The exact middle was marked, and for ten inches at each side of that it was shaved down to half an inch in thickness.

Two flat crossbars, ten and twelve inches long, were needed and holes to receive these made half through the frame.

The pot was ready boiling and by using a cord from end to end of each lath they easily bent it in the middle and brought the wood into touch with the boiling water.

Before an hour the steam had so softened the wood, and robbed it of spring, that it was easy to make it into any desired shape.

Each lath was cautiously bent round; the crossbars slipped into their prepared sockets; a temporary lashing of cord kept all in place; then finally the frames were set on a level place with the fore end raised two inches and a heavy log put on the frame to give the upturn to the toe.
Here they were left to dry and the Indian set about preparing the necessary thongs.