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48 THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON
did with such evident pleasure and such odd grimaces that he afforded us much amusement.
Fritz and I then consulted what should be our first occupation. To my surprise, he suggested that we should put up a sail in our boat.
' What makes you think of such a thing just now,' I asked, ' when we have so many things of greater importance to arrange ?'
' True, father,' said Fritz ; ' but I found it very difficult to row for so long. I noticed, too, that, though the wind blew strongly in my face, the current still carried us on. Now, as the current will be of no use on our way back, I was thinking that we might make the wind do the work. Our boat will be very heavy when we have loaded it with all the things we mean to take away, and I am afraid I shall not be strong enough to row to land; so do you not think that a sail would be a good thing ?'
I thought there was reason in this, and agreed to try to make a sail.
We found a pole strong enough for a mast, and another, not so thick, for a cross-piece. I then went to the sail-room, and cut a large sail down to a triangular shape; I made holes along the edges, and passed cords through them. We then got a |
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