"I see; and I understand it now," added Oscar.
"The location of the building, and of the wharf for the steamer or other craft we may have, are included in the offer. The same student may compete for both prizes, and plan both the building and the location. If you locate the wharf where it cannot be conveniently reached by the Sylph or the Goldwing, the site selected would have to be rejected."
"But perhaps the plan of the fellow who wins the prize for the boat-house may not fit the location that gets the prize," suggested Oscar Chester, who seemed to be taking the deepest interest in the subject, though he had been the hardest boy in the whole before his admission to the school.
"I have considered that difficulty, and the two plans which are the best on the whole will be modified to adapt them to each other. Now, we will see the map, Mr. Jepson," said the principal. The instructor in drawing unrolled a chart on the wall behind the principal, and it proved to be Beech Hill Lake, drawn after the manner of the chart of Lake Champlain, with the compass, soundings, and character of the bottom upon it.
"This chart will be available for the inspection of all the students. It shows Beech Hill Lake, which is about eighty rods long by forty wide. It is simply an enlargement or basin of Meadow Creek. I own the land on both sides of it down to Lake Champlain, and therefore we can do what we please with it, even if we fill it up. When you locate the wharf you must indicate how it is to be built, and how it is to be reached both on the land and the water side."
"I suppose there is only one way to build a wharf, and that is by driving piles," said Harry Franklin.
"The wharf may be of wood or of stone. If you look at the chart, Franklin, you will see that the bottom on this side of the lake is composed of rocks, into which no piles can be driven. Our present wharf was built like a log house, by piling logs one upon another, and filling in with earth. But the timbers are rotting, and it will soon need to be rebuilt, and I don't care to have another of that kind. On the other side of the lake the bottom is mud, brought in by the creek. That is all we need say about the wharf and location."
But half a dozen of the boys who had ideas on the subject before the school proceeded to ask questions, which the principal declined to answer.
"The season is advancing, and I wish to have this building up and covered in before the cold weather comes, and we want these plans at once," continued the principal, after he had quieted the inquirers. "After consultation with the instructors, I have decided to give you three days vacation, at the end of which time the prizes will be awarded. These three days are given you to study the subject and draw the plans."
"That is a short time," said Matt Randolph.