e always assumed when trying to invent or discover anything.

"What say you to building a boat?" he inquired, looking up hastily.

"Take far too long," was the reply; "can't be bothered waiting. I want
to begin at once!"

Again Jack considered. "I have it!" he cried. "We'll fell a large tree
and launch the trunk of it in the water, so that when you want to fish
you've nothing to do but to swim out to it."

"Would not a small raft do better?" said I.

"Much better; but we have no ropes to bind it together with. Perhaps we
may find something hereafter that will do as well, but in the meantime
let us try the tree."

This was agreed on; so we started off to a spot, not far distant, where
we knew of a tree that would suit us which grew near the water's edge.
As soon as we reached it Jack threw off his coat, and wielding the axe
with his sturdy arms, hacked and hewed at it for a quarter of an hour
without stopping. Then he paused, and while he sat down to rest I
continued the work. Then Peterkin made a vigorous attack on it; so that
when Jack renewed his powerful blows, a few minutes' cutting brought it
down with a terrible crash.

"Hurrah! Now for it!" cried Jack. "Let us off with its head!"

So saying, he began to cut through the stem again at about six yards
from the thick end. This done, he cut three strong, short poles or
levers from the stout branches, with which to roll the log down the
beach into the sea; for, as it was nearly two feet thick at the large
end, we could not move it without such helps. With the levers, however,
we rolled it slowly into the sea.

Having been thus successful in launching our vessel, we next shaped the
levers into rude oars or paddles, and then attempted to embark. This
was easy enough to do; but after seating ourselves astride the log, it
was with the utmost difficulty we kept it from rolling round and
plunging us into the water. Not that we minded that much; but we
preferred, if possible, to fish in dry clothes. To be sure, our
trousers were necessarily wet, as our legs were dangling in the water on
each side of the log; but as they could be easily dried, we did not
care. After half-an-hour's practice, we became expert enough to keep
our balance pretty steadily. Then Peterkin laid down his paddle, and
having baited his line with a whole oyster, dropped it into deep water.

"Now, then, Jack," said he, "be cautious; steer clear o' that seaweed.
There! that's it; ge