"How big is this house, Phil?" asked Lieutenant Jackson, as I rowed him up to Paradise Island.
"It is thirty feet long and fifteen wide."
"I haven't heard anything said about the manner of transporting it," added the officer.
"We must raft it down. We have taken up all the ropes we have. Mr. Gracewood told me how to handle the grand piano."
"The grand piano," laughed Mr. Jackson. "That's a pretty plaything to have away back here in the woods."
"Mr. Gracewood sets his life by that piano. He used to smoke and play upon it by the hour together. He is very fond of music."
"I should think he must be, to bring a grand piano out here. How heavy is it?"
"It weighs about eight hundred pounds. Mr. Gracewood told me to have it put in the box, and leave it here till some steamer can be hired to bring it down."
"Tho rain and dampness will spoil it."
"He told me to wrap it up in the oil-cloth that belongs with it; but, if you are willing, Lieutenant Jackson, we will astonish him by taking it down with us."