Two of the narrow boards which they had prepared were required to cover the break, which occurred between two braces.

The edges of the boards where they were to join were whittled straight, that the joint might be made as tight as possible.

Then David held them in place while Andy marked the position for the holes through which the spruce root thongs were to pass.
Four holes were to be cut in each end of both boards, and holes to match in the bottom of the boat, and in an hour they were neatly reamed out.

When Andy removed his thongs from the water they were quite soft and pliable, and proved to be strong and tough.
Andy lashed the boards into place, threading the thongs through the holes and drawing them round the brace several times at each place where provision had been made for them.

Thus a dozen thicknesses of fibre bound the boards to the brace at each set of holes.
It was now necessary to collect the spruce gum and prepare it.