I have heard of a sort of upright with a universal joint being applied to the English canoe, but it seems to me a much more clumsy and much less effective, because rigid, contrivance than the Eskimo saddle.

Inside, under the deck, as I will show you by and by, I have lighter and shorter paddles for use when in narrow rivers, but I prefer the long heavy paddle when traversing great stretches of ocean." "You don't mean to say you ever go to sea in an eggshell like that!" exclaimed Nigel in surprise.
"Indeed we do," returned the hermit, "and we are fitted out for longish voyages and rough weather.

Besides, it is not so much of an eggshell as you suppose.

I made it myself, and took care that it should be fit for the work required of it.

The wood of which it is made, although light, is very tough, and it is lined with a skin of strong canvas which is fixed to the planks with tar.