‘I am sure I am my father’s daughter,’ she said, fearful of having to judge. ‘But I don’t know anything about carpentry. It LOOKS right, don’t you think?’

‘Yes, I think. I hope it won’t let me to the bottom, that’s all. Though even so, it isn’t a great matter, I should come up again. Help me to get it into the water, will you?’

With combined efforts they turned over the heavy punt and set it afloat.

‘Now,’ he said, ‘I’ll try it and you can watch what happens. Then if it carries, I’ll take you over to the island.’

‘Do,’ she cried, watching anxiously.