For oars we took the lower ends of the backbones of the two
smaller fish and covered them with hide. They were about five
feet long and quite heavy; but we intended to use them more for
the purpose of steering than for propulsion. The current of the
stream would attend to that for us.
Near the center of the raft we arranged a pile of the skins of
the water-pigs for Desiree; a seat by no means uncomfortable. The
strips which ran back and forth across the top afforded a hold as
security against the tossing of the craft; but for her feet we
arranged two other strips to pass over her ankles what time she
rested. This was an extreme precaution, for we did not expect the
journey to be a long one.
Finally we loaded on our provisions--about thirty pounds of the
meat of the fish and water-pigs, wrapping it securely in two or
three of the skins and strapping them firmly to the top.
"And now," said I, testing the strips on the corners for the last
time, "all we need is a name for her and a bottle of wine."
"And a homeward-bound pennant," put in Harry.
"The name is easy enough," said Desiree. "I hereby christen her
Clarte du Soleil.
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