obliged to expend so much time and labour all over again was
decidedly disheartening; but, as Leslie said, it was quite useless to
worry over it; it _had_ to be done, and the sooner they set about it the
better. So they returned to the shore, and while Nicholls and Simpson,
armed with axes, went off into the woods in search of a couple of spars
suitable for sheers, Dick proceeded to overhaul the mass of raffle
brought ashore from the brig, and at length secured enough blocks and
rope to furnish a fairly effective set of tackle wherewith to equip
them. There was a tremendous amount of long-splicing to be done in
order to work up the various odds and ends of rope into suitable lengths
for the several tackles required; but four days of assiduous labour
found the vexatious task completed and everything ready for the
resumption of work. Then ensued an arduous and wearisome turning over
of cargo--much of it consisting of heavy castings and other parts of
machinery; but at length they got down to one of the tanks, which they
hoisted out, emptied, and floated ashore.

Then came the building of the steam-trunk, which they erected close
alongside the cutter and right down at the water's edge, for convenience
in supplying the boiler with water; and this done, they were at length
able to turn-to upon the important task of planking-up the hull of their
little ship. And now it was that Leslie was able for the first time to
appreciate the inestimable value of the carefully prepared and figured
diagram of the planking that the builders had so thoughtfully included
among the various matters appertaining to the construction of the
cutter. For with it in his hand, all that was necessary was for Leslie
to go over the pile of planking, noting the letters and numbers on each
plank, and stack the whole in such a manner that the planks first
required should be found on top of the stack, while those last wanted
would lie at the bottom. And now, too, he found how great an advantage
the possession of two able and intelligent workers was to him; for not
only were the three men able to do thrice the amount of work possible to
one man in a given time, but they were able to do considerably more when
it came to such matters as lifting heavy weights, twisting refractory
planks into position, and other matters of a similar kind where mere
brute strength was required. Moreover, their steaming apparatus acted
to perfection; and after the first two d