The Globe-republican., 1891-03-11

joined scow, on which was built low
house, ten feet long and six wide. This
house contained but single room; and
beyond it, at either end, the deck of the
scow projected about four feet. At each
end of the house was a door, and on
each side a square hole or window that
closed with wooden shutter.
At the stern was a steering
oar, as has been stated. 1t hung
on a swivel and its long handle
projected up over the end of the roof, on
which the steersman stood. From each
side of the roof hung a long. heavy
sweep, by means of which the craft
might be slowly propelled, or turned in
any desired direction. When not in
use, the lower ends of these could be
lifted from the water by ropes attached
to their blades, and fastened to the sides
of the house. A rude ladder reached
from each of the little end decks to the
top of the roof. The whole affair was
strong and in good conditions: but rough
and implanted.
When it came down with the dood and
stranded on the river bank, it contained
nothing in the shape of furniture save
couple of rude hunks built against the
sides, the same number of rough
benches, and several shelves put up
here and there in convenient corners.
Uncle Phin had not thought of max
ing use of this stranded craft, when he
first found it among the trees that he
was marking to be cut down for fire
wood. He slept in it one night, and
merely regarded it as a convenient shell
tor that he could occupy when working
in that distant and lonely place. When.
however, he and Arthur conceived the
idea of running away, and he made up
his mind that if they did, it must be to
travel in the direction of Dalecourt, a
vision OF the little old house-boat
crossed his mind
If IL could only be got into the water,
and should prove to be tight and sound,
how easy and pleasant it would be to
float down the river on it. Whenever
they had gone as far as they saw fit by
water, they could probably sell the boat
for enough money to meet their ex-
penses on the rest of the journey. 1t
seemed fine scheme, and Uncle Phin
fastened to lay it before Brace Barlow
and ask his advice concerning it.
The young man listened to it with
great interest, and then they drove
over to take look at the stranded craft.
After q careful examination Bruce said
that. with little calking of its seams,
the boat could be made tight and river
worthy, and that Uncle Phin's plan
seemed to him frst-class one. He
offered his own labor, and
the use Of his team, to help prepare the
craft for its voyage, and getit once moro
afioat.
This offer was most gladly accepted,
ard the two succeeding days had been
busy ones for both men and horses. 1t
was found necessary to make several
trips back and forth between Brace Bar
lows house and the Ark" as he called
the boat. There they calked her open
seams. ard smeared them thickly with
pitch. They constructed a rude track.
IF straight, young tree trunks, from the
boat to the water into which, aided by
'ollers. long levers and the horses, they
finally succeeded in launching her.
After this they had the sweeps to make,
md, as they had no stove. Uncle Phin
built rude fireplace in the middle Of
he floor, near one end of the cabin.
This he did by forming square of large
'ocks, filling it with small stones and
the whole with a thick layer OF
,arth. They filled the hunks with sweet
resh straw and made pillows Of two
lour sacks stuffed with the Same materi-
i. Brace Barlow covered one Of these