Explore "The Boy Fortune Hunters in Panama" by L. Frank Baum on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
The flat-boat came alongside within the hour. On it was a big object covered with soiled canvas and tied 'round and 'round with cords like a package from the grocer. Beside it stood Moit, motionless until the barge made fast and Ned Britton -- who at my request had ordered the windlass made ready -- had the tackle lowered to hoist it aboard.
Then the inventor directed his men in a clear-headed, composed way that made the task easy enough. The big bundle appeared not so heavy as it looked, and swung up without much strain on the tackle.