This operation having widened it too much in the middle, we passed strong ropes round it, and drew it into the form we required.

We then exposed it to the sun, which dried and fixed it in the proper shape.
As many things were necessary to complete my work, I sent Fritz and Jack to Tent House for the sledge, to convey it there, that we might finish it more conveniently.

I had the good fortune to meet with some very hard, crooked wood, the natural curve of which would be admirably suitable for supporting the sides of the boat.

We found also a resinous tree, which distilled a sort of pitch, easy to manage, and which soon hardened in the sun.

My wife and Francis collected sufficient of it for my work.