ast six inches between the steel and gun-metal screws, thus avoiding
all possibility of even the smallest approach to galvanic action being
set up between the two. And it was, of course, to the outer skin that
the copper sheathing was to be attached.

Now the planking--even the comparatively thin outer skin--was much too
stout and tough to be got into position without steaming; and this fact
had occurred to Simpson while prowling about the dockyard that day. He
had mentioned the matter to Nicholls, and the pair had at once looked
about them to see whether Leslie had made any provision for the steaming
of the planks; and, finding none, they had profitably amused themselves
by sorting out, from the deck and other planking brought ashore from the
brig, a sufficient quantity of stuff suitable for the construction of a
steaming-trunk, and laying it aside ready for Leslie's inspection upon
his return. They had not quite completed their self-imposed task when
Dick got back to the camp, and, seeing them apparently busy, sauntered
down to the spot where they were at work.

"Well, lads," said he, with a smile, "so you are getting yourselves into
training, eh? I am glad to see that you are making such rapid advances
toward recovery."

"Thank you, sir; yes, we're pulling round again all right," replied
Nicholls. "We've been amusing ourselves to-day by taking a general look
round, and so far as we can see, your cutter--a most remarkable fine
little boat she is going to be--is just about ready to start
planking-up. But we see no signs of a steaming-trunk anywhere about,
Mr Leslie; so Bob and I have been putting in our time on the job of
sorting out from among that raffle, there, enough stuff to make a trunk
out of; and here it is, sir, if you don't happen to want it for anything
else."

"No," said Leslie, "I do not require it for anything in particular; and
as we shall certainly require a trunk we may as well work it up into
one. That, I think, will have to be our next job."

"Yes, sir," agreed Nicholls; "it looks like it. But what about a
boiler, sir, in which to generate the steam? I don't see anything
knocking about ashore, here, that'll do for one."

"No," said Leslie; "and I am rather afraid we may have a hard job to
find one. There is only one thing that I can think of, and that is one
of the brig's water tanks. I had intended to bring one ashore for that
especial purpose; but now that those rascally savages ha