o the aiming of the huge weapon. Now, when we had gotten the
instrument pointed, as we conceived, straight over the hulk, the which
we accomplished by squinting along the groove which the bo'sun had burnt
down the center of the stock, we turned-to upon the arranging of the
notch and trigger, the notch being to hold the strings when the weapon
was set, and the trigger--a board bolted on loosely at the side just
below the notch--to push them upwards out of this place when we desired
to discharge the bow. This part of the work took up no great portion of
our time, and soon we had all ready for our first flight. Then we
commenced to set the bows, bending the bottom one first, and then those
above in turn, until all were set; and, after that, we laid the arrow
very carefully in the groove. Then I took two pieces of spun yarn and
frapped the strings together at each end of the notch, and by this means
I was assured that all the strings would act in unison when striking the
butt of the arrow. And so we had all things ready for the discharge;
whereupon, I placed my foot upon the trigger, and, bidding the bo'sun
watch carefully the flight of the arrow, pushed downwards. The next
instant, with a mighty twang, and a quiver that made the great stock
stir on its bed of rocks, the bow sprang to its lesser tension, hurling
the arrow outwards and upwards in a vast arc. Now, it may be conceived
with what mortal interest we watched its flight, and so in a minute
discovered that we had aimed too much to the right, for the arrow struck
the weed ahead of the hulk--but _beyond_ it. At that, I was filled near
to bursting with pride and joy, and the men who had come forward to
witness the trial, shouted to acclaim my success, whilst the bo'sun
clapped me twice upon the shoulder to signify his regard, and shouted as
loud as any.

And now it seemed to me that we had but to get the true aim, and the
rescue of those in the hulk would be but a matter of another day or two;
for, having once gotten a line to the hulk, we should haul across a thin
rope by its means, and with this a thicker one; after which we should set
this up so taut as possible, and then bring the people in the hulk to the
island by means of a seat and block which we should haul to and fro along
the supporting line.

Now, having realized that the bow would indeed carry so far as the wreck,
we made haste to try our second arrow, and at the same time we bade the
men go back to their