“All right,” said Jack. “Where shall we place the engine?”
“We’ll make a bed frame on the cross-beams below the deck. Have to tear up the plankin’ a bit.”
“What else?” asked Jack.
“That’s all for the present. Take it easy; a month from now you’ll forgit how much time ye spent on puttin’ it in.” And with these words of wisdom Jim clambered aboard, drew out his rule, and began to take measurements.
“Right here,” he said, marking a square on the floor in the rear part of the cabin, “ye kin take up them boards.”
The boys worked with a vim, using saw and hatchet, and soon a large opening in the planking revealed the cross-beams beneath. Then they stood aside, while Jim indicated where cuttings and borings had to be made.
“Make the frame right in place?” asked Joe.
“Sure! I’m ready now to set in a couple of them there beams. It’s goin’ to be a good, solid foundation for the bed plate.”
Jack and Joe sawed two heavy pieces of timber to the required length, and then bored holes for the bolts.
“Tote ’em in now,” commanded Jim.