e for
each gable-end--and in four of these holes he reared four of his
stoutest saplings to form the four corners of the tent, setting them
carefully upright by means of temporary stays, and ramming the loose
soil round about their feet until they stood quite firmly. Then, midway
between the poles that were to form the gable-ends of the tent, he
reared two others, some ten feet longer than the first four, these last
being intended to support the ridge-pole of the structure, which he next
hoisted into position and securely lashed. Then he similarly raised the
eaves-poles into position and lashed them, thus completing the skeleton
of the tent. The sides and ends of the structure, together with a
central partition, were formed of sails, laboriously hoisted into
position by means of tackles, laced to the ridge-pole, and securely
pinned to the ground with stakes; and a spare main-course drawn over the
ridge-pole, sloping down over the eaves, and drawn tight all round by
ropes spliced into the leeches and secured to the ground with stout tent
pegs, completed the whole. To prevent the flooding of the tent in wet
weather, Leslie took the precaution to dig a good deep trench all round
it to receive the rain-water, and from this he dug another to carry it
off.

The next matter demanding attention was the furnishing of the tent. The
need of bedsteads was easily met by driving four stout stakes into the
ground, connected at their tops by side and end poles, to which lengths
of stout canvas were attached by a lacing; and the structure was then
ready to receive the mattress and bedding generally. The cabin lamp
efficiently illuminated Miss Trevor's half of the tent, while a lamp
taken from the steward's berth afforded Leslie all the light he needed
to undress by. Then the cabin table, the locker cushions, the
deck-chair, the ship's slender stock of books, and a variety of odds and
ends conducive to comfort were transferred from the brig to the shore,
together with the galley stove and its appurtenances; and the pair then
went into residence in their new abode--which, it may be said, they
found much more roomy, airy, and comfortable than their former quarters
aboard the brig. The galley stove, it should be mentioned, was set up
outside and to leeward of the tent, all cooking operations being
conducted in the open air. The erection of the tent, from start to
finish, absorbed a fortnight of Leslie's time, and involved such a
l