Onthe9thofOctoberthebarkcanoewasentirelyfinished.Pencrofthadkepthispromise,andalightboat,theshellofwhichwasjoinedtogetherbytheflexibletwigsofthecrejimba,hadbeenconstructedinfivedays.Aseatinthestern,asecondseatinthemiddletopreservetheequilibrium,athirdseatinthebows,rowlocksforthetwooars,asculltosteerwith,completedthelittlecraft,whichwastwelvefeetlong,anddidnotweighmorethantwohundredpounds.Theoperationoflaunchingitwasextremelysimple.ThecanoewascarriedtothebeachandlaidonthesandbeforeGraniteHouse,andtherisingtidefloatedit.Pencroft,wholeapedindirectly,maneuvereditwiththescullanddeclaredittobejustthethingforthepurposetowhichtheywishedtoputit.

           "Hurrah!"criedthesailor,whodidnotdisdaintocelebratethushisowntriumph."Withthiswecouldgoround—"

           "Theworld?"askedGideonSpilett.

           "No,theisland.Somestonesforballast,amastandasail,whichthecaptainwillmakeforussomeday,andweshallgosplendidly!Well,captain—andyou,Mr.Spilett;andyou,Herbert;andyou,Neb—aren’tyoucomingtotryournewvessel?Comealong!wemustseeifitwillcarryallfiveofus!"

           Thiswascertainlyatrialwhichoughttobemade.Pencroftsoonbroughtthecanoetotheshorebyanarrowpassageamongtherocks,anditwasagreedthattheyshouldmakeatrialoftheboatthatdaybyfollowingtheshoreasfarasthefirstpointatwhichtherocksofthesouthended.