is, and then the smaller pieces were laid against these. In
this way he adjusted all the pieces of canvas in such a way as to cover
up the whole place where the leak was.

Then he went over to the drift-wood, and spent a long time searching
after some bits of wood. He at length found a half dozen pieces of
board, about a foot long, and from six to eight inches in width. He
also found some bits of scantling, and palings, which were only a foot
or so in length. All these he brought back, and laid them down on the
beach near the boat.

He now proceeded to place these bits of wood in the bows, in such a way
as to keep the canvas in a firm position. His idea was, that the
canvas, by being pressed against the opening, might keep out the water,
and the wood, by being properly arranged, might keep the canvas secure
in its place. The arrangement of the wood required the greatest care.
First of all, he took the smallest bits, and stood these up against the
canvas, so that they might correspond as nearly as possible with the
curve of the bows. A few more pieces were placed in the hollow part of
this curve, and outside these the larger pieces were placed. Between
the outside pieces and the inner ones he thrust some of the smallest
pieces which he could find. After thus arranging all his boards, he
found that there lay between the outside board and the first seat of
the boat a space of about one foot. Selecting a piece of wood of about
that length, he put one end against the board, and the other against
the seat, and pressed it into a position where it served to keep the
board tight in its place. Then he took other pieces of about the same
length, and arranged them in the same way, so that, by being fixed
between the board and the seat, they might keep the whole mass of
boards and canvas pressed tight against the opening in the bows. After
placing as many blocks in position as he conveniently could, his next
work was to secure them all. In order to effect this, another journey
to the drift-wood was necessary, and another search. This time he
selected carefully a number of sticks, not more than half an inch in
thickness, some of them being much thinner. He found pieces of paling,
and laths, and shingles which suited his ideas. Returning with these to
the boat, he proceeded to thrust them, one by one, into the interstices
of the boards, using a stone to drive them into their places.

At last the work was finished as f