THE BOAT THAT REFUSED TO BE BURNT PART 3

Touring the boat, they reached the engine room. The only thing that remained of the once sturdy engine were the cylinders, flywheel, crankshaft and crankcase. Dismay showed on Pastor Ferris' face.

"Men, how will we run this boat without an engine?" Turning to look at the islanders who accompanied him on the tour, he discovered mischievous grins instead of the despair that he felt.

"Engine 'e all right 'e stop we get 'im."

The drums began to beat and almost immediately screws and bolts began to arrive. For nearly three weeks villagers brought bracelets, chains and bangles of screws nuts and bolts. One girl used engine springs to keep her hair in place. Pieces of the engine that had been left in trees or buried in the ground were preserved -they had not rusted. While the parts of the engine were tumbling in, Pastor Ferris and his team of expert islanders refitted the boat. They worked night and day. Masts were replaced, missing rigging and awnings refitted, the engine rebuilt and slowly but surely the engine regained it's original form. At last the job was completed; not so much as a small screw missing.