turn for turn."

"But why not begin to-day?" said Oliver.

"To be sure," said the others.

"I didn't want to be hard upon you, gentlemen, and so I thought I'd give
you a day's notice, but if you would all tackle to at once, why, I
should be glad."

"Then as far as we're concerned," said Oliver, "the lugger's launched."

"Thank you, gentlemen, all of you," said the mate; and then drily, "but
I don't think we shall get her in the water to-day."

There was a hearty laugh at this, but they were all serious directly,
and the question of the launching was taken up.

"Two miles to the lagoon," said Oliver; "it's a long way."

"Yes, sir, but every foot we get her along, will be one less."

"Of course," said Oliver. "And do you think your plans will work?"

"I hope so, sir. We'll give them a good try first, before we start upon
another."

They went down over the side and stood directly after examining the
lines of the well-made little vessel, which was about the size of a
Cornish fishing boat, and now that the greater part of the supports had
been knocked away, and she could be seen in all her regularity,
compliments were freely given to her builder and architect.

"Well, I'm not ashamed of her, gentlemen," said the mate. "All I'm
afraid of is that we shall weaken her a bit in hauling her along over
the runners."

"Have you got your runners made?" said Drew.

"Have I got my runners made, sir?" said the mate with a chuckle. "I've
got everything ready, grease and all for making 'em slippery, and under
her keel a bit of iron as smooth as if it had been polished. Look
here!"

He pointed out the curve and finish of the keel, which was so contrived
that the vessel was quite on the balance, and a couple of men could
easily rock her up and down, while to keep her straight and prevent her
lopping over to one side or the other, an ingenious kind of outrigger
had been contrived out of a couple of yards, which rested on the ground,
and were kept there about four feet from the keel. These two were well
pointed and curved up a little in front, and gave the lugger the
appearance of riding in a sledge-like cradle.

Moreover, a capstan had been rigged up, half a cable's length away, and
as soon as a rope had been attached to a hole low down close to the
keel, word was given, the capstan was manned, the sailors gave a cheer
as the stout cable secured low down beneath the lugger's bows gradually
tightened, strained, and s