It so happened that the supper table was sustained by resting against the cut-water of the Cherub, and it gradually dawned upon the Vice that there was something peculiar about her construction, something, that is, different from the construction of a Chrysalid which is built in the orthodox style, known as lap-streak or clinker, the planks being of quarter-inch white cedar, and the timbers of well seasoned oak. Said he, addressing the owners of the Red Lakers:
"Why don't the joints between your planking show?"
"Because the boats are not built in that way," said the Cook.
"But that's no way to build a boat; the seams can't be made tight unless the planks over-lap. Look at the Rochefort."
"Very true," said the Commodore, "but our boats don't seem to leak so very much more than yours do, for all that."
"How are they built any how?" and the Purser and the Vice simultaneously arose and examined the Red Lakers by moonlight and firelight.
Mention has already been made of the characteristic indifference of Chrysalid owners to all canoes which are not Chrysalids until some chance occurrence forces them to make examination.
In this respect they strikingly resemble certain ecclesiastical sects, which rest serenely ignorant of other denominations, until they stumble upon information inadvertently, which startles into respectful investigation.
"Why they are perfectly smooth inside and out,"—"no timbers at all,"—"what lots of rivets," were some of the remarks.
"Certainly, haven't we told you so a dozen times," said the Cook, "and you never looked at them before."