that I could carry it without much difficulty to the landing I had
constructed on the cliff. When I came to try its capabilities, I found
it terribly lopsided--it soon began to leak, and in fact it exhibited so
many faults, that I was forced to drag it again on shore, and take it to
pieces.

I called in Mrs Reichardt to my assistance, and though at first she
seemed averse to the experiment, she gave me a great deal of information
respecting the structure of small boats, and the method of waterproofing
leather and other fabrics. I attended carefully to all she said, and
commenced rebuilding with more pretensions to art.

I now made a strong framework, tolerably sharp at each end, and as
nearly as possible resembling a keel at the bottom. I covered this on
both sides with pieces of strong cloth saturated with grease from the
carcases of birds, and then covered the whole with well-dried
seal-skins, which I had made impervious to wet. The inside of the boat
nearest the water I neatly covered with pieces of dry bark, over which I
fixed some boards, which had floated to the island from wrecked ships.
Finally I put in some benches to sit on, and then fancied I had done
everything that was necessary.

I soon got her into the fishing-pool, and was delighted to find that she
floated capitally--but I still had a great deal to do. I had made
neither oars to propel her through the water, nor sail to carry her
through the waves, when rowing was impossible. I remembered the
whaler's spare oars and mizen, but they were too large; nevertheless,
they served me as models to work upon, and in time I made a rough pair
of paddles or oars, which, though rudely fashioned, I hoped would answer
the purpose pretty well.

The next difficulty was how to use the oars, and I made many awkward
attempts before I ascertained the proper method of proceeding. Again my
companion, on whom nothing which had once passed before her eyes had
passed in vain, showed me how the boat should be managed.

In a short time I could row about the pool with sufficient dexterity to
turn the boat in any direction I required, and I then took Nero as a
passenger, and he seemed to enjoy the new gratification with a
praiseworthy decorum; till, when I was trying to turn the boat round,
the movement caused him to attempt to shift his quarters, which he did
with so little attention to the build of our vessel, that in one moment
she was capsized, and in the next we were