"You are right there," said I, "and for that reason it is especially desirable that the boats should keep together for mutual support and assistance, if need be.  You have the heels of us in such light weather as the present, and might very easily slip away from and lose sight of us in the darkness; therefore I think that, for the present at all events, in order to avoid any such possibility, you had better take the end of our painter and make it fast to your stern ring-bolt.  Then you can go ahead as fast as you please, without any risk of the boats losing sight of each other."