“If one log floats why will not more?” asked Koree.
“If our bridge floated away, this also will do so,” replied another; and they thenceforth called it the “floating bridge.”
The raft was soon finished, and a large number of men and women at once rushed upon it, so many, indeed, that it began to sink.
This was looked upon as a failure, and the disappointment of the whole human race was no less than when Fulton’s first steamer failed to move.
“The thing will not float,” observed Oko.
“It floated,” replied Duco, “until we all got upon it. If some would get off it would float again.”
“But we must all cross over, or none,” replied Abroo, the Family-man.
“Let us build more rafts,” interposed Koree, “and in several of them we can all cross.”
“Instead of this,” said Abroo, the Family-man, “let part of our hosts cross at once, when this structure can be brought back for the others to cross. I and my party will cross first.”