CHAPTER XXVIII. SOMETHING ABOUT FRAMING THE BOAT-HOUSE.
While the work of framing the boat-house was in progress, the lessons in the shops were suspended, but the forenoon exercises of the school were continued as usual. The new tools had arrived, and had been distributed. The place chosen for framing the building was a level piece of ground between the shops and the dormitory.
On this spot the timber had been landed and piled up by laborers. Instead of assembling in the shop after dinner, the students were required to be on this ground with their boxes of tools. Mr. Brookbine was the central figure of the picture on this occasion, and, as usual, the boys were full of enthusiasm, for they were to make a beginning on a new piece of work. They gathered around the master carpenter, each standing by his box.
"The difficulty in our way, boys, is that you insist upon going too fast," Mr. Brookbine began. "Captain Gildrock wants it understood that our business now is not so much to frame a building as to learn how to frame one. I am willing to answer questions, but I want you to stick to the text, and not talk about things a thousand miles from it.
"This boat-house is to be ninety-six feet long and thirty-two feet wide, not including the lean-tos for the dressing-rooms and small docks. We will divide the length into six parts, and the width into two parts. This will make twelve squares of sixteen feet each, or two hundred and fifty-six square feet. Every corner of these twelve squares must be supported by a foundation."
"That will make forty-eight posts, and only thirteen have been ordered," said Life Windham. "I don't see how thirteen posts can support forty-eight corners."
"Perhaps if you had waited before you said anything, you would have seen. Each of the inside posts, in the middle of the platform between the docks, will support four corners. One post may support one, two, or four corners. Of course no posts are required for those parts which are over the shore. We shall simply put blocks or short pieces of timber under them, and lay stone wall under the sills."