Ere long the sound assumed the definite tone of footsteps, and the dragon fancy seemed about to become a reality when he beheld a long narrow thing of uncertain form emerging from the darkness.
"It must be coming out tail-foremost!" he muttered, with a short laugh at his semi-credulity.
Another instant and the hermit emerged into the blazing sunshine, and stood pictured against the intense darkness like a being of supernatural radiance, with the end of a long narrow canoe on his shoulder.
As Nigel passed round a bush to reach him he perceived the dark form of Moses emerging from the depths and supporting the body of the canoe.
"I see you are active and an early riser," said the hermit, with a nod of approval on seeing our hero.
"I almost took you for a Krakatoa monster!" said Nigel, as they came out in front of the cavern and laid the canoe on the ground.

"Why, you've got here one of the craft which we in England call a Rob Roy canoe!" "It is fashioned on the same pattern," said the hermit, "but with one or two alterations of my own devising, and an improvement--as I think--founded on what I have myself seen, when travelling with the Eskimos of Greenland." Van der Kemp here pointed out that the canoe was not only somewhat broader than the kind used in England, but was considerably longer, and with three openings or manholes in the deck, so that it was capable of holding three persons.

Also, that there was a large rounded mass of wood fixed in front of the three manholes.
"These saddles, as I call them," said the hermit, "have been suggested to me by the Eskimos, who, instead of wearying their arms by supporting the double-bladed paddle continuously, rest it on the saddle and let it slide about thereon while being used.

Thus they are able to carry a much longer and heavier paddle than that used in the Rob Roy canoe, the weight of which, as it rests on the saddle, is not felt.

Moreover it does not require nearly so much dip to put it in the water.