This makes the craft watertight as well as strong.

The ribs also are very light and close together, and every sixth rib is larger and stronger than the others and made of tougher wood.
All these ribs are bound together by longitudinal pieces, or laths, of very tough wood, yet so thin that the whole machine is elastic without being weak.

Besides this, there are two strong oiled-canvas partitions, which divide the canoe into three water-tight compartments, any two of which will float it if the third should get filled." "Is this then the craft in which you intend to voyage ?" asked Nigel.
"It is.

We shall start in an hour or two.

I keep it in this cave because it is near the landing-place.