ve built a sty for it, but
he waited until the craft was completed.

Neptune would lie in the shade, an attentive observer of all their
operations, and at times would come and look up in his master's face, as
if asking whether he could not be of some assistance. Lord Reginald at
last taught him to carry about the tools, and when Dick wanted one, he
had only to point to it, and the dog would bring it up to him
immediately. It took some time to put on the bulwarks, as ribs had to
be fitted to give them sufficient strength. Perseverance conquered all
difficulties, and at last the hull was raised two feet all round,
somewhat higher at the bows, over which a deck was fitted nearly six
feet in length. Over the after part, a deck four feet long was formed,
with water-ways six inches wide down the sides. The three masts were
quickly made. There were plenty of spars for the purpose, as well as
for the yards; three oars, and a pair of paddles, which might be useful
to pull the boat round when going about. In the evening they worked
away, making the three lugsails, the topsail, and a small fore-staysail.
On the top of the gunwale, four spars were fixed to serve as
outriggers, supporting at either end two long flat boards, which they
hoped would effectually prevent their boat from capsizing. An English
flag had been washed ashore, which, although somewhat torn, after its
dimensions had been reduced, would serve very well for the purpose
required.

Dick had a surprise for Lord Reginald. He had been anxious about the
possibility of their boat leaking, through cracks which might open as
the wood dried. Among the stores he had collected was a cask of pitch,
which he now rolled out. He had to exert his ingenuity in forming a tar
brush for putting it on. This he manufactured out of cocoanut fibre.
An iron kettle, which had been too large for ordinary use, served for
heating it. They found that they had more than sufficient to pay over
the whole outside, as well as the inner part of the bows and stern and
the parts where the bolts fixing on the keel came through. The decks,
which were covered over with canvas, were also thickly pitched so as to
prevent any leaks. The craft was now completed. Having set all their
sails to see how she looked, the flag was hoisted with three cheers, and
they were now ready for whatever might occur. The same rollers which
had served to bring the log to the neighbourhood of the hut, now enabl