Page:Castlemon--Joe Wayring at Home.djvu/377

 was done, so that they might know what to do in case a similar misfortune befell them when there was no accommodating backwoodsman near to help them. Fortunately they never went into the woods without taking with them some strips of canvas, a supply of tallow and rosin, and a paper of copper tacks. By the aid of the tacks, the birch bark, after it had been toasted over the fire so that it would "stay somewhere", was fastened upon the gaping wound which the sharp corner of Matt's scow had made in her side, the seams were thickly coated with melted rosin and tallow, then the canvas was tacked on, and Mr. Swan declared that his task was finished.

"She'll leak a little water, of course," said he, as he filled up for another smoke, "but not much after the bark has a chance to swell a trifle. Now I reckon we are ready to be off."

It was the work of but a few minutes to pack the provisions and cooking utensils away in the lockers, and as soon as that had been done, the boys shoved the skiff into the water and followed Mr. Swan, whose canoe was moving