He then nailed the boards together into the shape of a boat,
about twelve feet long and four feet wide. He cut from another tree a
long, slender pole which, when trimmed of its branches and fastened
upright in the center of the boat, served as a mast. From the chest
he drew a coil of rope and a big bundle of canvas, and with
these--still humming his song--he rigged up a sail, arranging it so
it could be raised or lowered upon the mast.
Dorothy fairly gasped with wonder to see the thing grow so speedily
before her eyes, and both Button-Bright and Polly looked on with the
same absorbed interest.
"It ought to be painted," said Johnny Dooit, tossing his tools back
into the chest, "for that would make it look prettier. But 'though I
can paint it for you in three seconds it would take an hour to dry,
and that's a waste of time."
"We don't care how it looks," said the shaggy man, "if only it will
take us across the desert."
"It will do that," declared Johnny Dooit. "All you need worry about
is tipping over. Did you ever sail a ship?"
"I've seen one sailed," said the shaggy man.
"Good. Sail this boat the way you've seen a ship sailed, and you'll
be across the sands before you know it."
With this he slammed down the lid of the chest, and the noise made
them all wink. While they were winking the workman disappeared,
tools and all.
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