THE BOAT. 19

saying, “ Now, remember, Sancho, you must
not put your paws on the nice beds in the
garden ; you must learn to walk in the paths,
like folks.”

“ Now for the boat! the boat!” exclaimed
Tom, as he placed his garden tools in the back
shed. Sancho was allowed to frisk and frolic
as much as he pleased in the wood-yard ; but
little attention did he get that afternoon.

“Run and get me a piece of cord for a
line,” said Tom.

Bessie brought out a nice piece of cord,
which had been a long time saved up for
use.

“Great things can be done with a line and
a piece of chalk,” remarked Tom, as he drew
the chalk over the cord. ‘“ You see, Bessie, I
am going to bring these rough slabs into shape.
Now, hold on while I mark these off, the size I
want them. With a chalked line, a saw, an
axe, and a hatchet, a fellow can build almost
anything. I wish I had a plane, too.”

So saying, Tom went to work at the rough
slabs, to bring them into the right size and
shape. So hard did he work, that he was