all worked in high spirits, for it was now no longer a doubtful
question as to whether the schooner could be finished or not, the
additional strength contributed by Bob and myself being found just
sufficient to render manageable, and comparatively easy, work which had
before proved too heavy for my father and Winter alone, or even when
aided by the two natives. These, I may as well now mention, were two
lads of about eighteen years of age, and, having been treated very
kindly from their first arrival by my father, proved very tractable and
willing, and altogether very valuable aids in many respects.

We were none of us very skilful in the handling of tools, and our work
was, consequently, of no very highly finished character; but everything
was as strong as wood and iron could make it, and within a fortnight we
had contrived, by dint of sheer hard work, to get the schooner planked
right up.

At first we had a great deal of difficulty with our fastenings, from
want of a smith or a smith's forge; and this had been the greatest bar
to my father's progress. Ella was the means of helping us out of this
difficulty, by suggesting an idea which I think would never have
occurred to any of us men. This was neither more nor less than the
construction of a rude but efficient smith's hearth out of some old
sheet and pig iron obtained from the wreck, and the manufacture of a
bellows from some boards and stout tarpaulin, the nozzle being made of
bamboo, and inserted into an orifice in the hearth which was packed air-
tight with clay. It was a clumsy contrivance certainly, but it answered
our purpose well enough to save us a great deal of time and labour.

The laying of the deck was our next task; and it took us another
fortnight to do this, as we resolved that everything should be as well
done as possible. This was exclusive of the time occupied in fixing the
combings of the hatch and fore-scuttle, cabin-companion, skylight, and
other openings. As we "got our hands in," however, we made more rapid
progress; and, in little more than two months from the date of the
_Water Lily's_ arrival, the hull of the schooner was completed and in
readiness for the reception of her spars. These we got out of the spars
of the wreck, all of which had been sent down long before by my father
and Winter, and carefully stored up for this very purpose.

Another month saw these spars all shaped and fitted, and ready to be put
into their places. Th