big roots of the walnut tree might stop it," he said.

And sure enough the gate was caught by the roots and swung in under
the branches. The water was more quiet here than out in the stream and
it made a fine harbor for the ship. For, you see, after all, it was
not a gate but a _ship_!

But they must make sure of their prize. So Jehosophat ran to the barn
and fetched some rope. With this he made the ship fast to the trunk of
the tree, that is, to the wharf in Walnut Harbour.

But there was more work to be done, for the ship had been damaged by
the storm.

"You stand watch an' keep off all pirates," ordered Jehosophat. "I'll
be back in three shakes of a lamb's tail."