n and taking off his hat, Uncle Paul
prayed in a firm, manly tone, all joining him in a hearty "Amen."

Rising from our knees, the oars were got out, the painter cast off; and
we paddled clear of the trees: then the mast was stepped and set up with
shrouds and stays, wedges being driven in to secure it more firmly. The
sail was hoisted and rigged out with a boom, and away we glided up the
stream. Great care had been taken, in trimming the log, to prevent the
risk of its upsetting. To each person was assigned his own proper
place, from which he was on no account to move, unless directed by Uncle
Paul or Captain van Dunk. Further to secure the log, outriggers had
been fitted on either side; which gave it more stability without
impeding its progress. All had been done, indeed, which good sense and
forethought could suggest for securing a safe voyage in our, at the
best, unwieldy craft. The extreme buoyancy of the cedar wood made it
far more suitable for our purpose than that of any other tree. From its
natural shape, also, which was flat on the upper side, and rounded at
the bottom, it nearly resembled a vessel; and could we have hollowed it
out, it might have been formed into a craft suitable for the navigation
of a smooth river. We had, however, to make the best of it as it was.
We had, I should have said, erected a small shed in the afterpart for
Marian's accommodation, which served as her sleeping-place at night, and
sheltered her somewhat from the heat of the sun by day.

As before, we sailed on night and day. The craft was somewhat less
buoyant than it had been; but as we had a fresh breeze, we made good
progress, and in two days we reached the point where we had turned back.
Marian was grateful for the care taken of her, and was in fair spirits;
and even our poor father became more cheerful than he had been. Soon
after we had doubled the point, the wind shifted a little to the
northward, blowing directly up the stream we had now entered. As in the
Orinoco, the trees, with the water many feet above their roots, bounded
our prospect on either side.

Day after day we sailed on, a sharp lookout being kept ahead for any
danger which might appear. The chief risk was from submerged trees or
floating logs; which might have quickly upset her, had our craft struck
one of them. Happily we escaped all these dangers; and though we
frequently passed very near floating logs, we did not receive any damage
from them.