“Now if we could only find a swampy place around here where there would be some tamarack trees, we could get a couple of the crooked roots for which the tamarack is noted, and that would furnish us with a rib for the canoe. As it is, we will have to makeshift with that twisted birch branch that I see, which Nature seemed to have put there for our particular use today,” and Garry proceeded to get the branch as he spoke.
“We can roll this up and tie it with a strip of handkerchief, and push it along with us on the return swim. Then it will be a small job to repair the canoe.”
“What are you going to use to attach it to the bottom of the canoe where it is broken,” asked Dick.
“I have something in my knapsack. For some reason or other, while in Bangor, I bought a ball of extra fine linen cord, and one day while we were in the woods at Sourdehunq I needed some shoemaker’s wax, and didn’t have it, so last time we were in town I bought a piece. I never expected to use it to repair a boat with, however, just bought the stuff in case an occasion arose where we might need it. Now it will come in handy,” and as he finished, Garry slipped back into the water. The return trip occupied somewhat longer, as the bark was a bit unwieldy as they pushed it ahead of them.
When they returned to the spot where they had left Phil, the sun was almost in the center of the sky, denoting it was near noon. They found that Phil had improved the time while they were absent and had started a fire and caught several good bass.
“Best fishing here I ever saw. I don’t believe a line has been thrown in this patch of water for years, the fish just jump at the bait,” shouted Phil with the true Isaac Walton enthusiasm.
“I also got a couple of pickerel that were so foolish as to leap at my bait, and have enough for dinner and some to take back to the camp with us tonight.”
All were so eager to get at the business of fixing the boat, that they hurried through lunch with extra speed. Then they sped through the woods to the spot where the old canoe had been found.
As Garry prepared to repair the boat, he began to laugh at something that seemed to be amusing him greatly.
“Let us in on the joke,” asked Phil. “You are grinning there to yourself like a Cheshire cat.”