once. "It will not do to attempt it
now."

"And why not?"

"I am afraid we could not get in very far, unless we had a boat."

"Then why not use our lifeboat?"

This suggestion met with instant favor.

"True, I had forgotten about that."

It did not take George long to reach Harry with the news that the cave
was to be explored by means of the boat. After considering the matter
for some time it was decided to put off the trip for several days at
least, principally because the late heavy rains had, in all probability,
so filled the cave that they might be stopped in their progress before
going very far.

It should be stated that when they entered the cave the first time,
water was found about two hundred feet from its mouth and that barred
their further progress. On the second trip the water had receded, so
they could go in six hundred feet before coming to the water's edge. The
late rains may have filled the cavities, thus making progress still more
difficult.

Harry was carrying forward the boat construction, and by the occasional
aid of George was bringing the hull to a completed state. While this was
being done, George was at work with the loom, slowly weaving out the
fabric for the sails. As the mast had been stepped back over six feet
from the prow, it was concluded to make a mainsail and a jib, a small
triangular sail which is attached to the forwardly projecting jib-boom.
The two sails would afford greater speed than a single sail, and that
was one consideration. The other was, that with two sails the mast would
not need to be so long, and the dimension of the mainsail could be
reduced, and still get the same efficiency.

[Illustration: _Fig. 12. THE SEA-GOING BOAT_]

The weaving of a large sail in one piece was impossible, as the loom
could turn out goods only thirty inches wide, and as it could be
operated by hand power solely, it will be seen that the sails required
not only time, but an immense amount of patience. It is no wonder that
George was anxious to take a day off at the cave, or anywhere else that
afforded a change.

While at work Angel was his constant companion. It is remarkable what a
degree of friendship and companionship grew up between the two. In the
course of time the weaving process became so familiar to Angel that
whenever George would throw the bobbin, containing the weft, through the
opening of the woof threads, the animal stood ready to pull the heddles
forward, so as to forc