Uncle Gerald might indeed have moralized in some such fashion, but he
considerately refrained, and only remarked, kindly:
"Do not be disheartened. This is not such bad work for a first
attempt. The boat would look better if it were painted, and that would
fill up a few of the cracks too. As some of the boards are not
dovetailed together, you should have calked the seams with oakum."
"To be sure!" responded Jack. "How could we have had so little
gumption as not to have thought of it?"
"Oakum is hemp obtained from untwisting old ropes," continued Uncle
Gerald. "In genuine ship-building, calking consists in crowding
threads of this material with great force into the seams between the
planks. When filled, they are then rubbed over with pitch, or what is
known as marine glue,--a composition of shellac and caoutchouc. It
will not be necessary for you to do all this, however. Oakum is often
used for packing goods also. I dare say if you hunt around in the barn
you will find a little lying about somewhere. But, bless me, you young
rogues! Here you are all this time in your wet clothes.
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