tough, and when a number of the threads
were joined together they formed excellent cordage. At first we tied
the different lengths together; but this was such a clumsy and awkward
complication of knots that we contrived, by careful interlacing of the
ends together before twisting, to make good cordage of any size or
length we chose. Of course it cost us much time and infinite labour;
but Jack kept up our spirits when we grew weary, and so all that we
required was at last constructed.

Planks were now cut off the chestnut-trees of about an inch thick.
These were dressed with the axe--but clumsily, for an axe is ill-adapted
for such work. Five of these planks on each side were sufficient; and
we formed the boat in a very rounded, barrel-like shape, in order to
have as little twisting of the planks as possible, for although we could
easily bend them, we could not easily twist them. Having no nails to
rivet the planks with, we threw aside the ordinary fashion of
boat-building and adopted one of our own. The planks were therefore
placed on each other's edges, and sewed together with the tough cordage
already mentioned; they were also thus sewed to the stem, the stern, and
the keel. Each stitch or tie was six inches apart, and was formed thus:
Three holes were bored in the upper plank and three in the lower, the
holes being above each other--that is, in a vertical line. Through
these holes the cord was passed, and when tied, formed a powerful stitch
of three-ply. Besides this, we placed between the edges of the planks
layers of cocoa-nut fibre, which, as it swelled when wetted, would, we
hoped, make our little vessel water-tight. But in order further to
secure this end, we collected a large quantity of pitch from the
bread-fruit tree, with which, when boiled in our old iron pot, we paid
the whole of the inside of the boat, and while it was yet hot, placed
large pieces of cocoa-nut cloth on it, and then gave it another coat
above that. Thus the interior was covered with a tough, water-tight
material; while the exterior, being uncovered, and so exposed to the
swelling action of the water, was, we hoped, likely to keep the boat
quite dry. I may add that our hopes were not disappointed.

While Jack was thus engaged, Peterkin and I sometimes assisted him; but
as our assistance was not much required, we more frequently went
a-hunting on the extensive mud-flats at the entrance of the long valley
which lay nearest to our