he
axe and the hatchet, however, were called into requisition, and a log
was soon hewn and thinned down to the proper dimensions. It was
sharpened off at the ends, so as to run to a very acute angle, both at
the stem and stern. When the bottom was considered sufficiently
polished, and modelled to the right shape, the most difficult part of
the undertaking was supposed to be accomplished. A few long poles were
cut and trimmed flat. These were to be laid longitudinally between the
ribs and the bark, somewhat after the fashion of laths in the roofing of
a house. Their use was to prevent the bark from splitting. The
materials were now all obtained complete, and, with a few days' smoking
and drying, would be ready for putting together.

While waiting for the timbers to dry, paddles were made, and Norman,
with the help of the others, prepared what he jokingly called his
"dock," and also his "ship-yard." This was neither more nor less than a
long mound of earth--not unlike a new-made grave, only three times the
length of one, or even longer. It was flat upon the top, and graded
with earth so as to be quite level and free from inequalities.

At length all the materials were considered quite ready for use, and
Norman went to work to put them together.

His first operation was to untie the bundle of timbers, and separate
them. They were found to have taken the exact form into which they had
been bent, and the thongs being no longer necessary to keep them in
place, were removed. The timbers themselves were next placed upon the
bottom or kelson, those with the widest bottoms being nearer to
"midships," while those with the narrower bend were set towards the
narrower ends of the plank. Thus placed, they were all firmly lashed
with strong cords of watap, by means of holes pierced in the bottom
plank. Fortunately Lucien happened to have a pocket-knife, in which
there was a good awl or piercer, that enabled them to make these holes--
else the matter would have been a much more difficult one, as an awl is
one of the most essential tools in the construction of a bark canoe. Of
course it took Norman a considerable time to set all the ribs in their
proper places, and fasten them securely; but he was ably assisted by
Francois, who waited upon him with much diligence, handing him now the
awl, and then the watap, whenever he required them.

Norman's next operation was the laying of his kelson "in dock." The
timbers being att