heads would just nicely clear them. Over this skeleton we
stretched our white canvas cover, and tied it down tightly along
the sides. This made what we called the cabin. There was an ample
flap in front, which could be let down at night and fastened back
inside during the day. At the rear end the cloth folded around,
and was drawn together with a "puckering-string," precisely like
a button-bag. By drawing the string tightly this back end could
be entirely closed up; or the string could be let out, and the
opening made any size wanted. After the cover was adjusted we
stood off and admired our work.

"Looks like an elephant on wheels," said Jack.

"Or an old-fashioned sun-bonnet for a giantess," I added.

"Anyhow, I'll wager a cheese it'll keep out the rain, unless
it comes down too hard," said Jack. "Now for the smaller parts of
our rigging, and the stores."

On the back end we fastened a feed-box for the horses, as
long as the wagon-box was wide, and ten or twelve inches square,
with a partition in the middle. We put stout iron rings in the
corners of this, making a place to tie the horses. On the
dash-board outside we built another box, for tools. This was
wedge-shaped, about five inches wide at the top, but running down
to an inch or two at the bottom, and had a hinged cover. We put
aboard a satchel containing the little additional clothing which
we thought we should need. Things in this line which did not seem
to be absolutely necessary were ruled out--indeed, for the sake
of lightness we decided to take just as little of everything that