n search of game.

"But what are we to do?" exclaimed Leo. "We do not want to be idle!"

"No, young masters, nor need you," said Jack. "We shall want spars and
oars, so do you go and look out for some small trees fit to make them
out of, and cut them down."

"That will be capital," cried Natty. "We will soon have a mast and yard
ready for you, and as many paddles as we can pull."

The young ladies, meantime, remained in the house, that Kate might teach
Bella, and, when the lessons were over, get dinner ready for us. We
worked away with a will, the sound of the axes never ceasing, for as
soon as Jack and Timbo were tired, David and I stepped into their
places.

"See, we shall soon have the trunk through!" cried Jack. "Run and help
Chickango, and haul away as hard as you can. We will have the tree down
in a jiffy in that clear space."

We gave a loud cheer as we saw the tall tree bending towards us, and
hauling with all our might as we ran from it, down it came with a crash.
Then, as if it had been some huge creature with long feelers ready to
seize hold of us, we lashed at the branches with our axes, and began
hacking away at them. We had now to cut off a piece of the trunk of
sufficient length for the canoe. Jack wanted to make it thirty feet
long; but Timbo advised that it should not be more than twenty feet,
that it might be the more easily managed in the stream. As we had no
saw, this had to be done with our axes, and, of course, occupied more
than half as much time as getting down the trunk. The boughs, also, had
to be cut up and cleared away, that we might have an open road to the
river. By the time this was done night had come on, while hunger made
us all ready to return to the house.

The boys were very proud of the tree they had cut down for a mast. They
had barked it completely, and shaped it partially, and now came towards
us bearing it on their shoulders in triumph.

"Do you not think we might saw the thick end off?" cried Leo, after he
had gone a little way with us. "It is wonderfully heavy, I can assure
you, and I do not think so long a mast can be required."

"Better cut it in half at once and make two masts," said Natty. "It is
somewhat heavy to carry up to the top of the hill."

"Come, young masters, I see what it is you want," said Jack. "You have
cut down the spar, and done it well, and you think that stronger men
ought to carry it. Timbo and I will relieve you of it, and you