A unanimous shout testified their assent.
“Well, then, look and see where I put her.”
The boatman, after stringing the fish, and hanging them around his neck, placing iron on the seat and paddle in order to keep them from floating up, pulled the plug out of the bottom of the boat, the ballast carried her down, and he swam ashore. There was one little detail of these proceedings that even their sharp eyes failed to notice. They did not see him fasten the plug of the boat to a fishing-line, the other end of which was attached to the boat, and drop it overboard to mark the spot. When the little piece of wood, only two inches long, was in the water, it was no longer visible from the shore, and would not be easily found, except by one who had taken the bearings of some objects on the shore from the boat itself. The boys on their way home congratulated themselves that Mr. K. had disappointed himself as much as them. At any rate, they would no more be tantalized by witnessing sport which they could not share. But the Fourth of July morning there was Mr. K. in the boat, getting lilies!
“We might as well give it up, boys,” said Will Gunton; “we shall find where he keeps her when we find where Hannibal got his vinegar.”
Upon leaving those parts, we buried her like an Indian chief, with the paddle and anchor in her, and no Phillips Academy boy, or prowling theological student, has ever found the grave till this day, nor ever will.
We haven’t forgotten how these boys felt; therefore we would give such outlines that any boy of mechanical turn, who has tools, pluck, and patience, may by their aid build himself a safe and serviceable boat.
Charlie’s boat, the dimensions of which will be given, is rather narrow, but it was all his log would allow, and he had not yet had experience enough to deviate from the copy.
But if a boy is to build a boat, he had better make her wider, five feet beam instead of four, to eighteen of length, or four feet six inches beam and fourteen feet in length; then she will be stiff, and need less ballast.