y was not its _greatest_ recommendation, because he had never
heard of any one attempting to reach the Pole on the strength of
simplicity.

Without noticing this remark, the Captain went on--

"You see it would be troublesome to carry distending sticks of great
length, because they would be in the way, and apt to get broken. Each
stick, therefore, has a joint in the middle like that of a fishing-rod.
There are four such sticks, fastened to, or radiating from, a strong
steel central hinge, so that they can be folded together, or opened out
into the form of a cross. A small but very strong cross of bamboo fits
on the machine, behind the central hinge, and locks it in a distended
position, after the silk has been placed on it. Strong cords run round
the outer edges of the silk, and there are loops at the corners to
attach it to the distenders. Thus, you see, the kite can be put up, or
folded into a portable form like an umbrella, though not of course as
quickly, nor yet as easily, owing to its great size."

While he was speaking, the Captain was busily putting the several parts
of the kite together.

As he concluded, he laid the machine on its face, locked it with the
little bamboo cross, and then held it up in triumph, to the delight of
his white observers, and the blank astonishment of the Eskimos. We say
blank, because, unlike the boat, the nature of which they understood
before it had been quite inflated, this machine was to them an absolute
mystery, and seemed to be of no use at all.

Their opinion of it was not improved when a sudden puff of wind blew it
flat on the ground, causing the Captain to fall on the top of it.

"It's a little awkward in handling," he growled, unlocking the
centre-cross. "Hold the points down, lads, till I drag it into the
umbrella form. There; it's all safe now. The truth is,
unmanageableness when in hand is the only fault of my kite. Once in the
air, it's as tractable as a lamb; getting it up is the chief difficulty,
but that is not too great to be overcome."

"Besides, you know, nothing's perfect in this world, father," said
Benjy, with a wink at Butterface, who, having acute risible tendencies,
exploded. Some of the Eskimos, whose sympathies were strong, joined in
the laugh by way of relief to their feelings.

When the Captain had wound a strap round the closed kite, to restrain
its volatile nature, he opened another large case which contained
several reels of strong co