There was of
course the gun, placed so as not to get wet; for the boat leaked, and
had to be frequently baled out with a tin mug--one that the haymakers
used.
Indeed, if we had not caulked her with some dried moss and some stiff
clay, it is doubtful if she would have floated far. The well was full of
dead leaves that had been killed by the caterpillars and the blight, and
had fallen from the trees before their time; and there were one or two
bunches of grass growing at the stern part from between the decaying
planks.
Besides the gun there was the Indian bow, scooped out inside in a
curious way, and covered with strange designs or coloured hieroglyphics:
it had been brought home by one of our people years before. There was
but one man in the place who could bend that bow effectually; so that
though we valued it highly we could not use it. By it lay another of
briar, which was pliable enough and had brought down more than one bird.
Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury,
and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn
out. Indeed, a nail filed sharp is not of much avail as an arrowhead;
you must have it barbed, and that was a little beyond our skill. Ikey
the blacksmith had forged us a spearhead after a sketch from a picture
of a Greek warrior; and a rake-handle served as a shaft. It was really a
dangerous weapon.
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