We come now to the details of construction of the vessel. It is not
here a question of a ship represented simply by means of frames and
accessories, but of a true ship in its entirety, performing its
evolutions over the whole stage. Now, a ship is not constructed at a
theater as in reality. It does not suffice to have it all entire upon
the stage, but it is necessary also to be able to dismount it after
every representation, and that, too, in a large number of pieces that
can be easily stored away. Thus, the vessel of the Tempest, which
measures a dozen yards from stem to stern, and is capable of carrying
fifty persons, comes apart in about 250 pieces of wood, without
counting all the iron work, bolts, etc. Nevertheless, it can be
mounted in less than two hours by ten skilled men.

[Illustration: FIG. 4.--THE SHIP WITH ITS OCCUPANTS.]

The visible hull of the ship is placed upon a large and very strong
wooden framework, formed of twenty-six trusses. In the center, there
are two longitudinal trusses about three feet in height by twenty-five
in length, upon which are assembled, perpendicularly, seven other
trusses. In the interior there are six transverse pieces held by
stirrup bolts, and at the extremity of each of these is fixed a
thirteen-inch iron wheel. It is upon these twelve wheels that the
entire structure rolls.

There are in addition the two bronze guide wheels that we have already
spoken of. In the rear there are two large vertical trusses sixteen
feet in height, which are joined by ties and descend to the bottom of
the frame, to which they are bolted. These are worked out into steps
and constitute the skeleton of the immense stern of the vessel. The