Undo the buckle before and behind and you will see how it is to be used." Acting as directed, Nigel unbuckled the roll and found that he was surrounded by a sort of petticoat of oil-skin which could be drawn up and buckled round his chest.

In this position it could be kept by a loop attached to a button, or a wooden pin, thrust through the coat.
"You see," explained the hermit, "the waves may wash all over our deck and round our bodies without being able to get into the canoe while we have these things on--there are similar protections round the other holes." "I understand," said Nigel.

"But how if water gets in through a leak below ?" "Do you see that brass thing in front of you ?" returned the hermit.
"That is a pump which is capable of keeping under a pretty extensive leak.

The handle unships, so as to be out of the way when not wanted.

I keep it here, under the deck in front of me, along with mast and sails and a good many other things." As he spoke he raised a plank of the deck in front of the foremost hole, and disclosed a sort of narrow box about six feet long by six inches broad.