r, in the slowest and
most provoking way. "He's a wonderful clever man too, is the doctor.
See what a beautiful job he's making of your broken timbers; but what
does he know about making a raft? This is my job, and bime-by it'll be
my job to make a boat, which'll want more thinking about than even
this."

"Pooh! I could have made it in half the time."

"Ah, you think so, my lad, just the same as I might think I could ha'
mended your broken colly bone. But I couldn't, and I wouldn't offer to,
and of course I don't want the doctor to meddle with my work."

"It's horrible to watch you," said Carey, pettishly. "I get sick of
seeing you."

"Do you, now?" said Bostock, smiling; but he shook his head. "Not you,
my lad; you only say so. You're getting better; that's what's the
matter with you."

"Pish!" ejaculated the boy, contemptuously. "There, drive in a few more
nails to make all fast, and then it'll be done."

"Done, sir? Not it," said the old man, walking slowly round the
cumbrous construction. "I've been thinking that I shall put in two more
casks, one on each side."

"What!" cried Carey, angrily. "Why, that'll take you another
fortnight."

"Nay, nay," said the old sailor, coolly; "not a fortnight; say a week or
ten days."

"And it will make it heavier too. I don't believe you can launch it as
it is."

"Not launch it?" said Bostock, tapping the casks at the four angles, one
after another, with the handle of the auger, and being apparently so
well satisfied with the drum-like tones that he worked round once more.
"Oh, yes, I can get her launched easy enough with a rope through a block
and the stern capstan. There won't be no trouble about that."

"Finish it off then, and never mind putting two more casks in."

"Look ye here, my lad," said the old fellow, solemnly, "do you suppose I
want that there raft to capsize and shoot us off among the sharkses?"

"Of course not. Seen any of them, Bob?"

"Lots, my lad. They come swimming round this morning as if looking out
for bits for breakfast. Why, if that raft capsized they'd chew us up
like reddishes. I'm not going to risk that, my lad. I've got a
character to lose, you see. I'm making this raft, and I want it to be a
raft as you and the doctor'll be proud on--a raft as we can row or sail
or go fishing with."

"Yes, fishing," said Carey, eagerly. "When am I to have that line and
try for something?"

"Oh, we'll see about that," said the o