This filled him with fresh energy; he returned, and at once recommenced work.  Oliver, finding that he was again busy at it, came and insisted upon assisting.  With his help, the work progressed rapidly.  He used the tools so deftly as to accomplish more in an hour than Felix could in a day.  The outrigger consisted of a beam of poplar, sharpened at both ends, and held at some six or seven feet from the canoe by two strong cross-pieces.

A mast, about the same height as the canoe was long, was then set up; it was made from a young fir-tree.  Another smaller fir supplied the yard, which extended fore and aft, nearly the length of the boat.  The sail, of coarse canvas, was not very high, but long, and rather broader at each end where the rope attached it to the prow and stern, or, rather, the two prows.  Thus arranged, it was not so well suited for running straight before the wind, as for working into it, a feat never attempted by the ships of the time.

Oliver was delighted with the appearance of the boat, so much so that now and then he announced his intention of accompanying Felix on his voyage.  But after a visit to the town, and a glance at the Princess Lucia, his resolution changed.  Yet he wavered, one time openly reproaching himself for enduring such a life of inaction and ignominy, and at another deriding Felix and his visionary schemes.  The canoe was now completed; it was tried on the pool and found to float exactly as it should.  It had now to be conveyed to Heron Bay.

The original intention was to put it on a cart, but the rude carts used on the estate could not very well carry it, and a sledge was substituted.  Several times, during the journey through the forest, the sledge had to be halted while the underwood was cut away to permit of its passing; and once a slough had to be filled up with branches hewn from fir trees, and bundles of fern.  These delays made it evening before the shore of the creek was reached.

It was but a little inlet, scarce a bowshot wide at the entrance and coming to a point inland.  Here the canoe was left in charge of three serfs, who were ordered to build a hut and stay beside it.  Some provisions were sent next day on the backs of other serfs, and in the afternoon (it was Saturday) all three brothers arrived; the canoe was launched, and they started for a trial sail.  With a south wind they ran to the eastward at a rapid pace, keeping close to the shore till within a mile of White Horse.

There they brought to by steering the canoe dead against the wind; then transferring the steering-paddle (a rather large one, made for the purpose) to the other end, and readjusting the sail, the outrigger being still to leeward, they ran back at an equal speed.  The canoe answered perfectly, and Felix was satisfied.  He now despatched his tools and various weapons to the hut to be put on board.  His own peculiar yew bow he kept to the last at home; it and his chest bound with hide would go with him on the last day.