The next morning our three boats conveyed twelve soldiers to the island to commence the removal of Mr. Gracewood's house. The wounded Indian was placed on a bed under a tree, and the soldiers commenced their task. After they had gone to work with knives and screw-drivers to take down the house, I returned to the clearing for Lieutenant Jackson, who was to superintend the operation.
"How big is this house, Phil?" asked Lieutenant Jackson, as I rowed him up to Paradise Island.
"It is thirty feet long and fifteen wide."
"I haven't heard anything said about the manner of transporting it," added the officer.
"We must raft it down. We have taken up all the ropes we have. Mr. Gracewood told me how to handle the grand piano."
"The grand piano," laughed Mr. Jackson. "That's a pretty plaything to have away back here in the woods."
"Mr. Gracewood sets his life by that piano. He used to smoke and play upon it by the hour together. He is very fond of music."
"I should think he must be, to bring a grand piano out here. How heavy is it?"
"It weighs about eight hundred pounds. Mr. Gracewood told me to have it put in the box, and leave it here till some steamer can be hired to bring it down."
"He told me to wrap it up in the oil-cloth that belongs with it; but, if you are willing, Lieutenant Jackson, we will astonish him by taking it down with us."
"I think it would astonish me as much as him to see it done."
"I hear that you are an engineer, Phil," added my passenger. "Morgan says you engineered the job of transporting the gun."
"The grand piano is not more than two or three hundred pounds heavier than the twelve-pounder."
"That is adding a third, and the gun was on wheels."
"No matter for that; we had but three to do that, and now we have a dozen."
I explained my plan, and Mr. Jackson thought it was practicable.
"I suppose Mr. Gracewood and his family intend to remain at the clearing after we have moved the house," continued my companion in the barge.
"I don't know. I don't believe his wife and daughter will be content to stay a great while in this lonely place. They may live here during the summer; but in winter we don't see anybody or anything for months."
"I have been studying for several years."