"But the building sticks fast where it is," said Ben Ludlow.
"If you think you can push it ahead you are mistaken," added the captain. "It has gone as far as I expected it to go of itself."
The two check-lines were then carried on board of the scow, and the Sylph was backed up to her. The lines were made fast at the quarters of the steamer. Dory stood on the after end of the gundalow, and, with a boatswain's whistle, made a signal agreed upon with the pilot to go ahead.
The lines stiffened and strained, and then the cottage began to move again. The timber ways had been continued on the deck of the scow, and the building moved very slowly until the captain gave a second signal with the whistle.
The rollers were instantly blocked by hands under the direction of the first officer. But the rear of the cottage just reached the stern of the gundalow. At least half of the weight of the building rested upon the sand at the bottom. The water deepened very rapidly near the shore on the outside of the point, and it became necessary to handle the heavy burden with the greatest care, for the forward end of the craft would settle down as soon as the structure was moved any further, forming an inclined plane, on which the cottage might roll overboard.
There were four iron rings at the stern of the scow, and check-lines were extended from them to the structure. A double turn was taken in each over a cleat, and hands placed at these ropes. The signal was again given for the steamer to go ahead. The building moved a few feet further, and the rollers were promptly chocked when the captain gave the whistle to "stop her."
The cottage was not yet exactly in the middle of the deck, and another movement was necessary. The bow of the scow settled down, but the check-lines held the house firmly in position. The second move was so well timed that it placed the building in exactly the right place.
The check-lines were belayed under the direction of the first officer, while the second officer proceeded to fasten the cottage to the rings in the bow of the scow. It was to remain on the rollers during the trip to its destination, and Captain Dornwood made sure that it was secured beyond the possibility of any accident.
All the spare hands were then ordered to the shore, Dory leading the way. The lumber, jack-screws, blocks, and other material were put on the scow, for there was still abundance of space forward and abaft the house. Everything connected with the cottage was put on board.
"By the big wooden spoon!" exclaimed Paul, when the burden of the work was done. "I didn't believe you could do it with a hundred men."