gether. The pontoons were decked all
over, the deck-planking for a length of twelve feet in the middle
portion being also carried right across from one to the other. The two
pontoons were thus securely fastened together above and below, the
result being that the entire structure formed a good, substantially-
built raft, having in its centre portion a platform or deck measuring
twelve feet fore and aft, and eighteen feet athwartships. The craft--if
one may dignify the structure with such a name--was rigged with one
mast, situated exactly in the centre, and well supported by shrouds on
each side, and she was provided with a lateen or three-cornered sail
bent to a very long yard composed of a number of bamboos fished
together. The yard was hung in its centre, an arrangement by which
Gaunt hoped to succeed in making his raft sail with either end foremost
with equal facility, his idea being to work the craft precisely upon the
same principle as that adopted by the Ladrone Islanders in the working
of their flying-proas.

This raft, though of such literal dimensions, was very easy and simple
to build, as there was no shaping of timbers and no elaborate
workmanship of any kind required, the only matter involving any
considerable degree of care being that the two pontoons should be
watertight; and this of course was very easily managed. But, simple as
the work was, it was fully a month before the raft was ready for
service, though when they at length got her afloat and tried her under
sail the result was satisfactory, far beyond their roost sanguine
anticipations.

They were now in a position to attack the wreck in good earnest, which
they did by rigging up a pair of sheers on deck and hoisting the cargo
from the ship's hold and depositing it directly on the raft alongside.
The cargo proved to be, as had been expected, a general cargo--that is
to say, it consisted of more or less of almost every conceivable product
of a civilised country, from lucifer matches up to railway plant and
machinery.

It was a very difficult matter to decide what might, and what might not
be of value to the party, and the result was that they eventually
determined to land the entire cargo. Of course only a very small
portion of it would go into the shed which they had erected; but this
was a matter of no very great moment, for a great deal of it was of such
a nature that rain would not very materially injure it. It took them
another month to