ssary also to be able to dismount it after
every representation, and that, too, in a large number of pieces that
can be easily stored away. Thus, the vessel of the Tempest, which
measures a dozen yards from stem to stern, and is capable of carrying
fifty persons, comes apart in about 250 pieces of wood, without
counting all the iron work, bolts, etc. Nevertheless, it can be
mounted in less than two hours by ten skilled men.

[Illustration: FIG. 4.--THE SHIP WITH ITS OCCUPANTS.]

The visible hull of the ship is placed upon a large and very strong
wooden framework, formed of twenty-six trusses. In the center, there
are two longitudinal trusses about three feet in height by twenty-five
in length, upon which are assembled, perpendicularly, seven other
trusses. In the interior there are six transverse pieces held by
stirrup bolts, and at the extremity of each of these is fixed a
thirteen-inch iron wheel. It is upon these twelve wheels that the
entire structure rolls.

There are in addition the two bronze guide wheels that we have already
spoken of. In the rear there are two large vertical trusses sixteen
feet in height, which are joined by ties and descend to the bottom of
the frame, to which they are bolted. These are worked out into steps
and constitute the skeleton of the immense stern of the vessel. The
skeleton of the prow is formed of a large vertical truss which is
bolted to the front of the frame and is held within by a tie bar. On
each side of this truss are placed the _parallels_ (Figs. 1 and 3),
which are formed of pieces of wood that are set into the frame below
and are provided above with grooves for the passage of iron rods that
support the foot rests by means of which the supernumeraries are
lifted. As a whole, those rods constitute a jointed parallelogram, so
that the foot rest always remains horizontal while describing a curve
of five feet radius from the top of the frame to the deck of the
vessel. They are actuated by a cable which winds around a small
windlass fixed in the interior of the frame.

[Illustration: FIG. 5.--THE SHIP AS SEEN FROM THE STAGE.]

The large mast consists of a vertical sheath 10 ft. high, which is set
into the center of the frame, and in the interior of which slides a
wooden spar that exceeds it by 5 ft. at first, and is capable of being
drawn out as many more feet for the final apotheosis. This part of the
mast carries three footboards and a platform for the reception of
"supe