er to make assurance doubly sure, he
collected two more panfuls, and melting this he applied it as before.
After this was over, he made a torch of birch bark, and lighting this,
he held the flame against the gum till the whole outer surface began to
melt and run together. This served to secure any crevices that his
brush might have passed by without properly filling.

The work was now complete as far as Tom could do it; and on examining
it, he regretted that he had not thought of this before. He felt an
exultation that he had never known in his life. If he, by his own
efforts, could thus rescue himself, what a cause it would be always
after to struggle against misfortune, and rise superior to
circumstances!

As to the voyage, Tom's plan was the same that it had been on a former
occasion. He would float the boat at high tide, and then push off,
keeping her near the shore, yet afloat until ebb tide. Then, when the
tide should turn, and the current run up the bay, he would put off, and
float along with the stream until he reached land.

According to his calculations it would be high tide about two hours
after dark, which would be some time after ten. He would have to be up
all night; for the tide would not turn until after four in the morning.
But that did not trouble him. He would have too much on his mind to
allow him to feel sleepy, and, besides, the hope which lay before him
would prevent him from feeling fatigue.

One thing more remained, and that was, to bring up a fresh supply of
fuel. The night would be dark, and while floating in the boat, he
would need the light of the fire. So he brought up from the beach an
ample supply of drift-wood, and laid it with the rest.

When Tom's work was ended, it was late in the day, and he determined to
secure some sleep before he began his long night's work. He knew that
he could waken at the right time; so he laid himself down in his tent,
and soon slept the sleep of the weary.

By ten o'clock he was awake. He found the water already up to the
boat. There was no time to lose. He carried his box of biscuit on
board, and filled his pan with water from the brook, so as to secure
himself against thirst in case the boat should float away farther than
he anticipated. Then he took his paddle, and got into the boat.

The water came up higher. Most anxiously Tom watched it as it rose.
The fire was burning low, and in order to make more light, Tom went
ashore and heape