post. Among the timbers, one was found long enough to serve as the
keel, and when this was laid down, and the stern-post and stem were fitted
to it and securely bolted, they felt that the most difficult part of the
work was done. Great labour was required to get out the copper bolts from
the timbers, and in some cases the wood had to be split up before they
could be extracted. The work of getting out the ribs, and fastening them
in their places, was much less arduous than they had expected, for the
greater portion of the timbers of the brig had come on shore, and among
these they were able to find many with curves fairly suited to their
requirements. Some required hacking off with cutlasses, while on to others
pieces of planks were nailed to get the required curve. By the end of five
months the hull was planked and decked, and all felt very proud of the
work. It was caulked with oakum obtained from some of the least
serviceable of the ropes of the brig, dipped in a resin that they found
oozing from some trees.

The fore-topmast of the brig furnished a suitable mast, and was stepped
and stayed; a bowsprit, boom, and gaff were constructed from the light
spars; a mainsail, a foresail, and jib had been manufactured during the
long evenings; and when the boat was completely rigged, the timbers down
which she was to glide were smeared with lard, and carried down as far as
possible under water, being kept in their places by heavy stones placed on
the ends. It was a great day when the shores were knocked away, the ropes
that held her stern being previously cast off, and she at once moved
rapidly down into the water amid a shout of triumph from her constructors.
She drew about three feet of water, and they calculated that when they had
got the ballast, stores, and water on board she would sink another foot,
and would then have three feet of free-board. They had already laid in a
large stock of pork, which they had salted, obtaining the salt by filling
pools in the rock with salt water, which was replenished as fast as it
evaporated. A great stock of melons had also been cut. The barrels had
been carefully examined, and placed in the lake to swell and become
water-tight. Now that the boat was once in the water they were anxious to
be off without the smallest possible delay, for were the natives to appear
just at this moment all their labours would be thrown away. As soon,
therefore, as they had gone on board, and found that the cra