their dimensions. The ferry-boat reached the other side of the lake,
and the young men went to see Mr. Nelson, the owner of the casks. He
did not wish to use the hogsheads till October, and was willing they
should be employed for the purpose indicated, if Lawry would give him
security for their safe return.

"Mr. Sherwood will do that for you, Lawry," said Ethan.

"That's a good name," added the oil speculator. "If he will
guarantee the safe return of the casks, that is all I ask. I wonder
if Mr. Sherwood don't want some shares in the Meteor Oil Company."

"I don't know; I'll ask him," replied Ethan.

"If you will, I won't charge you anything for the use of the casks,"
added Mr. Nelson.

Mr. Sherwood was consulted in the evening. He was very willing to
furnish the required security for the use of the oil-casks, but he
did not seem to have the same confidence in the "Meteor" which Mr.
Nelson exhibited, though he promised to consider the matter.

It required three days to complete the preparations for raising the
_Woodville_. All the ropes and rigging in the neighborhood,
including many hay-ropes and clothes-lines, had been collected; the
oil-casks had been conveyed over the lake in the ferry-boat, and
secured within a "boom" composed of four long timbers, lashed
together at the ends, forming a square, which was moored close to the
Goblins; and a raft had been built, upon which the operations were to
be conducted.