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〃Then why all this trouble？〃 asked Desiree。
〃Dear lady； we expect to ride him home；〃 said Harry； rising to his feet。
Then he explained our purpose； and you may believe that Desiree was the most excited of the lot as we ripped down the body of the fish from tail to snout and began to peel off the tough skin。
〃If you succeed you may choose the new hangings for my boudoir；〃 she said； with an attempt at lightness not altogether successful。
〃As for me；〃 I declared； 〃I shall eat fish every day of my life out of pure gratitude。〃
〃You'll do it out of pure necessity；〃 Harry put in； 〃if you don't get busy。〃
It took us three hours of whacking and slashing and tearing to pull the fish to pieces； but we worked with a purpose and a will。
When we had finished； this is what we had to show： A long strip of bone； four inches thick and twelve feet long； and tough as hickory； from either side of which the smaller bones projected at right angles。 They were about an inch in thickness and two inches apart。
The lower end of the backbone； near the tail； we had broken off。
We examined it and lifted it and bent it half double。
〃Absolutely perfect！〃 Harry cried in jubilation。 〃Three more like this and we'll sail down the coast to Callao。〃
〃If we can get 'em；〃 I observed。 〃But two would do。 We could make it a triangle。〃
Harry looked at me。
〃Paul； you're an absolute genius。 But would it be big enough to hold us？〃
We discussed that question on our way back to camp； whither we carried the backbone of our fish； together with some of the meat。
Then； after a hearty meal； we slept。 After seven hours of the hardest kind of work we were ready for it。
That was our program for the time that followed…time that stretched into many weary hours； for； once started； we worked feverishly； so impatient had we bee by dint of that faint glimmer of hope。 We were going to try to build a raft； on which we were going to try to embark on the stream； by which we were going to try to find our way out of the mountain。 The prospect made us positively hilarious； so slender is the thread by which hope jerks us about。
The first part of our task was the most strenuous。 We waited and waded round many hours before another fish appeared； and then he got away from us。 Another attempt was crowned with success after a hard fight。 The second one was even larger than the first。
The next two were too small to be of use in the raft； but we saved them for another purpose。 Then； after another long search； lasting many hours； we ran into half a dozen of them at once。
By that time we were fairly expert with our spears； besides having discovered their vulnerable spot…the throat； just forward from the gills。 To this day I don't know whether or not they were man…eaters。 Their jaws were roomy and strong as those of any shark； but they never closed on us。
Thus we had four of the large backbones and two smaller ones。
Next we wanted a covering； and for that purpose we visited the remains of the reptile which had first led us into the cavern。
Its hide was half an inch thick and tough as the toughest leather。 There was no difficulty in loosening it； for by that time the flesh was so decayed and sunken that it literally fell off。
That job was the worst of all。
Time and again； after cutting away with the points of our spears…our only tools…until we could stand it no longer； we staggered off to the stream like drunken men； sick and faint with the sight and smell of the mess。
But that； too； came to an end； and finally we marched off to the camp； which we had removed a half…mile upstream； dragging after us a piece of the hide about thirty feet long and half as wide。 It was not as heavy as we had thought； which made it all the better for our purpose。
The remainder of our task； though tedious； was not unpleasant。
We first made the larger bones； which were to serve as the beams of our raft； exactly the same length by filing off the ends of the longer ones with rough bits of granite。 I have said it was tedious。 Then we filed off each of the smaller bones projecting from the neural arch until they were of equal length。
They extended on either side about ten inches； which； allowing four inches for the width of the larger bone and one inch for the covering； would make our raft slightly over a foot in depth。
To make the cylindrical column rigid； we bound each of the vertebrae to the one in direct juxtaposition on either side firmly with strips of hide； several hundred feet of which we had prepared。
This gave us four beams held straight and true； without any play in either direction； with only a slight flexibility resulting from the cartilages within the center cord。
With these four beams we formed a square； placing them on their edges； end to end。 At each corner of the square we lashed the ends together firmly with strips of hide。 It was both firm and flexible after we had lashed the corners over and over with the strips； that there might be no play under the strain of the current。
Over this framework we stretched the large piece of hide so that the ends met on top； near the middle。 The bottom was thus absolutely watertight。 We folded the corners in and caught them up with strips over the top。 Then； with longer strips； we fastened up the sides； passing the strips back and forth across the top； from side to side； having first similarly secured the two ends。 As a final precaution； we passed broader strips around both top and bottom； lashing them together in the center of the top。 And there was our raft； twelve feet square； over a foot deep； water…tight as a town drunkard； and weighing not more than a hundred pounds。 It has taken me two minutes to tell it； it took us two weeks to do it。
But we discovered immediately that the four beams on the sides and ends were not enough； for Desiree's weight alone caused the skin to sag clear through in the center； though we had stretched it as tightly as possible。 We were forced to unlash all the strips running from side to side and insert supports； made of smaller bones； across the middle each way。 These we reinforced on their ends with the thickest hide we could find； that they might not puncture the bottom。 After that it was fairly firm； though its sea…worthiness was not improved； it was much easier to navigate than it would have been before。
For oars we took the lower ends of the backbones of the two smaller fish and covered them with hide。 They were about five feet long and quite heavy； but we intended to use them more for the purpose of steering than for propulsion。 The current of the stream would attend to that for us。
Near the center of the raft we arranged a pile of the skins of the water…pigs for Desiree； a seat by no means unfortable。 The strips which ran back and forth across the top afforded a hold as security against the tossing of the craft； but for her feet we arranged two other strips to pass over her ankles what time she rested。 This was an extreme precaution； for we did not expect the journey to be a long one。
Finally we loaded on our provisions…about thirty pounds of the meat of the fish and water…pigs； wrapping it securely in two or three of the skins and strapping