midday
Breakfast over , the work of reconstruction commenced . As a preliminary , the flitches of shark-meat were removed from the little raft , now doomed to destruction ; while that ingenious contrivance of the sailor , -- the canvas water-cask , -- now no longer required , was emptied of its contents ; which , with the greatest care , were decanted into the safe depository of one of the empty hogsheads that had been hitherto acting as supports to the embarkation of Snowball . The oars , sail-cloth , piece of handspike , axe , and tarpauling were also transferred to the latter ; and then the planks , and fragments of yards and spars , were loosed from their lashings , and one by one distributed into their proper places in the new structure . All day long did the work continue , -- only an interval of an hour being appropriated to the midday meal . Excursions , too , were made from point to point , -- the oars serving to propel the half-constructed craft : the object of these excursions being to pick up such pieces of timber , ropes , or other articles as Snowball had not already secured . The aid of the others now rendered many items available which Snowball had formerly rejected as useless , -- because unmanageable by himself while acting alone . The sun set upon their task still unfinished ; but they retired hopefully to rest : for the sky promised a continuance of the calm weather , and they knew that if the promise was kept , a few hours in the morning of the following day would suffice to complete the construction of a raft , -- one that would not only give them ample accommodation for the stowage both of themselves and their stores , but would in all probability ride out any gale likely to be encountered in that truly _ pacific _ part of the Atlantic Ocean .