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diff --git a/old/15831-8.txt b/old/15831-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9e9ec5c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/15831-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7482 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Scientific American Boy, by A. Russell +(Alexander Russell) Bond + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Scientific American Boy + or, The Camp at Willow Clump Island + + +Author: A. Russell (Alexander Russell) Bond + + + +Release Date: March 16, 2010 [eBook #15831] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN BOY*** + + +E-text prepared by Don Kostuch and revised by Roger Frank, Juliet +Sutherland, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team +(http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file + which includes the more than 300 original illustrations. + See 15831-h.htm or 15831-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/15831/15831-h/15831-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/15831/15831-h.zip) + + + + + +THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN BOY + +Or + +The Camp at Willow Clump Island + +by + +A. RUSSELL BOND + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Fun in Swimming.] + + + +New York +Munn & Co., Publishers +1906 + +Copyright, 1905, by +Munn & Co., New York + +Press of +The Kalkhoff Company +New York + + + + +PREFACE + +All boys are nature lovers. Nothing appeals to them more than a summer +vacation in the woods where they can escape from the restraints of +civilization and live a life of freedom. Now, it may appear to be a +bit of presumption to attempt to advise the boy camper how to spend +his time. Surely the novelty of outdoor life, the fascinating charm of +his surroundings, will provide him plenty of entertainment. + +But, after all, a camp generally affords but two major amusements, +hunting and fishing. These have been fully covered by a vast number of +books. However, there is another side of camp life, particularly in a +boys' camp, which has been very little dealt with, namely, the exercise +of one's ingenuity in creating out of the limited resources at hand such +devices and articles as will add to one's personal comfort and welfare. +It is, therefore, the aim of this book to suggest certain diversions of +this character for the boy camper which, aside from affording him plenty +of physical exercise, will also develop his mental faculties, and above +all stimulate that natural genius which is characteristic of every +typical American boy. To this end the story contains descriptions of a +large collection of articles which can be made by any boy of average +intelligence, not only in the camp but at home as well. + +The use of a narrative to connect the various incidents marks a +departure in this class of book, and it is believed that the matter will +thus be made more realistic and interesting. In all cases full +directions are given for making the various articles. While it is not +presumed that the directions will be slavishly followed, for this would +defeat the general aim of the work, yet all the principal dimensions are +given so that they can be used, if desired. + +I beg to acknowledge the courtesy of Mr. Daniel C. Beard and Mr. Henry +D. Cochrane in supplying a number of photographs. The directions for +making the lee boards (page 119) were obtained from data furnished by +the latter. Many of the details recorded in the chapter on Tramping +Outfits are to be accredited to Mr. Edward Thorpe. In the preparation of +this book I have received valuable assistance from my colleague, Mr. A. +A. Hopkins. + +A. RUSSELL BOND. + +New York, October, 1905. + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER I. + PAGE + +"BILL" 17 + +The Old Trunk. Christmas Vacation. "Bill's" Skate Sail. Willow +Clump Island. Organizing the Society. + +CHAPTER II. + +SKATE SAILS 26 + +The Double Swedish Sail. The Single Swedish Sail. The Lanteen +Sail. The Danish Sail. Bat's Wings. + +CHAPTER III. + +SNOW SHOES, SKIS AND SWAMP SHOES 35 + +Chair Seat Snow Shoe. Barrel Stave Snow Shoe. Barrel Hoop Snow +Shoe. The Sioux Snow Shoe. The Iroquois Snow Shoe. The Ainu +Snow Shoe. The Norwegian Ski. The Swamp Shoe or Swiss Snow +Shoe. + +CHAPTER IV. + +TENT MAKING 44 + +Farewell Meeting. Word from Uncle Ed. The Canvas Tent. +Adjustable Ridge Pole. Tie Blocks. The Annex. + +CHAPTER V. + +PREPARING FOR THE EXPEDITION 53 + +Tent Fly. Provisions and Supplies. Umbrella Rib Crossbow. +Megaphone. The Scow. + +CHAPTER VI. + +OFF TO THE ISLAND 63 + +A Unique Alarm Clock. The Trip to the Island. Preliminary +Exploration. A Rustic Table. The Small Filter. The Barrel +Filter. The _Klepalo_. + +CHAPTER VII. + +SURVEYING 73 + +The Surveying Instrument. Spirit Levels. The Tripod. Surveyor's +Chain. Surveyor's Rod. A Simple Method of Surveying. Mapping +the Island. + +CHAPTER VIII. + +SWIMMING 84 + +Swimming on a Plank. Shooting the Rapids. Restoring the +Drowned. How to Work over a Patient Alone. + +CHAPTER IX. + +BRIDGE BUILDING 95 + +The Spar Bridge. The Rope Railway. The Suspension Bridge. +The Pontoon Bridge. The King Rod Truss. Stiffening the Bridge. +The King Post Bridge. + +CHAPTER X. + +CANVAS CANOES 109 + +Uncle Ed's Departure. A Visit from Mr. Schreiner. The Sailing +Canoe. Stretching on the Canvas. The Rudder. The Deep Keel. +Canoe Sails. Lee Boards. Indian Paddling Canoe. + +CHAPTER XI. + +HOUSE BUILDING 124 + +The Grass Hut. The Goblins' Dancing Platform. Dutchy +Takes a Dare. A Path Up the Fissure. Rope Ladders. The +Derrick. The Tree House. Sliding Doors. + +CHAPTER XII. + +TROUBLE WITH THE TRAMPS 138 + +The Scow is Stolen. A Council of War. Vengeance. A Double +Surprise. Tramp-proof Boat Mooring. + +CHAPTER XIII. + +WIGWAGGING AND HELIOGRAPHING 144 + +Wigwag Signals. The Wigwag Alphabet. Abbreviations. Wigwagging +at Night. The Heliograph. The Single Mirror Instrument. +The Sight Rod. The Screen. Focusing the Instrument. Heliograph +Signaling. The International Telegraph Code. The Double +Mirror Instrument. + +CHAPTER XIV. + +ICE BOATS, SLEDGES AND TOBOGGANS 158 + +Breaking Camp. The Ice Boat. The Sledge. The Toboggan. +The Rennwolf. Ice Creepers. + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE SUBTERRANEAN CLUB 171 + +A Cave-in. Excavating for the Cave. Covering the Cave. The +Big Bug Club. Midnight Banquets. The Club Pin. The Combination +Lock. + +CHAPTER XVI. + +SCOOTERS 183 + +A Sail in the Scow. Our Craft Strikes the Ice. The Scooter Scow. +A Sprit Sail. Scooter Sailing. A Meeting of the Society. An +Interview with Mr. Van Syckel. The Scooter Canoe. + +CHAPTER XVII. + +AN ARCTIC EXPEDITION 193 + +Willow Clump Island in Winter. Kindling a Camp Fire. The +Outdoor Fireplace. A Stone-paved Fireplace. A Cold Night in +the Hut. Mountain Climbing. A Poor Shelter. A Costly Camp +Fire. A Friend in Time of Trouble. + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +TRAMPING OUTFITS 203 + +Sleeping Bags. Bill's "Mummy Case." The "A" Tent. A +Camp Chair. A Camp Bed. The Camp Bed in a Shower. A +Nightmare. Pack Harness. Riveting. + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE LAND YACHT 215 + +The Frame of the Yacht. A Simple Turnbuckle. Stepping the +Mast. Mounting the Frame on Bicycle Wheels. The Tiller. A +"Leg-of-Mutton" Sail. A Sail Through the Country. + +CHAPTER XX. + +EASTER VACATION 224 + +Bill's Cave. The Barrel Stave Hammock. The Barrel Armchair. +The Summer Toboggan. Tailless Kites. A Five-foot Malay Kite. +An Eight-foot Malay Kite. The Elastic Belly Band. Putting the +Kites to Work. The Diamond Box Kite. + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE WATER WHEEL 240 + +The Water Wheel. Surveying for the Water Wheel. Towers for +the Water Wheel. The Wheel. The Buckets. The Paddles. +The Receiving Trough. Setting Up the Towers. Mounting the +Water Wheel. Cooling the Filter Barrel. The Canvas Bucket. +Mr. Halliday's Water Wheel. + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE LOG CABIN 254 + +Foundation of Log Cabin. A Logging Expedition. The Log Raft. +The Sail-Rigged Raft. Building the Log Cabin. The Roof of +the Log Cabin. Door and Window Frames. The Fireplace. +The Proper Way to Build a Stone Wall. The Floor of the Cabin. +The Door Hinges and Latch. The Window Sash. Bunks. Stopping +up the Chinks. + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +THE WINDMILL 273 + +Digging the Well. The Windmill Tower. The Crank Shaft. The +Wind Wheel. A Simple Brake. The Pump. Pump Valves. +Action of the Pump. + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE GRAVITY RAILROAD 283 + +The Car. The Flanged Wheels. Car Axles. Mounting the Wheels. +The Railway Track. The Carpenter's Miter Box. Laying the Track. +The First Railway Accident. Testing the Track. + +CHAPTER XXV. + +THE CANTILEVER BRIDGE 292 + +Frames for the Cantilever Bridge. Erecting the Towers. Setting up +the Frames. Binding and Anchoring the Structure. The Center +Panels of the Bridge. A Serious Interruption. Dispossessed. +Farewell to Willow Clump Island. Reddy's Cantilever Bridge. + + + + +[Illustration: Map of Willow Clump Island and Vicinity.] + + + + +THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN BOY. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +"BILL." + + +"Bill," he was it, the Scientific American Boy, I mean. Of course, we +were all American boys and pretty scientific chaps too, if I do say it +myself, but Bill, well he was the whole show. What he didn't know wasn't +worth knowing, so we all thought, and even to this day I sometimes +wonder how he managed to contrive and execute so many remarkable plans. +At the same time he was not a conceited sort of a chap and didn't seem +to realize that he was head and shoulders above the rest of us in +ingenuity. But, of course, we didn't all have an uncle like Bill did. +Bill's Uncle Ed was one of those rare men who take a great interest in +boys and their affairs, a man who took time to answer every question put +to him, explaining everything completely and yet so clearly that you +caught on at once. Uncle Ed (we all called him that) was a civil +engineer of very high standing in his profession, which had taken him +pretty much all over the world, and his naturally inquisitive nature, +coupled with a wonderful memory, had made him a veritable walking +encyclopedia. With such an uncle it is no wonder that Bill knew +everything. Of course, there were some things that puzzled even Bill. +But all such difficulties, after a reasonable amount of brain-work had +failed to clear them, were submitted to Uncle Ed. Uncle Ed was always +prompt (that was one thing we liked about him), and no matter where he +was or what he was doing he would drop everything to answer a letter +from the society. + + +THE OLD TRUNK. + +[Illustration: Fig. 1. The Old Trunk in the Attic.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 2. The Black Walnut Box.] + +But hold on, I am getting ahead of my story. I was rummaging through the +attic the other day, and came across an old battered trunk, one that I +used when I went to boarding-school down in south Jersey. That trunk was +certainly a curiosity shop. It contained a miscellaneous assortment of +glass tubes, brass rods, coils of wire, tools, fish hooks--in fact, it +was a typical collection of all those "valuables" that a boy is liable +to pick up. Down in one corner of the trunk was a black walnut box, +marked, with brass letters, "Property of the S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I." +On my key-ring I still carried the key to that box, which had not been +opened for years. I unlocked the box and brought to light the "Records +and Chronicles of the Society for the Scientific Investigation, +Exploration and Exploitation of Willow Clump Island." For hours I pored +over those pages, carried back to the good old times we used to have as +boys along the banks of the Delaware River, until I was brought sharply +back to the present by the sound of the dinner bell. It seemed that the +matter contained in those "Chronicles" was too good to be kept locked up +in an old trunk. Few boys' clubs ever had such a president as Bill, or +such a wonderful bureau of information as Uncle Ed. For the benefit of +boys and boykind in general, I decided then and there to publish, as +fully as practicable, a record of what our society did. + + +CHRISTMAS VACATION. + +This was how the society came to be formed. Bill, whom I met at +boarding-school, was an orphan, and that's why he was sent to +boarding-school. His uncle had to go down to Brazil to lay out a +railroad, I believe, and so he packed Bill off to our school, which was +chosen in preference to some others because one of the professors there +had been a classmate of Uncle Ed's at college. Bill roomed with me, and +naturally we became great chums. When Christmas time came, of course I +invited him to spend the holidays with me. My home was situated in the +little village of Lamington, on the Jersey side of the Delaware River. +Here we arrived late at night on the Saturday before Christmas. A cold +wind was blowing which gave promise of breaking the spell of warm +weather we had been having, and of giving us a chance to try our skates +for the first time. True to our expectations, the next day was bitterly +cold, and a visit to the canal which ran along the river bank, just +beyond our back fence, showed that quite a thick skim of ice had formed +on the water. Monday morning, bright and early, found us on the smooth, +slippery surface of the canal. "Us" here includes, in addition to Bill +and myself, my two younger brothers, Jack and Fred, and also Dutchy Van +Syckel and Reddy Schreiner, neighbors of ours. It was the custom at the +first of December every year to drain out most of the water in the +canal, in order to prevent possible injury to the canal banks from the +pressure of the ice. But there was always a foot or two of water +covering the bottom of the canal, and this afforded a fine skating park +of ample width and unlimited length, while the high canal banks on each +side protected us from the bitter wind that was blowing. Toward noon, +however, the wind shifted and swept at a terrific rate down the narrow +lane between the canal banks. We could scarcely make headway against the +blow. It was too much for Bill, who wasn't as used to skating as we +were. He sat down in a sheltered nook and commenced to think. When Bill +sat down to think it always meant that something was going to happen, as +we soon learned. + +"Say, Jim," said he to me, "have you got any canvas up at the house?" + +"No," I replied. "What do you want it for?" + +"I want to rig up a skate sail. If you have an old sheet, that will do +just as well." + +"Well, I guess I can find you an old sheet. Do you think you can make +one?" + +"Sure thing," answered Bill, and off we went to the house, where I +received my first lesson on the practical genius of my chum. + + +"BILL'S" SKATE SAIL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 3. Laying Out the Sail.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 4. The Tape Tie Strings.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 5. "Bill's" Sail Complete.] + +The old sheet which Mother furnished us was laid out on the floor and +two corners were folded over to the center, as shown in the drawing, +making a triangle with base 7 feet long and sides each about 4 feet 6 +inches long. The surplus end piece was then cut off, and a broad hem +turned and basted all around the edges of the triangle. Bill wanted to +work the sewing machine himself, but Mother was afraid he would break +something, so she sewed down the hem for us. Then, under Bill's +supervision, she re-enforced the corners by sewing on patches of cloth. +Along the diagonal a strip of heavy tape was sewed, leaving loops at +intervals, which afterward were cut and provided means for tying the +sail to the mast. Tie strings of tape were also sewed at the corners, as +shown in the illustration, and then a trip was made to the garden in +search of suitable spars. A smooth bean pole of about the right weight +served for the mast, and another stick with a crotch at one end served +as the boom or cross-spar. The spars were cut to proper length, and the +sail was then tied on, as illustrated, with the crotch of the cross-spar +fitted against and tied to the center of the mast. A light rope, long +enough to provide plenty of slack, was tied to the ends of the mast to +assist in guiding the sail when in use. In the meantime I had procured +another sheet from one of our neighbors, and Bill helped me make a sail +for myself. It was not until long after dark that we finished our work. + + +WILLOW CLUMP ISLAND. + +The next day we tried the sails and it didn't take me very long to learn +how to steer the device. The wind had changed again and this time blew +up the canal. We took the line of least resistance, and went skimming up +the ice lane like birds for several miles before we realized how far we +were getting away from home. As we rounded a bend in the canal, much to +my astonishment, I saw just before us the bridge at Raven Hill, eight +miles from our town. We started to go back, but the wind was too strong +for us, and there wasn't much room in which to do any tacking; nor could +we make any progress when the sails were folded. I began to get +extremely tired and rather exasperated at Bill for not having thought of +the return trip before he led me such a hot pace up the canal. But Bill +was getting tired, too. + +"Look here, Jim," he said, "we haven't covered a mile, and I'm worn +out." + +"Why in thunder didn't you think of this before we started?" I returned. + +"How much money have you with you?" was the reply. + +"What's that got to do with it?" + +"I'll tell you in a minute. How much have you?" + +A careful search of my dozen odd pockets netted the sum of twenty-seven +cents. + +"I have fifty-nine," said Bill, "and that makes eighty-six altogether, +doesn't it? Isn't there a railroad depot near here?" + +"There is one at Raven Hill, and the next is at Lumberville. That is +about eleven miles from home." + +"Well," said Bill, "at three cents each per mile that would amount to +sixty-six cents. Let's sail on to Lumberville and then take the train +back." + +On we sped to Lumberville, only to find that the next train was not due +until noon, and it was now just half past ten. + +Time never hung heavy on our hands. Out on the river we espied an +island. I had heard of this island--Willow Clump Island, it was +called--but had never been on it; consequently I fell in with Bill's +suggestion that we make it a visit. Owing to the rapids which separated +the island from the Jersey shore, we had to go up stream a quarter of a +mile, to where a smooth sheet of ice had formed, over a quiet part of +the river; thence we sailed down to the island along the Pennsylvania +side. + +"What a capital island for a camp," cried Bill, after we had explored it +pretty thoroughly. "Have you ever been out camping?" + +I had to confess I never had, and then Bill gave me a glowing account of +his experiences in the Adirondacks with his uncle the year before, which +so stirred up the romance in me that I wanted to camp out at once. + +"Shucks!" said Bill, "We would freeze in this kind of weather, and +besides, we've got to make a tent first." + +We then sat down and made elaborate plans for the summer. Suddenly the +distant sound of a locomotive whistle interrupted our reveries. + +"Jiminy crickets!" I exclaimed. "That's the train coming through +Spalding's Cut. We've got to hustle if we are to catch it." + +We were off like the wind, and a merry chase brought us to the +Lumberville depot in time to flag the train. We arrived at Lamington at +half past twelve, a trifle late for dinner, rather tired and hungry, but +with a glowing and I fear somewhat exaggerated account of our adventure +for the credulous ears of the rest of the boys. + + +ORGANIZING THE SOCIETY. + +The camping idea met with the hearty approval of all, and it was decided +to begin preparations at once for the following summer. Dutchy, whose +father was a member of a geographical society, suggested that we form a +society for the exploration of Willow Clump Island. By general +acclamation Bill was chosen president of the society, Dutchy was made +vice-president, Reddy was elected treasurer, and they made me secretary. +It was Dutchy who proposed the name "The Society for the Scientific +Investigation, Exploration and Exploitation of Willow Clump Island." It +was decided to make an expedition of exploration as soon as we could +make skate sails for the whole society. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +SKATE SAILS. + + +The duties of the secretary, as defined in the constitution which Dutchy +Van Syckel drew up, were to keep a record of all the acts of the +society, the minutes of every meeting, and accurate detailed +descriptions of all work accomplished. Therefore, while the rest of the +society was busy cutting up old sheets, levied from the surrounding +neighborhood, and sewing and rigging the sails under Bill's direction, +I, with pad and pencil in hand, took notes on all the operations. + + +THE DOUBLE SWEDISH SAIL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 6. Dimensions of Double Swedish Sail. N. B.--The mark +(') means feet and (") means inches.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 7. Halyards Looped onto Pole.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 8. The Double Swedish Sail.] + +Bill evolved some new types of sails which differed materially from the +type described in the first chapter. One was a double sail--"the kind +they use in Sweden," he explained. One of the sheets which the foraging +party brought in was extra large; it measured approximately two yards +and a half square. This was folded on itself, making a parallelogram +seven feet six inches long and three feet nine inches wide. The sheets +we had were all rather worn and some were badly torn, so that we had to +make our sails of double thickness, sewing patches over the weak spots. +A broad hem was turned down at each end, and heavy tape was sewed on, +leaving loops as before, to attach them to the spars. This reduced the +length of our sail to seven feet three inches. The end spars were spaced +apart by a light pole about ten feet long, to which they were tied at +the points of intersection. The spars were also braced by halyards +looped over the ends of the pole in the manner indicated in the drawing +(Fig. 7). It took a crew of two boys to manipulate this sail. In use, +the pole of the rig was carried on the shoulders, and the sail was +guided by means of ropes attached to the lower corners of the vertical +spars. These ropes in nautical language are called "sheets." The boy at +the rear was the pilot and did the steering, because his position behind +the sail gave him an unobstructed view in all directions. When changing +tack the sail was lifted overhead to the other side of the crew. + +[Illustration: Fig. 9. Changing Tack.] + + +THE SINGLE SWEDISH SAIL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 10. The Single Swedish Sail.] + +Another sail of similar form, but for use of one boy only, is shown in +Fig. 10. This had a height of six and one-half feet at the forward end +and three feet at the rear; and its length was five feet. This sail was +very satisfactory in light winds, owing to its great area. In use we +found that it was very important to keep the lower edge against the leg, +as indicated by the arrow. The rig was manipulated just like the double +Swedish sail, lifting it over the head when it was desired to change +tack. + + +THE LANTEEN SAIL. + +[Illustration: Fig 11. The Lanteen Sail.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 12. Hinge for Spars.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 13. Leather Mast Step.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 14. Wooden Mast Step.] + +The lanteen sail we found to be a very good rig. It was made in the form +of a triangle, measuring eight feet on one side, seven and one-half feet +on another side and six and one-half feet on the third. The six and +one-half foot side was secured to a boom, and the seven and one-half +foot side to a yard. The yard and boom were hinged together by a leather +strap nailed on as shown in Fig. 12, and to this hinge a rope was +attached, which served as a sheet. These spars were secured to a mast +erected perpendicularly to the boom and intersecting the yard a little +above its center. We had had some trouble with the first sails we made +in keeping the base of the sail against the body, and to overcome this +difficulty Bill proposed tying the bottom of the mast to the leg. This +was a rather risky thing to do, as we learned later, for in case of +accident it would be difficult to get clear of the sail. It was Reddy +who finally solved the problem by rigging up a step for the mast. It +consisted of a leather tag tied to the leg, and provided with a hole +into which the bottom of the mast was fitted. To prevent the mast from +slipping too far into the step the lower portion of it was whittled +down, leaving a shoulder which rested on the leather. Bill later devised +another step, which consisted of a wooden block (Fig. 14) strapped to +the leg and formed with a shallow socket to receive the end of the mast. + + +THE DANISH SAIL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 15. The Danish Sail.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 16. Topsail of the Danish Rig.] + +But the most satisfactory sail we found to be the Danish sail, though it +was not until we had served quite a long apprenticeship and sustained +many pretty bad falls that we mastered the art of manipulating these +sails properly. Our ideas on this sail were obtained from a French +illustrated paper which Dutchy Van Syckel picked up in his father's +library. This sail was formed with a topsail so arranged that it could +be lowered when the wind was too strong. The dimensions of the sail as +we made it are given in the drawing (Fig. 15). The top of the sail was +lashed to a spar, which was connected by a short stick to another spar +tied to the mainsail about eighteen inches lower down. The sail was +strengthened with an extra strip of cloth along the lower spar, and the +tie strings were applied in the usual way. The connecting stick, or +topmast we may call it, was hinged to the lower spar by means of a short +piece of leather strap, which was passed round the spar in the form of a +loop and its two ends nailed to the bottom of the topmast. The topmast +extended above the upper spar a short distance, and to this we fastened +the flag which our society had adopted. A couple of strong cords were +secured to the center spar to provide for fastening the sail onto the +skater. Tied to the lower corners of the mainsail were two sticks which +were used for guiding the sail when in flight. + +[Illustration: Fig. 17. Before the Wind. Fig. 18. Topsail Lowered. Fig. +19. Skating against the Wind. Fig. 20. On the Port Tack.] + + +The different methods of sailing with this rig are shown in Figs. 17-20. +When sailing with the wind the skater would stand very erect, bending +backward in proportion as the wind blew fresher. By inclining the sail +in one direction or the other, the skater could tack to port or +starboard. When moving against the wind by skating in the usual way, the +body was bent forward in such manner that the sail lay horizontal, so +that it would not offer a purchase for the wind. + + +BAT'S WINGS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 21.] + +One more sail deserves mention. It was Bill's idea, and it came near to +ending his career the first day he tried it. It had no spars at all, but +was merely a strip of cloth of somewhat triangular shape. The upper side +was tied to the head, and the two corners to the wrists, while the lower +portion was tied to the ankles. This converted him into a huge +white-winged bat. Bill had to try it at once, even though the rest of +the sails were not finished, and a very comical spectacle he made as he +flapped his wings in his endeavors to tack. When the wind was too strong +for him he had merely to drop his arms and thus lower sail. At length he +became tired of holding his arms out at full length, and I got him a +stick to put over his shoulders and rest his arms on. But that stick was +Bill's undoing, for coming around a sudden bend in the canal he caught +the full force of the wind, which knocked him flat on his back before he +could disentangle himself from the stick and lower sail. It took us some +time to bring him back to consciousness, and a very scared lot of boys +we were for a while. However, the lesson was a good one, for after that +we were very cautious in experimenting with sails that had to be tied +on, such as the Danish rig and the lanteen rig, before Reddy invented +the mast step. + +It was not until the day after Christmas that the sails were all +completed, but then there was scarcely any wind blowing and we could not +attempt the expedition to the island. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +SNOW SHOES, SKIS AND SWAMP SHOES. + + +The next day, Sunday, it began to snow, and we realized that our chance +of skating up to Willow Clump Island was spoiled. All the afternoon it +snowed, and the next morning we woke to find the ground covered to a +depth of eight inches and snow still falling. But who ever heard of a +boy complaining because there was snow on the ground? Here were new +difficulties to overcome, new problems to solve, and new sports provided +for our amusement. There was no disappointment shown by any of the +members of the S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I., as they met in the woodshed +immediately after breakfast to discuss proceedings for the day. There +seemed to be but one way of reaching the island, and that was by means +of snow shoes. Bill had only a vague idea of how snow shoes were made. + + +CHAIR SEAT SNOW SHOE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 22. Chair Seat Snow Shoe] + +The first pair was made from a couple of thin wooden chair seats which +we found in the shed. They proved quite serviceable, being very light +and offering a fairly large bearing surface. The chair seats were +trimmed off at each side to make the shoes less clumsy, and a loop of +leather was fastened near the center of each shoe, in which the toe +could be slipped. This shoe possessed the disadvantage of being too flat +and of picking up too much snow when used. + + +BARREL STAVE SNOW SHOE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 23. Barrel Stave Snow Shoe.] + +Another pair of shoes was made from barrel staves. At first one stave +was made to serve for a shoe, but we found that two staves fastened +together with a pair of wooden cleats were much better. Jack was the +proud inventor of these shoes and insisted that they were far more +satisfactory than the elaborate ones which were later devised. + + +BARREL HOOP SNOW SHOE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 24. Barrel Hoop Snow Shoe.] + +Now that Jack had shown his ingenuity, Fred thought it was his turn to +do something, and after mysteriously disappearing for the space of an +hour we saw him suddenly come waddling back to the shed on a pair of +barrel hoops covered with heavy canvas. He had stretched the canvas so +tightly across the hoops that they were bent to an oval shape. It was +claimed for these shoes, and with good reason, that they were not so +slippery as the barrel stave shoe, for they permitted the foot to sink +slightly into the snow. + +After dinner, Dutchy came back with a book of his father's, a sort of an +encyclopedia in which several different kinds of snow shoes were +illustrated. Reddy, whose father owned a sawmill, volunteered to provide +us with strips of hickory from which to make the frames. + + +THE SIOUX SNOW SHOE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 25. Sioux Shoe.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 26. Frame of the Sioux Shoe.] + +[Illustration: Fig 27. Web of the Sioux Shoe.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 28. Weaving Needle] + +The Sioux snow shoe was the first type we tackled. Two strips of hickory +4 feet long and 3/4 inch square in section, were bent over a pair of +spreaders and securely fastened together at each end. The spreaders were +about 12 inches long and located about 15 inches apart. They were +notched at the ends, as shown in Fig. 26, to receive the side strips, +which were not fastened together until after they had been nailed to the +spreaders. We found that the most satisfactory way of fastening together +the ends of the hickory strips was to bolt them together. When the frame +was completed, we began the tedious process of weaving in the filling or +web of the snow shoe. First we cut notches in the edges of the +spreaders, spacing these notches an inch apart. Then we procured several +balls of heavy twine at the corner store. Tying one end of the cord to +the right side stick about three inches below the forward spreader, we +stretched a strand down to the notch at the left end of the lower +spreader. The strand was drawn taut, and after making several twists +around it the cord was tied to the left side stick three inches above +the spreader. From this point the cord was stretched to the notch at the +right end of the upper spreader, twisted several times and brought back +to the starting point. The cord was now wrapped around the side stick +for a space of about an inch, and then carried down to the second notch +on the lower spreader, whence it was woven through the other two strands +and tied about the left side stick about four inches from the spreader. +Thus the weaving continued, passing the cord alternately over and under +any cross strands encountered. In order to make the left side correspond +with the right, a separate cord was wound around it, filling up the +space between the strands of the web. The filling above and below the +spreaders could not be so methodically done, but we managed to weave the +strands quite neatly with about the same mesh as used at the center. To +facilitate the weaving we improvised a rough needle of a piece of wire. +The latter was bent double to receive the cord which was wedged in +between the two arms of the needle. + + +THE IROQUOIS SHOE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 29. Bending the Hickory Strips.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 30. Frame of Iroquois Shoe.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 31. Iroquois Snow Shoe.] + +But the best snow shoe we made was the Iroquois shoe. The frame of this +shoe was made of hickory strips of the same width and thickness as used +in the Sioux shoe, but 8 feet long. The strips were bent in a loop and +the ends were bolted together. How to bend the wood without breaking it +seemed a very difficult problem. Wood, we knew, could be easily bent +without breaking if boiled or steamed for a while; but we had nothing +large enough in which to boil a strip of wood 8 feet long. Bill hit upon +the plan of wrapping the stick with burlap and then pouring boiling +water on it until it became sufficiently soft to bend easily. An old +oats-sack was cut up into strips and wound onto the hickory sticks for a +distance of 18 inches at each side of the center. We then repaired to +the kitchen to do the steaming. The hickory stick was held over a large +dish-pan filled with boiling water, and from this we dipped out the +water and poured it slowly over the burlap wrapping of the stick. After +a little of this treatment the stick was sufficiently steamed to permit +of bending to the required shape. The ends were then firmly secured by +means of bolts passed through bolt holes which had been previously +drilled. The frame was completed by fitting the spreader sticks in +place, after which it was laid away to dry. When the frame was perfectly +dry we started weaving the web. In this case, however, instead of cord +we used cane strips, which we had bought from a chair caner. This +necessitated drilling holes in the side sticks to receive the cane +strips. The web consisted of strands crossing each other diagonally, as +illustrated. Our second pair of Iroquois snow shoes was made with a web +of rawhide which we bought from a hardware store at Millville. + + +THE AINU SNOW SHOE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 32. Ainu Snow Shoe.] + +One of the snowshoes described in the book was very much like Fred's +barrel-hoop snow shoe in appearance. According to the description, it +was a type used by the Ainus, a peculiar people living in the cold +northern islands of Japan. As the shoe seemed quite simple and rather +unique, we thought we would make one like it. Two hickory strips each 4 +feet long were bent to a U-shape and lashed together, forming an oval +about 2 feet 6 inches long by 18 inches wide. The frame was held to oval +shape by tying the sides together. Then the filling was woven in, +running the strands diagonally, as shown in Fig. 32. + +We had excellent weather for snow shoes after that snowstorm. A thaw +followed by a cold spell caused a thick crust to form on the snow which +would nearly hold us up without the aid of our snowshoes. We were rather +awkward with those shoes for a while, trying to keep them clear of each +other, and we found it particularly hard to turn sharply without causing +one shoe to run foul of the other. But with a little practice we soon +felt quite at home on them. In order to prevent cutting the web with our +heels, we found it necessary to wear rubbers. + +[Illustration: Fig. 33. The Norwegian Ski.] + +Our vacation came to an end before we were prepared for the expedition +to Willow Clump Island. But before leaving the subject on snow shoes, +two more shoes remain to be described, namely the Swiss snow shoe and +the Norwegian ski. The Swiss shoe was made during the summer and the ski +during the following winter. + + +THE NORWEGIAN SKI. + +[Illustration: Fig. 34. Bending the Ski.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 35. The Ski Stick.] + +The Norwegian ski was made of close-grained wood, 1 inch thick, 3-1/2 +inches wide and 6 feet long. About 18 inches from the forward end the +wood was planed down to a thickness of 1/4 of an inch. This end was +placed in the dish-pan of boiling water, and in a short time it was +pliable enough to permit of bending. It was secured in the proper bent +position by slipping the toe end of the shoe between the banisters on +the back porch and nailing a cleat back of the heel end. When the ski +was perfectly dry the toe strap was nailed on just back of the balancing +point, and also another strap, to be secured about the ankle. Then a +cleat was nailed onto the ski to fit against the heel of the shoe. In +use we found it best to cut a groove in the bottom of the ski, so as to +give us a better grip on the snow in climbing up hills. With the skis we +had to use short poles or "ski sticks" to assist in starting, stopping +and steering when coasting. The ski stick was a bean pole provided with +a wooden block near the lower end, to prevent it from being forced too +far through the snow. + + +THE SWISS SNOW SHOE OR SWAMP SHOE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 36. The Swiss Snow Shoe.] + +The Swiss shoe was made primarily to assist us in exploring some boggy +land a short distance up the river from our island. The original swamp +shoes were made from the bottoms of two old baskets, and they worked so +admirably that it was decided to equip the whole society with them. +Uncle Ed, when told about them, informed us that that was the kind of +snow shoe used in Switzerland. Of course, we could not afford to destroy +a pair of baskets for each member of the club, and so we had to weave +the shoes from the willows which grew on the island. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +TENT MAKING. + + +We had a farewell meeting of the society the evening before Bill and I +had to return to boarding-school. At this meeting plans were made for +the Easter vacation. We also considered the matter of getting parental +permission for our summer outing. So far we had been afraid to breathe a +word of our plans outside of the society, since Fred had said something +about it in the presence of Father and had been peremptorily ordered to +banish all such hair-brained, Wild West notions from his head. We +realized from that incident that the consent of our parents would not be +so very easily obtained. But Bill came forward with a promising +suggestion. He would write to his Uncle Ed and see if he couldn't be +persuaded to join the expedition. At first we demurred. We didn't want a +"governor" around all the time. But Bill assured us that his uncle was +"no ordinary man"; that he would not interfere with our plans, but would +enter right into them and give us many valuable pointers. Though not by +any means convinced, we told him to go ahead and invite his uncle, as +that seemed about the only means of winning over our fathers and +mothers. The society was then adjourned until our Easter vacation began, +each member promising to earn and save as much money as he could in the +meantime to buy the materials for a tent and provisions for the summer +outing. + + +Word From Uncle Ed. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 37. Breadths sewed together for Roof and Side Walls +of Tent.] + +Bill's letter to Uncle Ed was answered as quickly as the mail could +travel to Brazil and back. Uncle Ed heartily approved of our plans, and +said that he would be delighted to join the expedition. He could not be +on hand before the 1st of July, but that would give us plenty of time to +make all necessary preparations. He told us not to worry about gaining +the consent of our parents. He would write to them and see them all +personally, if necessary to win their approval. + + +THE CANVAS TENT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 38. The Sail Stitch.] + +When at last spring arrived and we returned to Lamington on our Easter +vacation, quite a sum of money had been collected, nearly $15.00, if I +remember rightly; at any rate plenty to buy the materials for a +good-sized tent and leave a large surplus for provisions, etc. Bill +figured out on paper just how much canvas we would need for a tent 7 +feet wide by 9-1/2 feet long, which he estimated would be about large +enough to hold us. It took 34 yards, 30 inches wide. Then we visited the +village store to make our purchase. Canvas we found a little too +expensive for us, but a material called drill seemed about right. It +cost ten cents a yard, but since we wanted such a quantity of it the +price was reduced to a total of $3.00. We repaired to the attic to lay +out the material. + +[Illustration: Fig. 39. Cutting out the Door Flaps.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 40. Sewing on the Door Flaps.] + +First we cut out four lengths of 5 yards and 26 inches each. The strips +were basted together, lapping the edges 1 inch and making a piece 17 +feet 2 inches long by 9 feet 9 inches wide. Mother sewed the breadths +together on the machine, using a double seam, as in sail making; that +is, two parallel rows of stitching were sewed in, one along each +overlapping edge, as shown in Fig. 38. A 1-inch hem was then turned and +sewed at the ends of the goods, so that the piece measured exactly 17 +feet long. It served for the roof and side walls of the tent. Our next +operation was to cut three strips 11 feet long, and sew them together +with a double seam as before. This piece was now slit along the center +line _m_, Fig. 39, making two lengths 3 feet 8 inches wide. The +strips were then cut along the diagonal lines _a a_, forming the +end walls or doors, so to speak, of the tent. In sewing on the door +flaps we started first at the bottom of the side _c_, sewing it to +the side edge of the main piece, as shown in Fig. 40, and running the +seam up for a distance of exactly 3 feet 6 inches. After all the door +strips had been sewed along their _c_ edges the sewing was +continued up the diagonal or _a_ edges. In cutting out the door +pieces we had allowed 1 inch on each side for hems and seams, so that +the door pieces met without lapping at the exact center of the main or +body piece, that is, at the peak of the tent. + +[Illustration: The Wall Tent Set Up in the Back Yard.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 41. Adjustable Ridge Pole.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 42. The Tent Set Up.] + +Our next step was to fasten the necessary ropes and loops. Ten 8-foot +lengths of light rope were procured. These were fastened at the top of +the side walls, that is, 3 feet 6 inches from the ends of the main or +body piece, one at each corner and one on each seam. The cloth was +strengthened at these points with patches sewed on the inside. At the +bottom of the side walls we sewed on loops of heavy tape. These were +spaced about 15 inches apart. Along the _b_ edges of the door +pieces tie strings of tape were fastened. A rope 15 feet long was +attached to the peak at the front and at the rear of the tent. The front +and rear posts of the tent were made from scantlings measuring 2 by 4 +inches, which were procured from Mr. Schreiner's lumber yard. They were +planed smooth and sawed off to a length of 7 feet 6 inches. A slot was +cut in the end of each stick to a depth of 6 inches and measuring +slightly over an inch in width. For the ridge pole a strip 1 inch thick, +2-1/2 inches wide and 10 feet long was secured. This was fitted into the +slotted ends of these posts, where it was fastened by wooden pegs +slipped into holes drilled through the ends of the posts and the ridge +pole. A number of these peg holes were provided, so that if the canvas +stretched the ridge pole could be raised or lowered to prevent the walls +from dragging on the ground. We set up the tent in our back yard to see +if it was properly constructed. Twelve stakes were required, ten for the +sides and one for the ridge stays at the front and rear. The side stakes +were driven into the ground at a distance of about 8 feet from the +center of the tent. First we tied the guy ropes to the stakes, but later +we found it much easier to secure them with tie blocks. + + +TIE BLOCKS. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 43. The Wood Tie Block.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 44. The Wire Tie.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 45. Bottom of Tent Wall.] + +These were made of wood 1/2 inch thick, 1 inch wide and each measured 3 +inches long. A hole was drilled into the block at each end and through +these holes the rope was threaded. A knot in the rope then held the end +from slipping out. The loop between the two holes, or the bight, as +sailors would call it, was now slipped over the stake, and the rope +hauled tight by drawing up the tie block, as shown in Fig. 43. A still +later improvement consisted in making ties of stout galvanized iron +wire, bent to the form shown in Fig. 44. The wooden ties were apt to +swell and split open when exposed to the weather, while the wire ties +could always be relied upon. + +The walls of the tent were held down along the bottom by railway spikes +hooked through the tent loops and driven into the ground. Wooden pegs +with notches to catch the loops would have served as well, but Dutchy +happened to find a number of the spikes along the track and in his usual +convincing manner argued that they were far better than pegs because +their weight would hold the cloth down even if they were not firmly +embedded in the ground. + + +THE ANNEX. + +We were surprised to find out how small the tent was after it was set +up. We could see at once that when we had put in all the stores and +provisions we would need, there would not be room enough for six boys +and a man to stretch themselves out comfortably in it. Bill had +evidently made a miscalculation, but he suggested that we remedy the +error by building an annex for our kitchen utensils and supplies. + +[Illustration: Fig. 46. Cutting out the Annex.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 47. The Annex Applied.] + +This gave us a two-room tent, which we found to be quite an advantage. +Twelve more yards of drill were bought and cut into two strips, each 17 +feet 2 inches long. The breadths were then sewed together, and the ends +turned up and hemmed to make a piece 17 feet long and 4 feet 9 inches +wide. Tape loops were then sewed on as before, and ropes were fastened +on at the top of the side walls, that is, 3 feet 6 inches from the ends +of the strips. We thought it would be better to have a slanting ridge on +the annex, so we cut out a wedge-shaped piece from the center of the two +strips, as shown by dotted lines _B B_ in Fig. 46. This +wedge-shaped piece measured 2 feet at the outer end of the annex, and +tapered down to a point at the inner end. The canvas was then sewed +together along these edges. Tie strings were sewed to the inner edge of +the annex and corresponding ones were attached to the main tent a little +ways back from the edge, so that the two could be tied together, with +the annex lapping well over on the roof and side walls. A notch was cut +out of the peak of the annex, so that it could be tied around the rear +post of the tent, and notches were cut at the top of the side walls to +permit passing the cloth around the wall ropes. Instead of supporting +the ridge of the annex on a ridge pole, we used the rear guy line of the +tent, propping it up with a scantling about 5-1/2 feet long. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +PREPARING FOR THE EXPEDITION. + + +School closed on the 21st of June that year, just ten days before the +expected arrival of Uncle Ed. The first thing we did was to set up our +tent in the back yard and camp out so as to become acclimatized. It is +good that we did this, for the very first night a heavy summer shower +came up which nearly drenched us. The water beat right through the thin +canvas roof of our tent. Had we been able to afford the best quality of +canvas duck, such an occurrence would probably have been avoided. But we +solved the difficulty by using a tent fly; that is, a strip of canvas +stretched over the tent and spaced a short distance from it to break the +fall of the rain drops. + +[Illustration: Fig. 48. The Wall Tent with the Fly fastened on.] + + +TENT FLY. + +[Illustration: Fig. 49. The Fly Ridge Pole.] + +Again we had to visit the village storekeeper; this time we bought out +his whole remaining stock, sixteen yards of drill. This was cut into +four-yard strips, which were sewed together as before and the ends +turned up and hemmed. Tie strings were sewed to the ends of the strips +so that the fly could be tied to the wall ropes of the tent. At the +ridge the fly was supported about six inches above the tent rope by a +second ridge pole held by pegs in the top holes of the tent posts. + + +PROVISIONS AND SUPPLIES. + +The ten days before Uncle Ed arrived were busy indeed. We had to gather +together the necessary provisions and supplies. Our personal outfits +were very simple. Each member supplied himself with a change of +underwear, a bathing suit, a blanket and a toothbrush. A single comb and +brush served for the entire society, and was used on Sundays, the only +day we really dressed up. All the rest of the time we lived in our +bathing suits, except, of course, on cold rainy days. Our kitchen outfit +consisted of a large cooking pot, two kettles, a frying pan, a coffee +pot, a small oil stove, a half-dozen each of plates, cups, saucers, +knives and forks, a dozen spoons, two tablespoons, and, in addition, +several large plates and bowls for pantry use. We also took with us a +dish-pan and several dish-towels. For our larder we collected the +following: A bag of flour, ten pounds of sugar, two pounds of salt, +three pounds of coffee, four pounds of oatmeal, four pounds of butter, +two pounds of lard, six pound of beans, six pounds of rice, three pounds +of bacon, six cans of condensed milk, a dozen eggs, box of pepper, and +several jars of canned peaches and pears, and also a half dozen glasses +of jelly. + +It was Dutchy who suggested that we have a chicken yard, in connection +with our camp, to supply us with fresh eggs. It was a capital idea, and +by the dint of some coaxing we managed to secure the loan of a half +dozen hens and a rooster. + +Our miscellaneous list included a spade, pick and shovel, an ax, a +hatchet, two large pails, a barn lantern, a can of kerosene, a dozen +candles, a cocoa box filled with matches, a pair of scissors, needles, +buttons, pins and safety pins, a spool of white and another of black +cotton, fishing tackle, a roll of heavy twine, a coil of rope, and a set +of dominoes and checkers. But most important of all was a chest of tools +belonging to Reddy. These were all collected when Uncle Ed arrived. +Dutchy also contributed a large compass, which we found very useful +later on, for surveying the island. + + +CROSSBOW. + +Reddy had a shotgun which he wanted to bring along, but my father, and +Dutchy's as well, wouldn't let us go camping if there was to be any +gunpowder along, so we had to leave it behind. Of course we didn't miss +it at all when we got to the island, because there was so much else to +do; but we all agreed with Dutchy, that "it wouldn't be no sort of a +scientific expedition without takin' a gun along." As a substitute I +suggested a bow and arrow. They all laughed at such a "kiddish" idea; +all but Bill, I mean. + +[Illustration: Drifting down the Schreiners' Brook.] + +[Illustration: Paddling in the Old Scow.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 50. Binding the Bow.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 51. The Trigger.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 52. The Trigger Set for Firing.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 53. The Umbrella Rib Crossbow.] + +"It ain't such a bad notion," said he, "only a crossbow would be better. +I've seen them made out of umbrella ribs so they'd shoot like greased +lightning." Of course we had to have one of these wonderful weapons. +Down in the ash heap we found two broken umbrellas with 27-inch ribs. +Bill selected ten good ribs, from which he wrenched off the spreaders +with a pair of pliers. The ribs were then bound together by winding +stout twine around them. The winding was very evenly and closely done, +so that the cord completely covered the ribs, making a solid rod of +spring steel. But before winding we had laid in between the ribs a piece +of heavy twine, to which the bowstrings could be tied after the bow was +all wound. The stock of our crossbow was cut out of a board of soft wood +1 inch thick to as near the shape of a gun as we could get it. A hole +was drilled through the muzzle end to receive the bow, and then the +bowstring was tied fast. Along the upper edge of the barrel a V-shaped +channel was cut. The channel was not very deep, only enough to receive a +tenpenny nail with the head projecting half-way above the sides. A notch +was cut across the barrel, through this channel, at the trigger end, and +a trigger made of heavy iron wire, bent to the shape shown in Fig. 51, +was hinged to the gun by a bolt which passed clear through the stock and +through both eyes of the trigger. By using two nuts on the bolt, and +tightening one against the other, they were prevented from working loose +and coming off. When we wanted to fire the gun the bowstring was drawn +back, and held by slipping it into the notch, and a nail was laid in the +channel with its head against the bowstring. Then, on pulling the +trigger, the bowstring was lifted out of the notch, and sent the nail +off sailing. The long-grooved barrel insured a very good aim. + + +MEGAPHONE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 54. The Megaphone.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 55. Layout of the Megaphone.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 56. Brass Fastener.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 57. The Mouthpiece.] + +Another device we made in preparation for the expedition was a +megaphone. A sheet of light cardboard 30 inches square was procured. At +the center of one edge a pin was stuck into the cardboard, then a piece +of stout thread was looped over the pin and the two ends were knotted +together just 5 inches from the pin. Another knot was also made 29 +inches from the pin. Now, with a pencil hooked into the loop, and +resting first against the inner knot and then against the outer one, two +arcs were drawn on the paper, one of 5-inch radius and the other of +29-inch radius. A line was now drawn from the pin to the point where the +longer arc met the right hand edge of the paper, and a dotted line was +drawn from the pin to a point 1-1/2 inches from the edge at the other +end of the arc. From a point 1 inch to the left of the pin we then drew +a line to the left end of the arc. With a scissors we cut the cardboard +along the arcs and straight lines, all but the dotted line, leaving a +piece of the shape shown in Fig. 55. This piece was rolled into a cone +with the right edge lapped over the left edge and lying against the +dotted line. In this position it was held by means of several brass +fasteners of the kind shown in Fig. 56. + +A mouthpiece was formed out of a block of wood in which a large hole had +been drilled. The block was then cut away until the walls were quite +thin. The hole was reamed out at the top, as shown in Fig. 57, and the +outer surface was tapered so that the small end of the megaphone would +fit snugly on it. + +We planned to reach our camping grounds by way of the canal, and had +provided for that purpose a large scow, which we expected to tow up to +Lumberville and drag over to the river. + + +THE SCOW. + +[Illustration: Fig. 58. Side pieces of the Scow.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 59. Frame of the Scow.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 60. Nailing on the Bottom.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 61. Sockets for Rowlocks.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 62. Thole Pin.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 63. Nailing on the Decks.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 64. The Oar.] + +Our scow was made as follows: Two 3/4-inch pine boards, 12 inches wide +and 12 feet long, were selected from Reddy's father's lumber pile. These +were used for the side pieces of the boat, and we tapered them off at +the end to a width of 3-1/2 inches. This was done by making a straight +cut from the end to a point three feet back along the edge of the board +and then rounding off the edge with a draw-knife. When one board had +been shaped, it was used as a pattern for the other, which was thus cut +to exactly the same size. For the end pieces two strips, 4 inches wide +and 2 feet 10-1/2 inches long, were sawed out of a 1-inch board. Then +for the bottom we procured a number of 3/4-inch boards, 12 feet long and +8 inches wide, which we cut into 3-foot lengths. At Bill's suggestion, +before nailing the parts together, we secured some strips of flannel, +which were saturated with paint, and laid between the seams so as to +make the boat perfectly water-tight. The side and end boards were then +nailed together, with the strips of flannel between, the side boards +overlapping the end boards, as shown in Fig. 59. After planing down the +end boards until their edges laid flush with the edges of the side +pieces, the bottom boards were nailed on, strips of cloth being inserted +between them, as well as along the edges of the side and end boards. To +brace the bottom a 3/4-inch board was placed at the center, inside the +boat, and bent down against the floor, to which it was nailed with wire +nails. The nails were driven into the board from the outer side of the +boat and were clinched inside. Along the upper edges of the side boards +two strips 2 inches wide and 1 inch thick were nailed. Two notches were +cut in the inner side of each strip before it was nailed on. The notches +were 1/2 inch deep, 1-1/2 inches wide, 3 inches apart and about 5-1/2 +feet from the stern end. When the strips were nailed in place these +notches formed sockets to receive the rowlocks. A strip was also nailed +across the stern of the boat and formed with two central notches, to +receive the rowlocks for a steering oar. This strip, however, was 3 +inches wide, and projected 1 inch above the end board, so as to lie +flush with the deck boards, which were later applied. Six thole pins, +1/2 inch thick, 4-1/2 inches long and 2 inches wide, were cut out of an +oak board. The lower end of each pin was reduced to a width of 1-1/2 +inches for a length of 2 inches. The thole pins were then fitted snugly +in the notches. Two cleats, nailed to the side boards inside, 7 inches +below the upper edge, served to support a seat board 1 inch thick and 2 +feet 10-1/2 inches long. The aft edge of the seat was about 10 inches +forward of the rowlocks. The boat was completed by nailing on a couple +of deck boards at each end. The oars were made of 2-inch pine boards, 5 +feet long and 5 inches wide. They were blocked out at Mr. Schreiner's +sawmill and then shaped and smoothed down with a draw-knife and +spoke-shaved. They were 1-1/4 inches at the handle and 2 inches +immediately below, tapering down to a diameter of 1-1/4 inches at the +top of the blade. The blades were 18 inches long, 5 inches wide, and +planed down to a thickness of 1/4 inch along the edges. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +OFF TO THE ISLAND. + + +The morning of July 2d dawned bright and clear, but long before daybreak +the members of the S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I. were astir. The jolly red +sun peeping over the eastern hills witnessed an unaccustomed sight. Six +greatly excited boys were running back and forth from the barn to the +canal, bearing all manner of mysterious bundles, which were carefully +deposited in a freshly painted scow. Yes, all six of us were there. + + +A UNIQUE ALARM CLOCK. + +We hadn't expected to see Reddy Schreiner at such an early hour, for he +was always a sleepyhead, and no alarm clock would ever wake him. But +this was an exceptional day, and, besides, Reddy was quite an original +chap. He had taken one of the borrowed roosters into his room the night +before, and when, early in the morning, Mr. Chanticleer had mounted the +footboard of the bed, flapped his wings and given vent to his opinion of +a boy who persisted in sleeping at that late hour of the day, the noise +was too much for even Reddy's drowsy sensibilities. + +[Illustration: Fig. 65. Off to the Island.] + + +THE TRIP TO THE ISLAND. + +[Illustration: The Ledge below the Goblins' Platform.] + +[Illustration: The Camp at Willow Clump Island.] + +Our scow was not large enough to carry all the things we had to take +with us, but as Mr. Schreiner was going to take Uncle Ed up in his +wagon, we left the rest of our luggage for him to bring along. We boys +walked the eleven miles up the canal to Lumberville, towing the barge. +It was a tiresome task; but we divided the work into two-mile shifts, +two boys towing at a time and then each taking a mile ride as steersman +in the boat. It was about noon when we arrived at Lumberville, and then +we had to unload our boat before we could haul it out of the canal and +down to the river. The river on the Jersey side of the island was so +shallow that we waded across, pushing the boat ahead of us. The current +was too swift to permit of rowing, and it was rather hard for us to keep +our footing. But we managed to reach our destination finally without any +mishap. The island was thickly wooded, except for a small clearing where +we landed. The first thing we did was to unpack our eatables, and Jack, +the cook, soon had an appetizing pan of bacon and eggs sputtering on the +kerosene stove. + +[Illustration: Fig. 66. Dragging the Scow over to the Island.] + + +PRELIMINARY EXPLORATION. + +As no better position offered at the time we pitched our tent in the +clearing, pending a thorough search for a more suitable place elsewhere. +Around the tent we dug a trench about a foot deep to prevent water from +entering our quarters when it rained. It was about time for Uncle Ed and +Mr. Schreiner to appear with the rest of our luggage, so we did not have +time to do much exploring, but sauntered southward along the shore, +always on the lookout for their arrival. About a quarter of a mile from +the tent we came across the wreck of an old bridge, which had been +washed down by some freshet. This was a great find, and served us many +purposes, as will appear later. + +While we were examining the wreck we heard a distant "halloa" from the +mainland. There was Uncle Ed sitting on a pile of goods on the railroad +bank looking for all the world like an Italian immigrant. We answered +with a shout and scrambled back to the clearing. Then we ran splashing +through the water, pushing the boat before us. It didn't take us long to +load up and carry him back to the island. + + +A RUSTIC TABLE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 67. The Rustic Table.] + +Uncle Ed entered into our fun at once. He was as enthusiastic as a boy +over the surroundings, and when we told him of the old bridge he started +right off to investigate, taking the ax with him. Soon he had pried off +a number of the planks, which we used for a flooring to our tent. Then +he built us a table out of four forked sticks, driven into the ground, +and supporting two cross sticks, on which a pair of planks were laid. + + +THE SMALL FILTER. + +"Well, now, boys," said Uncle Ed, wiping the perspiration from his +forehead, "I am as thirsty as a whale. Where do you get your drinking +water? Is there a spring on the island?" + +We told him that we used the river water. + +[Illustration: Fig. 68. The Small Filter.] + +"What, river water! That won't do at all," he cried. "You'll all have +the typhoid fever. We must build a filter. I brought some charcoal with +me for this very purpose." + +Taking one of our pails he broke a hole in the bottom of it and stuffed +a sponge in the hole. A layer of small stones was then placed in the +pail, over this a layer of broken charcoal with the dust carefully blown +out, then a layer of clean sand, and finally a layer of gravel. Each +layer was about two inches thick. The pail was suspended from a branch +in a cool place and proved an excellent filter, the water trickling out +through the sponge being perfectly pure and sweet, no matter how dirty +it had been when poured in; but the capacity of the filter was too +small, and Uncle Ed said he would make us a larger one on the morrow if +no spring was discovered in the meantime. + +The sun was getting low in the west, and we therefore postponed the +exploration of our island until the following day. We had been up since +four o'clock that morning and had done some pretty hard work; so, +immediately after supper, we turned in and, lulled by the murmuring of +the river, were soon fast asleep. + + +THE BARREL FILTER. + +[Illustration: Fig. 69. The Barrel Filter.] + +Immediately after breakfast the next day we started out in two parties +to search the island. The only discovery of any moment was that made by +Dutchy's party, which found a small island separated from ours by a +narrow channel, through which the water ran like a mill-race. No spring +was discovered, so Uncle Ed had to construct his large filter. Bill and +I went over to Lumberville in search of a couple of cider barrels and a +pailful of charcoal. The barrels were placed one on top of the other +after cutting a large hole in the top of the lower barrel, and a smaller +one in the bottom of the upper one. The latter opening was covered by an +inverted saucer. Over this we spread a 3-inch layer of coarse sand, then +a 2-inch layer of charcoal, a 4-inch layer of clear, sharp sand, and a +2-inch top layer of gravel. The lower barrel was provided with a faucet, +through which we could draw off the filtered water as desired. In order +to keep the water cool we placed the filters in a shady place near the +river, and piled up earth around the lower barrel. + +"Now, boys," said Uncle Ed, "form in line there, and we will go through +a fire drill." + +He arranged us about five feet apart in a line extending from the filter +to the river. We had six pails, and these Dutchy filled one at a time, +passing them up the line to Reddy, who emptied them into the upper +barrel and then threw them back to Dutchy to be refilled. Working in +this way it did not take long to fill up the filter, and the burden of +keeping the barrels full, instead of falling on one person, was shared +alike by all. + +[Illustration: Fig. 70. Filling the Barrel.] + + +THE KLEPALO. + +Our camp outfit was further augmented by a dinner call. We discovered +the necessity of such a call on our very first day of camping. Dutchy +was so excited by his discoveries of the morning that he started out +alone in the afternoon to make a further search. The rest of us were +lazy after the noon meal, and were lolling around taking it easy during +the heat of the day, and discussing plans for the future. But Dutchy's +energetic nature would not permit him to keep quiet. He took the scow +and waded with it against the strong current to the deeper and quieter +water above the island. Then he rowed a long way up stream. He was gone +all the afternoon. Supper time came and still he didn't appear. The sun +was high, and I presume he didn't realize how late it was getting. +Finally, just at sunset, he came drifting down with the current, tired +and hungry, and ready for a large meal. But we had finished our supper +an hour before, and poor Dutchy had to be content with a few cold +remnants, because the cook had declared he wouldn't prepare an extra +meal for a fellow who didn't have sense enough to know when it was meal +time. + +Then it was that Uncle Ed bethought himself of the _klepalo_. + +"You ought to have some sort of a dinner call," he declared, "so that +any one within a mile of camp will know when dinner is ready." + +[Illustration: The _Klepalo_.] + +"Did you ever hear of a _klepalo_? No? Well, I was down in +Macedonia a couple of years ago inspecting a railroad, and I stopped off +for the night at a small Bulgarian village. The next day happened to be +a _Prasdnik_, or saint's day, and the first thing in the morning I +was awakened by a peculiar clacking sound which I couldn't make out. +Calling my interpreter I found out from him that it was a _klepalo_ +for calling the people to church. The people there are too poor to +afford a bell, and so in place of that they use a beam of oak hung from +a rope tied about the center, and this beam is struck with a hammer, +first on one side, and then the other. Sometimes an iron _klepalo_ +is used as well, and then they strike first the beam and then the iron +bar, so as to vary the monotony of the call. I found that the wooden +_klepalo_ could be heard for a distance of about one and a half +miles over land, and the iron one for over two miles. Now we can easily +make a wooden _klepalo_ for use in this camp, and then if Dutchy, +or any of the rest of us, keep within a mile and a half of camp there +won't be any trouble with the cook." + +So we built a _klepalo_, getting from Lumberville a stick of +seasoned oak, 1-1/2 inches thick, 6 inches wide and 4 feet long. A hole +was drilled into the stick at the center, and by a rope passed through +this hole the beam was suspended from a branch overhanging the camp. +Jack, the cook, regularly used this crude device to call the hungry +horde to meals. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +SURVEYING. + + +One of the first things we did after getting fairly settled in our new +quarters was to make a complete survey of Willow Clump Island and its +immediate surroundings. Our surveying instruments were made as follows: + + +THE SURVEYING INSTRUMENT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 71. Baseboard of the Surveying Instrument.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 72. Sighting Blocks on the Baseboard.] + +Out of a 1-inch board we cut a base 15 inches long and 4 inches wide. In +the center we sawed out a circular opening of about 3 inches diameter +and covered this at the bottom by a circular piece 1 inch thick and 5 +inches in diameter, thus forming a socket in which our compass fitted +snugly. A hole 1 inch in diameter was drilled through the center of this +circular piece to receive the pivot pin of a tripod. Across each end of +the baseboard we secured a block 4 inches long, 2 inches wide and 1 inch +thick. A 1-inch sight hole was drilled through each block at its center. +A ring of cardboard, on which Uncle Ed marked with radial lines the 360 +degrees of the circle, was placed over the compass socket, with the zero +and 180 degree marks pointing toward the sight blocks. The outer faces +of the end blocks were now wet with mucilage and a hair was stretched +vertically across the center of each sight hole. The hairs were then +adjusted by sighting through the holes and moving the nearer hair +sidewise until it was exactly in line with both the zero and the 180 +degree marks on the cardboard. Then a hair was stretched horizontally +across the center of each sight hole. Great care was taken to place the +hairs at exactly the same height above the baseboard. To protect the +hairs after they were adjusted, they were covered with a piece of glass, +which was secured in place by tacks driven into the wood with their +heads projecting over the edges of the glass. + + +SPIRIT LEVELS. + +From one of his pockets Uncle Ed produced two small bottles, the kind +used for holding homeopathic pills. These he filled nearly to the top +with water, corked them and wedged them into grooves cut lengthwise in +the baseboard at opposite sides of the cardboard ring. These grooves +were filled with putty, and to make sure that the bottles were level +with the baseboard the latter was floated on a bit of quiet water and +the bottles were pressed down at one end or the other until the bubble +within rested at the exact center. + + +THE TRIPOD. + +[Illustration: Fig. 73. The Tripod Head.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 74. The Tripod Leg.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 75. The Surveying Instrument Complete.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 76. The Protractor.] + +The tripod head was formed of a wooden disk 5 inches in diameter, with a +wooden pin projecting from its center adapted to engage the hole in the +circular piece above referred to. To the bottom of the tripod head were +nailed three blocks 2 inches long and 1 inch square in cross-section. +The tripod legs were made of light strips of wood, 3/8 inch by 1 inch by +5 feet long, which we secured from one of the mills at Lumberville. Each +leg was formed of two of these strips, nailed securely together to +within 20 inches of the top. At the upper ends the strips were spread to +receive the blocks on the tripod head. In this position they were held +by headless wire nails driven into the ends of the blocks and fitting +into holes drilled in the strips. For a plumb line we tacked a cord to +the center of the tripod head, and attached a good-sized sinker to its +lower end. In connection with this plumb line we occasionally used a +protractor consisting of a semicircle of cardboard 5 inches in diameter, +on which the degrees of the circle were marked off with radiating lines, +as illustrated in Fig. 76. By holding the straight edge of this +protractor against the base of the tripod, and noting the number of +degrees between the 90 degree mark and the plumb line, we could tell at +a glance at what angle from the horizontal the instrument was tipped. + + +SURVEYOR'S CHAIN. + +[Illustration: Fig. 77. The Surveyor's Chain.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 78. Forming the Links.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 79. A Double-Ringed Link.] + +We made a surveyor's chain of wire links, each 12 inches long, instead +of 7.92 inches, which is the length of a standard surveyor's link. The +wire we used was No. 16 galvanized iron, which was rather stiff and +difficult to bend. In order to make all the links of exactly the same +size and shape we used a form, around which they were bent. The form +consisted of a 1-inch board in which two 1/2 inch holes were drilled, +just 11-1/2 inches apart, measured from their centers. An oak pin, 1/2 +inch in diameter, was driven into each hole and projected about an inch +above the board. Two blocks of oak were secured to the baseboard, just +before each pin, as shown in Fig. 78. This form gave great satisfaction. +A groove was cut in the side of one of the pins to receive the ring of a +completed link, while the wire was passed through this ring and bent +around the peg to form the ring of the new link. After each link was +formed it was carefully measured, and, if too long, was shortened by +flattening the rings endwise, or, if too short, was lengthened by +pinching together the sides of the rings. There were fifty links in our +chain, and every tenth one was formed with a double ring at the end, so +as to distinguish it from the rest (see Fig. 79). + + +THE SURVEYOR'S ROD. + +[Illustration: Fig. 80. Cutting Out a Disk.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 81. The Sighting Disk] + +[Illustration: Fig. 82 Nut Fastened in Block.] + +We completed our outfit by making a surveyor's rod out of a straight +stick of wood about 6 feet long. A target or sighting disk was mounted +on the stick. This disk was 6 inches in diameter, and was sawed out of a +6-inch square board by making straight cuts across the corners and then +smoothing off the edge to a perfect circle with a draw-knife. The +thickness of the disk was only 1/2 inch. At the back of the disk we +fastened a block of wood with a slot cut in it to receive the rod, as +shown in Fig. 81. To hold the disk at different heights on the rod a +small bolt was used. The nut on this bolt was slipped into a hole on the +block at the bottom of the slot and held in place by driving in nails +about it, as illustrated in Fig. 82. The bolt was then passed through +the hole and threaded through the nut, with its inner end bearing +against the rod. The disk could thus be held at any desired position by +tightening up the bolt. A piece of white paper was now pasted over the +disk. The paper was marked off into quarters, and opposite quarters were +painted black so that it would be easy to sight, from a distance, the +exact center of the target. + + +A SIMPLE METHOD OF SURVEYING. + +Of course, none of us had studied trigonometry, but Uncle Ed devised a +very simple method by which we could determine distances quite +accurately without much figuring. + +"If you will tell me the length of one side of a triangle and the angles +it makes with the other two sides," said Uncle Ed, "I'll tell you the +length of the other two sides and the size of the third angle. This is +how I will do it: + +[Illustration: Fig. 83. Diagram of Our First Lesson in Surveying.] + +"Say the line is 6 inches long and one angle is 35 degrees, while the +other is 117 degrees. Let us draw a 6-inch straight line. This we will +call our base line. Now we will place the base edge of our protractor on +the base line with its center at the right hand end of the line. At the +37 degree mark we will make a dot on the paper so, and draw a line from +the right hand end of the base line through this dot. Now we will do the +same thing at the opposite end, making a dot at 107 degrees from the +line, and draw a line from the left hand end of the base line through +this dot. + +"If we extend these lines until they intersect, we will have the +required triangle, and can measure the two sides, which will be found to +be about 12 inches and 8 inches long, and the third angle will measure +just 26 degrees. It doesn't make any difference on what scale we draw +the triangle, whether it be miles, yards, feet, inches or fractions of +an inch, the proportions will be the same. If the base line had been 6 +half-inches, or 3 inches long, and the same angles were used, the other +two lines would measure 12 half-inches, or six inches, and 8 +half-inches, or 4 inches. If the base line were 6 quarter-inches long, +the sides would be 3 inches and 2 inches long. + +[Illustration: Fig. 84. Determining the Distance to the Tree.] + +"Now, for example, I am going to measure the distance to that tree over +there. Get out your chain and measure off a straight line 10 feet long. +Now, I'll set the surveying instrument with the plumb-bob right over the +end of this line, and sight through the two sight holes until I bring +the two vertical hairs in line with each other and the tree. Look at the +compass needle. It points to the 173 degree mark on the cardboard ring. +Now, Bill, you hold the rod at the other end of our base line while I +swing this instrument around and sight it. There, the needle points to +92 degrees, and subtracting this from 173 the difference, 81 degrees, is +the angle at the right end of our base line. We'll do the same thing at +the other end of our line. See, the compass needle points to 189 +degrees, and now sighting to the pole at the other end of the line we +find that the needle points to 268. The difference, 79 degrees, is +therefore the size of the angle at the left end of our base line. Now we +will draw this out on paper, as we did our first triangle, using +quarter-inches to represent feet. Our base line was 10 feet long, and we +will therefore draw a line 10 quarter-inches, or 2-1/2 inches long, on +our drawing board. On this line we will construct the triangle, using +the angles 81 and 79 degrees. There, that's how our triangle looks, and +the right hand side measures 7-1/4 inches, while the left hand side +measures 7-5/16 inches. That is, 29 quarter-inches for one side and +29-1/4 quarter-inches for the other. As each quarter-inch represents a +foot, you will find that the tree is about 29 feet from the right end of +our base line and 29 feet 3 inches from the left hand end. Of course, +our instrument is not perfect, neither is our drawing; but if you +measure it off with the chain you will see that I am not very far from +correct." + + +MAPPING THE ISLAND. + +Most of our surveying was done by actual measurement, the surveying +instrument being used only to determine the exact direction of the +measurement. However, there were some measurements which we could not +make directly with the chain. For example, we wished to know just how +far it was from our tent to the Jersey shore of the river. We measured +off a base line along our shore 400 feet long and sighted to a point +directly across the river from our tent. The angle in front of our tent +was 90 degrees, and at the other end of the base line was 73 degrees. +When we drew out our triangle on the scale of 100 feet to the inch we +found that the shorter side directly in front of the tent was almost +exactly 13 inches long. This meant that the river at this point was +1,300 feet wide, nearly a quarter of a mile. On the other side of the +island we found, in the same way, that the river at its narrowest point +was about 500 feet wide. This portion of the river we named Lake Placid, +as the water was very still and quite deep. This was due to a sort of +natural dam formed at the lower end of our island. The small island that +Dutchy found was kite-shaped, with a tail of boulders which extended +almost all the way across to a rocky point on the Pennsylvania shore. +The channel between "Kite Island," as we called it, and Willow Clump +Island was not more than fifteen feet wide in some places, and through +this the water swept with a swift current down past a narrow neck of +land to join the main current. This narrow stretch of land we named the +Tiger's Tail, owing to its peculiar shape. It was in the hook at the end +of this tail that we discovered the old bridge wreck above referred to. +From the tip of the Tiger's Tail to Point Lookout, at the extreme upper +end of Willow Clump Island, it was a little under a half-mile. The shore +all along Lake Placid was very steep, except near Point Lookout. At one +place there was a shallow bay which we called the lagoon. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +SWIMMING. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 85. The Diving Tree.] + +Lake Placid was a favorite swimming place for us. We used to plunge in +from the branches of a tree which overhung the water a little ways above +the lagoon and made a natural springboard. We could all swim like ducks, +except Dutchy, who couldn't do anything but paddle. However, Uncle Ed +was an expert, and he took Dutchy in hand and soon made a pretty good +swimmer out of him. He also taught us some fancy strokes. Of course I +took no record of these lessons. You would hardly expect me to sit on +the bank with a book in hand jotting down notes while the rest were +splashing around in the cool water having the best of fun in the world, +and even if I had, I wouldn't republish the notes here, because whoever +heard of a boy learning to swim while reading a book on the subject? A +beginner had better leave books alone and plunge right into the water. +He will soon learn to keep himself afloat and can then practise any +fancy strokes that he sees others try. Then, again, don't try to learn +in shallow water, because you will never do it. Of course it doesn't pay +to jump into water that is over your head unless there is a good swimmer +near by to help you out. But you will never learn to swim until you have +become accustomed to putting your head under water. You can not swim +with a dry face. The first time we went swimming, we couldn't persuade +Dutchy to try it. The water was deep right up to the very bank and he +had never been in over his head. Instead he sat up in the diving tree +swinging his feet and trying to hide the fact that he was having a dull +time. + +"Say, we've got to douse that fellow," said Reddy. + +"You're right; he needs a wash," said Jim. "Let's sneak up behind him +and chuck him in." + +They landed a little ways up the stream behind a large bush and then +crept down stealthily on their victim. But Dutchy had his suspicions +aroused and saw them coming. He scrambled out of the tree in a jiffy and +tore off into the woods as fast as his legs could carry him. + + +SWIMMING ON A PLANK. + +[Illustration: Fig. 86. Swimming on a Plank.] + +We didn't expect to see him again that afternoon, for the pace he was +leading should have carried him miles in no time; but while he couldn't +swim, Dutchy had his own ideas of fun on the water. It was about twenty +minutes later that we saw him coming down-stream lying full length on +one of the 2-inch planks taken from the bridge wreck. He was paddling +himself along with arms and legs hung over the sides of the plank. We +all gave him a cheer, and then started out to have some fun with him. We +tried to pull him off his raft, but he stuck on like a leech. It was +only when we made his craft turn turtle that Dutchy got his head under +water. But it wasn't a moment before he scrambled back on top again, +gasping and sputtering to get the water out of his nose and mouth. + +Uncle Ed all this time had been sunning himself on the bank, when +suddenly he uttered a shout of warning. We were right at the mouth of +the mill-race. For the moment we forgot about Dutchy, and swam out for +shore. Before we realized it Dutchy was caught in the current, and was +being swept full tilt down the stream. My but wasn't he scared. I can +see him yet clinging for dear life to the plank, his face the color of +ashes and his eyes bulging out in terror. First he tried to make for the +bank, but the water was so swift that when the front end of the board +struck land the rear end swung around in a circle, carrying him on +again, but backward this time, before we could reach him. Two or three +more times the plank struck the bank and turned him around, while we +raced along the high bank, scrambling down to catch him every time he +headed for shore, but each time just missing him. Then he swung out past +the Tiger's Tail into the open river just above the rapids. Fortunately +he was going along headforemost this time, and Uncle Ed, who had just +arrived, panting and breathless, from running, shouted to him to keep +his head and steer for a narrow opening between two jutting boulders. I +don't know whether Dutchy did any steering or not, but the raft shot +straight through the opening, and was lost in a cloud of spray. In a +moment he reappeared below the rapids, paddling like mad for a neck of +land on the Pennsylvania side of the river. + +Dutchy would never own up that he was afraid. He never told a lie under +other circumstances, but when it came to a question of courage he had +the habit of stretching facts to the very limit. Even in this case, he +said that he started out with the idea of shooting the rapids, and if we +hadn't flustered him so, he would not have bumped into the bank and +turned about so many times. Dutchy was a very glib talker. He nearly +persuaded us that it was all done intentionally, and his thrilling +account of the wild dash between the rocks and through the shower of +spray stirred us up so that we all had to try the trick too. + + +SHOOTING THE RAPIDS. + +The next day, while Uncle Ed was taking a nap, we stole off to the upper +end of Lake Placid, each one towing a plank. We needn't have been so +afraid of Uncle Ed, for we found out later that he intended to try a +plank ride through the rapids himself next time he went in swimming. +Down Lake Placid we paddled in single column to the mill-race. In a +moment the current had caught us and we were off. I shall never forget +the thrilling ride down the swirling mill-race, the sudden pause as we +shot out into the open river, the plunge between the boulders and the +dive through the spray. It was all over too soon. Something like +coasting--whiz, whiz-z-z, and a half-mile walk. Were it not for the +trouble of hauling the planks back by the roundabout course along the +Pennsy shore we would have thought shooting the rapids a capital game. + + +RESTORING THE DROWNED. + +[Illustration: Fig. 87. Pressing the Water out of the Stomach.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 88. Expanding the Chest.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 89. Squeezing out the Air from the Lungs.] + +It was on the second day after Dutchy's exploit of the rapids that Bill +came so near drowning. He probably would have drowned if Uncle Ed hadn't +been on hand to work over him. Bill was a fine swimmer, but even the +best of swimmers will sometimes get a cramp, so it is never safe for any +one to go into the water without some one at hand to help him out in +case of accident. In the present case Bill was doing some fancy strokes +by himself over near the Pennsy shore, while the rest of us were +watching Uncle Ed give Dutchy a lesson in swimming. All of a sudden Bill +threw up his hands and sank. I happened to glance up as he did it. We +thought he was fooling at first, but soon made out that he was in +genuine trouble. Uncle Ed dropped Dutchy to my tender care, and raced +over with a powerful stroke to the spot where he had last seen his +nephew. He failed to find him on the first dive, but the second time was +successful and he carried the lifeless body to the Pennsylvania shore. +In the meantime I had landed Dutchy and with the rest of the boys had +crossed the lake. Uncle Ed first laid Bill on his back and hastily wiped +dry the mouth and nostrils. Then he pried his jaws apart, holding them +open with a piece of wood wedged in between the teeth. After which he +turned him on his face over a log which was placed under his stomach. By +stomach I do not mean the bowels, but the real stomach, which lies just +under the ribs in front. Then he pressed with a good weight on the back +directly over the log for nearly a minute, causing the water to flow out +of the mouth. Dutchy had by this time rowed across in the scow, in which +fortunately there happened to be some of Uncle Ed's clothing. This he +took and rolled into a bundle, then Bill was laid on his back over the +roll of clothing, which was arranged to raise the pit of his stomach +above the rest of his body. Uncle Ed now wrapped a handkerchief around +his forefinger, and with it wiped out Bill's mouth and throat. Reddy, +who was the least excited of the lot, was told to draw Bill's tongue +forward so as to prevent it from falling back and choking the windpipe. +This he did with the dry part of the handkerchief, drawing the end of +the tongue out at the corner of the mouth, and holding it there while +Uncle Ed and I started the pumping action, which produced artificial +respiration. I was directed to grasp Bill's arms just below the elbows, +and swing them vertically in an arc until the hands met the ground again +above the head. This expanded the chest. Uncle Ed at the same time stood +over the body with his elbows on his knees and hands extended, as +illustrated in Fig. 88. Then I swung the arms up and back to the sides +of the body, but just before the hands touched the ground Uncle Ed +seized the body in both hands just below the ribs, and as soon as I +touched the arms to the ground he swung forward with all his weight on +his hands, squeezing the waist and pushing upward so as to force out the +air in the chest. Then he slowly counted, one, two, three, four, all the +time steadily increasing the pressure, until at the signal four, with a +final push, he shoved himself to the first position, shown in Fig. 88. +At the same signal I drew the arms up again over the head, and held them +there while Uncle Ed again counted four; then I returned the arms to the +sides, and Uncle Ed repeated the squeezing process. These movements were +continued for about three minutes, and then Bill gave a short, faint +gasp. We kept on with the artificial respiration, assisting the gasps, +which gradually grew stronger, until they had deepened into steady +breathing. Then we stripped off the wet bathing suit, and wrapping Bill +in Uncle Ed's clothing, laid him in the bottom of the boat. While Dutchy +hurried the boat across, Uncle Ed rubbed the patient's arms and legs. +The rest of us swam over and ran for blankets from the tent. Bill was +wrapped in one of the blankets and the other was used as a stretcher, on +which we carried him to the tent. Then one of us was sent post-haste +across to Lumberville for some whiskey, which was diluted in hot water +and given the patient a teaspoonful at a dose, every fifteen minutes at +first, and then at less frequent intervals. Uncle Ed kept Bill in bed +all the next day for fear of congestion of the lungs. He told us that +unless the patient kept perfectly quiet for a couple of days, he was +liable to be seized with a sudden attack of hard breathing that might +choke him to death in a short time. To stop such an attack he told us +that the best plan was to apply a mustard plaster to the chest, and if +the patient commenced to gasp, to start pumping the arms and squeezing +the waist so as to help him breathe. After Bill had come around and was +himself again Uncle Ed gave us a thorough drill in methods of restoring +the drowned. He laid down on the grass and made us practise on him the +various directions which he gave us. + + +HOW TO WORK OVER A PATIENT ALONE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 90. Working alone over a Patient.] + +"If you boys hadn't been so excited," he said, "I would have made you +rub Bill's body and limbs while we were pumping the air into him, but I +knew you would get in the way, and be more of a bother than a help. You +must learn to be calm in any accident; excitement doesn't pay. Keep +steadily and slowly at your pumping, for you might have to do it for +four hours before the patient comes to." He taught us just how to swing +the arms and squeeze the ribs to best advantage, and how to hold the +tongue without getting in the way of the arms as they were pumped back +and forth. There was also a special way of rubbing the arms and legs. +The limbs were always rubbed upward, or toward the body, with the bare +hands, or a dry cloth if there was one at hand, but this all had to be +done without interfering with the pumping action. "If the patient +doesn't come around in five minutes," he said, "turn him on his face +again over the roll of clothing, or any other suitable substitute, and +press out the water from the stomach, rolling him first to one side and +then to the other; be sure to get all the water out." When we had +learned our lesson well, Uncle Ed took Dutchy for his patient, and +proceeded to show us how a man could work over him alone. First he went +through the operation of squeezing the water out of him, and drying his +nose and mouth, much to the patient's discomfort; then he drew Dutchy's +tongue out of the corner of his mouth, holding it there by closing the +jaws on it, and holding the jaws together by passing a handkerchief over +his chin and lapping it over his head. After that he began to pump, +seizing the patient's arms and swinging them up over the head and back, +as before. Just as the arms were dropped back to the sides of the body, +he squeezed them in against the ribs, at the same time drawing upward +toward the head and counting four each time, as he had done before. But +the lesson was abruptly interrupted by Dutchy, whose imagination was +worked up to such a pitch that I actually believe he thought he had been +drowning. Anyway, he squirmed out of Uncle Ed's grasp, and wouldn't play +patient any longer. For several days after that we couldn't persuade him +to venture near deep water. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +BRIDGE BUILDING. + + +Willow Clump Island was, for the most part, a trackless wilderness, and +as soon as we had made our map we laid out roads to the different +important points. Our main highway ran from Point Lookout to Tiger's +Tail. This road was made rather winding, to add to its picturesqueness, +and from it a number of shorter roads branched off. + + +SPAR BRIDGE. + +[Illustration: Figs. 91 and 92. Frames for the Spar Bridge.] + +[Illustration: Fig 93. The Spar Bridge.] + +We ran a bridge across the mill-race at its narrowest point. This bridge +was made of trees which we had cut down in making our road. It was quite +a piece of engineering, built under Uncle Ed's guidance. Two frames were +made of the shape shown in Figs. 91 and 92. The side sticks were 15 feet +long and spaced about 10 feet apart at the base by crosspieces. At the +upper end one frame was made 6 feet wide and the other 5 feet wide. The +side and cross spars were mortised together and secured by lashing a +rope around them. To make the frames more rigid we braced them with +diagonal braces nailed on. When completed we set the frames up on +opposite sides of the stream and with ropes carefully lowered their +upper ends until they interlocked, the side spars of each frame resting +on the cross spars of the other. In the angles formed by the crossing +side spars a center spar was laid, and a number of floor beams or spars +were stretched to this from the opposite shores. On these a flooring was +spread made of saplings, cut and trimmed to the right size. A rustic +railing on each side of the bridge completed the structure. + + +THE ROPE RAILWAY. + +[Illustration: Fig. 94. The Swing Seat.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 95. Tying the Ropes to the Seat.] + + +The mill-race was crossed further down by a rope line on which we rigged +a traveling carriage. A light manila rope was used, anchored to a tree +at each side about fifteen feet from the ground. A pulley block with a +wheel or sheave 4 inches in diameter was mounted to travel on the rope. +Suspended from this block by means of fall and tackle was a swing seat. +This, as shown in Fig. 94, was merely a board fastened with four rope +strands to the ring of the tackle block. A single rope was used, with +the ends tied firmly together. The loop thus formed was passed through +the ring of the tackle block and the opposite ends were twisted over the +ends of the seat board in the manner illustrated in Fig. 95. The tackle +blocks were quite small, having 2-inch sheaves, and they, together with +the large pulley or "traveling block," as we called it, cost us about +$2.50. Two light ropes were fastened to the large traveling block, each +rope long enough to reach across the stream. The ropes extended to +opposite anchorages, where each was passed over a branch of the tree and +belayed on a cleat within easy reach. A fellow could draw himself up +clear of the ground by pulling on the free end of the fall, as a painter +does; then tying the swing fast in this position, he would pull himself +across the stream by means of the rope stretched to the opposite +anchorage. The swing could be drawn back by the next one who wanted to +cross. We also used this aerial line for transporting loads from one +island to the other. + +[Illustration: Fig. 96. The Rope Railway.] + + +SUSPENSION BRIDGE. + +[Illustration: Fig 97. Barrel-stave Flooring.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 98. The Suspension Bridge.] + +Our aerial railway didn't last long. We soon tired of it, and instead +utilized the materials for a rope suspension bridge. We procured from +Lumberville half a dozen old barrels and used the staves as a flooring +for the bridge. The staves were linked together by a pair of ropes at +each end woven over and under, as indicated in the drawing Fig. 97. +Notches were cut in the staves to hold the ropes from slipping off. The +flexible flooring thus constructed was stretched across the river and +secured to stakes driven firmly in the ground. A pair of parallel ropes +were extended across the stream about three feet above the flooring, +with which they were connected at intervals of five feet. The bridge was +25 feet long, and while rather shaky, owing to the fact that there were +no braces to prevent it from swaying sidewise, still it was very strong +and did excellent service. + + +PONTOON BRIDGE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 99. The Pontoon Bridge.] + +At the head of the mill-race, where the channel was fifty feet wide, we +built a pontoon bridge. We were fortunate in securing six good cider +barrels at low cost, also a quantity of "slabs" from one of the sawmills +of Lumberville. "Slab" is the lumberman's name for the outside piece of +a log which is sawn off in squaring up the sides. We made a raft of +these materials and floated them down the river to Lake Placid. The +bridge was made by anchoring the barrels in the channel about eight feet +apart, and laying on them the floor beams, which supported a flooring of +slabs. The floor beams were narrow planks 1 inch by 4 inches, taken from +the bridge wreck, and they were placed on edge to prevent sagging. Of +course we had no anchors for securing the barrels, but used instead +large stones weighing about 100 pounds each, around which the anchor +lines were fastened. We found it rather difficult to sink these +improvised anchors at just the right places, for we were working at the +very mouth of the mill-race, and were in constant danger of having our +scow sucked down into the swirling channel. Once we were actually drawn +into the mill-race and tore madly down the rushing stream. By Bill's +careful steering we managed to avoid striking the shore, and just as we +were off the Tiger's Tail Reddy succeeded in swinging a rope around an +overhanging limb and bringing us to a sudden stop. A moment later we +might have been dashed against the rocks in the rapids below and our +boat smashed. Shooting rapids in a scow is a very different matter from +riding through them on a plank. + + +THE KING ROD TRUSS. + +Our bridge building operations were not entirely confined to the island. +Two of them were built on the Schreiner grounds at Lamington. Reddy +Schreiner's home was situated a little distance above the town where +Cedar Brook came tumbling down a gorge in the hills and spread out into +the Schreiners' ice pond. Thence it pursued its course very quietly +through the low and somewhat swampy ground in the Schreiners' back yard. +Over this brook Reddy was very anxious to build a bridge. Accordingly, +before returning to school in the fall Bill made out a careful set of +plans for the structure, and after we had gone the rest of the society, +under Reddy's guidance, erected the bridge. + +[Illustration: Fig. 100. The King Rod Bridge.] + +The structure was a cross between a suspension bridge and a spar bridge. +The banks of the stream were so low that, instead of resting the floor +of the bridge on top of the inclined frames, as we had done over the +mill-race, it was suspended from the spars by means of wires. The +crossing ends of the spars were nailed together and their lower ends +were firmly planted about four feet apart in the banks of the brook. A +stick nailed to the apex of each pair of spars served temporarily to +brace them apart. The center cross beam of the bridge was now suspended +from the spars by means of heavy galvanized iron wire (No. 14, I should +say). The beam was hung high enough to allow for stretch of the wire, +making the roadway incline upward from both sides to the center. Aside +from carrying the floor of the bridge, this beam was used to brace the +inclined spars when the temporary crosspiece was removed. The ends of +the beam projected about thirty inches beyond the bridge at each side, +and they supported braces which extended diagonally upward to the +crossing ends of the spars. When this was done the temporary crosspiece +above referred to was removed. As the span between the center cross beam +and the banks was a little too long to provide a steady floor, a couple +of intermediate cross beams were suspended from the inclined spars. The +floor beams were then laid in place and covered with a flooring of +slabs. + + +STIFFENING THE BRIDGE. + +The bridge was a pretty good one, except for a slight unsteadiness +between the center and either end. When Uncle Ed saw it he showed us at +once where the trouble lay. Our intermediate cross beams were hung from +the center of the spars, and consequently made them bend, because the +strain came across their length, while at the center of the bridge there +was no chance for the spars to bend, because the strain was exerted +along their length, that is, it tended merely to push the ends of the +spars deeper into the banks. To remedy the trouble he proposed propping +up the center of each spar with a brace running from the center +crosspiece. The dotted lines in Fig. 100 show how these braces were +applied. They made the floor perfectly solid throughout, and gave the +bridge a much better appearance. Uncle Ed told us that the structure +might be called a "king rod truss," except that in place of rods we had +used wires. + +[Illustration: The King Rod Bridge.] + +[Illustration: The Bridge over Cedar Brook Gorge.] + + +THE KING POST BRIDGE. + +The other bridge on the Schreiner property was built in the following +summer, just before we started on our second expedition to Willow Clump +Island. It spanned the brook at the gorge, and was therefore a more +difficult engineering feat. Mr. Schreiner himself asked us to build it, +and we felt greatly honored by the request. A search was made in the Van +Syckel library for a suitable type. At last we found one that seemed +properly suited to the requirements. It was called a "king post truss," +and was very similar to the king rod bridge. While the design of the +bridge was simple, yet it required some ingenuity to put it together. In +setting up the other bridge the scow had been anchored in the center of +the stream and used as a working platform, from which it had been an +easy matter to put the various parts together. In this case our scow was +obviously of no use, so we laid a couple of long logs across the chasm, +and a few slats were nailed across them to provide a temporary bridge or +working platform. The platform sagged considerably at the center, +because the span was fully eighteen feet; but the logs were large, and +we knew they were strong enough to support our weight. However, as an +extra precaution, we tied the ends to stakes driven in the ground, so +that they could not possibly slip off the banks. + +[Illustration: Fig. 101. The King Post Frame.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 102. The King Posts Set in Position.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 103. The Permanent Cross Beam Made Fast.] + +First we set about constructing the king posts, which were made as shown +in Fig. 101. Two stout posts 7 feet long were connected at the top by a +tie stick, which spaced them 4 feet apart. To make a secure fastening +they were notched together and strengthened with diagonal braces. Each +king post was notched on opposite sides, at about thirty inches from the +top. A temporary tie piece was also nailed across the lower ends of the +king posts. The frame thus formed was set up at the center of the span +and temporarily held by nailing the lower tie piece to the working +platform. Four stout spars were now cut, each about fifteen feet long. +Taking a pair at a time, we planted their lower ends firmly in the +opposite banks and sawed off their upper ends until they could just be +hammered into the notches in the king post. This required careful +fitting, but by making the spars a little too long to start with, and +then shaving them down with a draw-knife, we managed to make fairly good +joints. A couple of long wire nails in each spar made the structure +perfectly secure. The king posts were now sawed off just above the +temporary tie piece, and the permanent cross beam was fastened to these +ends with straps of heavy wire wound tightly about them. The working +platform sagged so much that we were able to lay this cross beam above +it. From the ends of the cross beam diagonal braces extended to the king +posts (Fig. 103). Our working platform was now removed and replaced with +the permanent floor beams, which were firmly nailed to the center cross +beam and to the inclined spars at the shore ends. The floor beams were +quite heavy and needed no support between the king posts and shore. A +rustic floor was made of small logs sawed in two at Mr. Schreiner's +sawmill. Light poles were nailed to the flooring along each edge, giving +a finish to the bridge. We also provided a rustic railing for the bridge +of light poles nailed to the king posts and the diagonal spars. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +CANVAS CANOES. + + +Like all inhabitants of islands, we early turned our attention to +navigation. Our scow was serviceable for transporting materials back and +forth across the strips of shallow water between our quarters and the +Jersey shore. We never attempted to row across, because progress would +have been entirely too slow, and we would have drifted down to the +rapids long ere we could reach the opposite side. But on Lake Placid +matters were different. Although there was no settlement near us on the +Pennsylvania shore, to occasion our crossing the water for provisions +and the like, yet the quiet stretch was admirably suited to boating for +pleasure, and mighty little pleasure could we get out of our heavy scow. + + +UNCLE ED'S DEPARTURE. + +Owing to a sudden business call Uncle Ed left us after he had been with +us nearly three weeks. But, before going, he explained carefully to Bill +just how to construct a canvas canoe. Jack, the cook, who was anxious to +lay in a second supply of provisions, accompanied Uncle Ed as far as +Millville, the next town below Lamington. Here Uncle Ed bought five +yards of canvas, 42 inches wide, several cans of paint and a quantity of +brass and copper nails and tacks. These supplies, together with the food +provisions that Jack had collected, were brought to us late in the +afternoon by Mr. Schreiner. Mr. Schreiner also brought the necessary +boards and strips of wood for the framework of our canoe. + + +A VISIT FROM MR. SCHREINER. + +We invited Mr. Schreiner to spend the night with us, and this he did +after fording with some difficulty the swift-running river. In the +morning we showed him our quarters, our filter, the roads we had built, +the spar bridge across to Kite Island, our surveying instrument and the +chart we had made of the vicinity. He was greatly pleased with our work, +and it was then that he gave us an order for the bridge over the gorge. +From that day on he became our staunchest ally, so that when my father +and Mr. Van Syckel complained that we were loafing away a lot of time +which could be more profitably spent in study or work, Mr. Schreiner +stood up for us and declared that our experiences on the island were +doing us far more good, both physically and mentally, than any other +work that they could conceive of; that before condemning us they should +pay us a visit and see how we were employing our time. + + +THE SAILING CANOE. + +[Illustration: Exploring the River in the Indian Canoe.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 104. Stern Post of the Canoe.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 105. Stern of the Canoe.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 106. Center Form.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 107. Bulkheads.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 108. Center Braces.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 109. Top View of the Canoe Frame.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 110. Side View of the Canoe Frame.] + +Immediately after Mr. Schreiner's departure we started work on the +canoe. A strip of spruce 1 inch thick, 3 inches wide and 12 feet long +served as the keelson. At the stern a post 1-1/2 inches thick, 3 inches +wide and 13 inches high was secured to the keelson with brass screws. +This was braced as indicated in Fig. 104. At the bow a stem piece was +attached to the keelson. This stem was cut to a somewhat semicircular +form, as shown in Fig. 105. The outer edge was tapered with a draw-knife +to a thickness of 1/4 inch and a brace was nailed to the inner edge. Our +next work was to cut out three forms, one of the shape shown in Fig. 106 +and two like that shown in Fig. 107. The first form was set up on the +keelson midway between the stem and stern, and the other two were spaced +about four feet each side of the center form. The center form was used +only for shaping the frame of the boat, and was not intended to be +permanently affixed to the canoe. Therefore, we fastened it to the +keelson very lightly, so that it could be readily removed. The other two +forms, however, were made permanent parts of the frame, serving as +bulkheads. The gunwales were now secured in position. These were of +spruce 3/4 inch thick and 2 inches wide. The ends were beveled off so as +to neatly fit the stem piece and the stern post, to which they were +fastened by brass screws. Then we applied the longitudinal strips, or +rib bands, which were of 1/4-inch thick spruce 1 inch wide. Ten of these +bands were used, equally spaced apart on the center form, to which they +were lightly tacked; but they were nailed securely to the bulkheads and +the stem piece and stern post. The cross ribs were made of barrel hoops +which we had soaked in water for a day or so to render them pliable +enough to be bent into place. These hoops were split to a width of 1/2 +inch, and secured first to the keelson, then to the longitudinal strips +and finally to the gunwales. Copper tacks were used for nailing the ribs +in place, and these were long enough to be passed through the rib bands +and clinched on the outside. Forty cross ribs were nailed on, and at the +center of the canoe they were spaced about three inches apart. The +center form was then removed and cut along the dotted lines shown in +Fig. 106. The semicircular pieces thus obtained were now strengthened +with strips on their inner edges, and wedged in between the keelson and +the gunwales, to which they were nailed, as shown in Fig. 108. A pair of +cleats nailed to the cross ribs served as supports for the seat of the +canoe. The frame of the boat was completed by nailing in place two deck +beams of 1/2-inch square pine and four corner pieces between the +gunwales and the bulkheads, so as to make an elliptical well hole or +deck opening. Before laying on the canvas covering the edges of the +gunwales, keelson, deck beams, stem and stern posts were smoothed down +with sandpaper. + +[Illustration: Fig. 111. Lacing the Canvas on the Frame.] + + +STRETCHING ON THE CANVAS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 112. Tacking the Canvas to the Keel.] + +The frame was laid in the center of the canvas and the latter drawn +around it. Then with a large needle and strong twine we sewed both edges +of the cloth together with long stitches, lacing the canvas over the +frame as a shoe is laced over a foot. This done, the boat was turned +deck downward and the canvas was tacked to the keelson. In each case, +before driving in a tack a daub of white lead was applied, to +water-proof the spot. At the stem and stern a gore (narrow triangular +piece) was cut out of the canvas so as to make it lie smooth on the +frame, and white lead was painted in between the overlapping edges. The +canoe was then turned deck upward and the lacing tightened, while we +carefully worked out all wrinkles in the cloth. After tacking the canvas +along the gunwales on the outside, it was trimmed off, leaving +sufficient margin to be brought over the gunwales and tacked inside. Two +triangular pieces were cut out for the decks, and these were lapped over +the outer canvas and tacked to the gunwales. A narrow molding along the +edge of the boat served to cover the tack heads and added a certain +finish to the canoe. A keel plate 2 inches wide and 1 inch thick was +attached to the outside of the boat, and then, after wetting the canvas, +it was given a coat of white lead and oil. When this was perfectly dry +it was sandpapered and the second coat applied. + + +THE RUDDER. + +[Illustration: Fig. 113. The Rudder.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 114. The Rudder Hinge.] + +The canoe was now complete except for the rudder, which was cut from a +1/2-inch board to about the shape shown in Fig. 114. Strips 1-1/2 inches +wide and 1/2 inch thick were nailed to each side of the blade, forming a +post, to the top of which a crosspiece or tiller was fastened. A cleat +nailed to the pillar at each side of the rudder post served to greatly +strengthen the joint. The rudder was hinged to the canoe by a rod, which +passed through four brass screw eyes, two threaded into the rudder and a +corresponding pair screwed into the stern. For convenience in steering +we ran our tiller rope clear around the boat, through screw eyes in the +gunwales and a pulley at the stem, so that the steersman could guide his +craft from any point in the canoe. + + +THE DEEP KEEL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 115. Bottom of Canoe, Showing Deep Keel.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 116. End View, Showing Deep Keel.] + +We planned to use our canoe as a sailboat, and had to provide a deep +keel, which, for convenience, was made detachable. This keel was 6 +inches wide, 1/2 inch thick and 6 feet long, and was fastened at the +center of the canoe. Screw eyes about twelve inches apart were threaded +alternately into opposite sides of the keel plate. Corresponding hooks +were attached to the keel in position to hook into the screw eyes, and +thus hold the keel firmly in place. + + +CANOE SAILS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 117. The Mast Step.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 118. The Mainsail.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 119. The Mizzen Sail.] + +Our boat was fitted with two masts, a mainmast and a mizzen or dandy +mast. The former was 6 feet long and the latter 4 feet long, and each +measured 1-1/2 inches in diameter at the base, tapering to about 1 inch +diameter at the upper end. They were held in brass bands, or clamps, +bent around them and secured to the bulkheads, as shown in Fig. 117. The +sails were of the lanteen type. The mainsail measured 8-1/2 feet along +the boom, 9-1/2 feet along the yard and 10 feet at the leach. The +dimensions of the mizzen sail were: along the boom, 5 feet; along the +yard, 5-1/2 feet; and at the leach, 6 feet. The boom was attached to a +strap of leather on the mast, and was thus given freedom to swing around +in any desired position. The yard was similarly attached, and was raised +by a cord, which passed through pulleys at the top and at the base of +the mast and extended to a cleat within easy reach of the occupant of +the boat. A double paddle was fashioned from a board 1 inch thick, 6 +inches wide and 6 feet long. The blades were shaved down to a thickness +of 3/8 of an inch at the edges. + +It will be observed that we used no iron in the construction of this +boat. Uncle Ed has warned us not to, because iron rusts out so easily +and is apt to damage both the canvas and the wood with which it is in +contact. + +[Illustration: Fig. 120. The Double Paddle.] + +A canoe is rather a tipsy thing to sail in, as we soon learned, and it +was lucky that we could all swim, else our vacation might have ended +very tragically; for the very first time Bill and I tried the boat an +unexpected gust of wind struck us and over we went. We were very poor +sailors at first, but it didn't take us long to catch on. + + +LEE BOARDS + +One thing that bothered us greatly in sailing was the keel of our canoe. +It was forever getting twisted, particularly when we tried to make a +landing. There were only a few places along the island where the water +was deep enough to permit our coming right up to shore without striking +the keel. The fastening was not very strong, and every once and awhile +it would be wrenched loose. The matter was made the subject of a special +letter to Uncle Ed, and in due time his answer was received. As usual, +he offered a first-class solution of the difficulty. "Don't use a keel," +he wrote; "lee boards are much better." Then he went on to explain what +was meant by lee boards: "The leeward side of a boat is the opposite of +the windward side; that is, that side of the boat which is sheltered +from the wind. Lee boards, then, are boards which are hung over the lee +side of a boat to prevent it from drifting to leeward, and they serve to +take the place of a keel or centerboard." + +[Illustration: Fig. 121. A Lee Board.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 122. Section of the Canoe, Showing Lee Board.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 123. The Lee Boards in Use on Canoe.] + +Following Uncle Ed's direction we fastened a strip of wood across the +canoe about six feet from the bow, nailing it firmly to the gunwales. +This provided a support to which the lee boards were secured. The lee +boards were paddle-shaped affairs of the form and dimensions shown in +Fig. 121. Each paddle near the top was hinged to the end of a board +three inches wide and a foot long. The paddle was held at right angles +to the board by means of a hook. Each board was fastened with door +hinges to a baseboard which extended the width of the boat and was +attached to the crosspiece of the canoe by means of a couple of bolts. +The bolt heads were countersunk, so that the hinged boards could lie +flat over them. To the top of each lee board two ropes were attached, +one passing forward around a pulley and thence back to a cleat within +easy reach of the occupant of the canoe, and the other passing directly +back to this cleat. By pulling the former rope the lee board was lifted +out of the water, while the latter rope was used to swing the board into +working position. When tacking to port (left), the board on the left +side of the canoe was lowered and the other was raised, as shown in Fig. +123, and when tacking to the starboard (right) the board on the right +side was lowered, while the left one was raised. + +[Illustration: The Indian Canoe Fitted with Lanteen Sail and Lee Boards.] + + +THE INDIAN PADDLING CANOE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 124. Center Form.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 125. Intermediate Form.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 126. The Stem Piece.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 127. Skeleton Frame of Canoe.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 128. Section at Center of Canoe.] + +Our sailing canoe proved such a good one that we decided to build a +second. This was to be much lighter, for paddling only, and of the true +Indian shape, with wide, bulging sides and raised stem and stern. The +dimension of the forms used are given in Figs. 124 and 125. These forms, +it will be observed, were notched to receive the keelson and gunwales. +The keelson was formed of 1-inch spruce 3 inches wide and 10 feet long. +The stem and stern, which were both of the same shape, were cut from a +12-inch board to the form shown in Fig. 126, and were firmly secured to +the keelson. This made the boat 12 feet long. The forms were then set in +place on the keelson, one at the center and the others three feet each +side. The gunwales were formed of 3/4-inch by 2-1/2-inch spruce, and the +twelve rib bands used were of the size used in our first boat. As none +of these forms was to remain in the boat, nails were driven very lightly +into them, with heads projecting so that they could easily be withdrawn +when it was time to remove the forms. The cross ribs were passed under +the keelson inside of the rib bands and outside of the gunwales, as +shown in Fig. 128. After they were set in place and firmly secured with +copper tacks, a band was nailed to the keelson to form the keel. To +produce the raised stem and stern, four wedge-shaped pieces were nailed +to the tops of the gunwales, as indicated in Fig. 129. The forms were +then removed and were replaced with cross sticks braced between the +gunwales. The center cross stick was provided with two corner pieces, as +shown in Fig. 130, adapted to fit under the gunwales and against the rib +bands. The canvas was then applied in the manner described before, but +was tacked to the upper edge of the gunwale instead of the outer side, +and the tacks were covered by a half-round molding which extended around +the entire boat. After the lacing was cut the edge of the canvas was +secured to the under edges of the gunwales. The canoe was then completed +by fastening on a 1-inch square keel and treating the boat with two +coats of paint. The paddle was a duplicate of the one described in +connection with the sailing canoe. + +[Illustration: Fig. 129. Wedge Pieces at the Ends.] + +I remember that we eventually equipped our paddling canoe with a sail +and a pair of lee boards, though no record of this fact appears in the +chronicles of the society. + +[Illustration: Fig. 130. The Cross Braces.] + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +HOUSE BUILDING. + + +One afternoon Fred, who had waded over to Lumberville after some +provisions, came splashing back holding aloft a large square envelope. +It was from Uncle Ed and contained a photograph of a group of Wichita +Indians building a large grass lodge. In a brief explanatory letter +Uncle Ed suggested that we build a similar hut on our Island. + + +THE GRASS HUT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 131. Making the Frame of the Straw Hut.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 132. Doorway of the Hut.] + +The grass lodge appealed to us as very picturesque, and we set to work +immediately on its construction. We made our hut much smaller, however, +only 12 feet in diameter, and 8 or 9 feet high. First we procured two +dozen light poles between 10 and 12 feet long. These we set up about 18 +inches apart in a circle like a stockade, the sticks being buried in the +ground to a depth of 12 inches. At one side a space of 3 feet was +allowed for a doorway. Inside the stockade we erected a working platform +of planks supported on barrels, and standing on this we took two +opposite poles, bent them inward and lashed their upper ends together. +Then a second pair of opposite poles were similarly bent inward and +tied, and so we proceeded until the entire stockade had been converted +into a dome-shaped cage. Around these poles we laid lighter sticks, or +bands, tying them at the points of intersection. At the doorway two +posts were set firmly in the ground, projecting upward to a height of 4 +feet. A lintel nailed across the top of the posts completed the door +frame. Sticks were nailed to the lintel and to the side posts, extending +to the main frame of the hut, to which they were tied. We were now ready +to thatch our hut. Reddy and Dutchy went over to Lumberville for several +bales of straw. We tied the straw in bunches and applied it to the +frame, copying, as best we could, the process illustrated in the +photograph. + +But for its location the hut would have proved a very serviceable +habitation. In order to have a good, dry dwelling without laying down a +board flooring, we had selected for its site the sandy shore at Point +Lookout. This part of the island was not sheltered with trees, and the +hot sun beat down on our hut so strongly that we found the quarters very +uncomfortable indeed. It was this fact that led to the construction of a +tree hut--a building that would be perfectly dry and yet shaded and +cool. Bill had read of such houses in the Philippines and felt confident +that we could build one. We couldn't decide at first where to locate our +hut until Dutchy moved that we build it in the gnarled oak tree +overlooking the "Goblins' Dancing Platform." Immediately the motion was +seconded and unanimously carried. + + +THE GOBLINS' DANCING PLATFORM. + +Just above the town of Lumberville there was a cliff which rose sheer +200 feet above the level of the river. So perpendicular was the cliff +that a stone dropped from the overhanging ledge at the top would fall +straight down to the railroad track below without touching a twig in its +course. Back of this broad ledge there was a very peculiar formation. A +column of stone rose abruptly 40 feet higher and was topped with a large +slab about 12 feet in diameter. This was known all over that region as +the Goblins' Dancing Platform. The only possible way of gaining the +summit of the column was by climbing a scraggly oak tree which grew on +the high ground back of the pillar, crawling out on an overhanging limb, +and then dropping down to the platform below. It was in this oak that we +decided to build our house. It was a very inaccessible spot, and to +reach it we had to make a wide detour around the back of the hill, and +through the fields of a cranky farmer, who more than once threatened to +fill us with bird shot for trespassing on his property. How were we to +carry all our building materials up to this great height? One would +think that the difficulties would be enough to discourage us, but not so +with the S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I. Nothing daunted us. + + +DUTCHY TAKES A DARE. + +Our first task was to try some other approach to the top of the cliff. +At one side of the overhanging ledge there was a fissure in the rocks +which ran from the base of the pillar to the foot of the cliff. Down +this zigzag crevice Dutchy had scrambled, one afternoon, on a dare. We +were rather frightened when he started, because it was a very hazardous +undertaking, and we watched him anxiously, peering over the edge of the +precipice. By bracing his back against one of the walls of the rock, and +digging his feet into the niches and chinks of the opposite wall, he +safely made his way to a shelf about half-way down, where he paused to +rest. From that point on the fissure widened out, and a steep, almost +vertical incline, sparsely covered with vegetation, led to the railroad +track below. I think he must have become rather frightened at his +position, because he hesitated long before he resumed his downward +course, and when he finally did make the attempt his foot slipped upon +the moss-covered rocks and down he fell, scratching and clawing at every +shrub within reach. Believing him to be killed, we rushed down the hill +and around to the foot of the cliff. It probably took us about fifteen +or twenty minutes, though it seemed ages before we came upon our +venturesome comrade coolly trying to pin together a rent of inconvenient +location and dimensions in his trousers. + +"Say, Dutchy, are you killed?" cried Bill, breathlessly. + +"Killed, nothing," he replied, with scorn. "I suppose you fellows think +I had a fall. Well, I didn't." + +"You didn't, eh? We saw you slip." + +"Oh, go on. I came down that way on purpose. There was no use in picking +my way down like a 'fraid cat, when I could just as well take a smooth +and easy toboggan slide on the bushes all the way down." + +Smooth and easy toboggan slide! Well, you should have seen the hillside. +The course was well defined by the torn and uprooted shrubs and the pile +of branches and vines at Dutchy's feet. Whether the hare-brained Dutchy +really imagined he could glide easily down on the shrubbery, his frantic +movements on the way certainly belied his story, and when, the next day, +we proposed that he repeat the trick, somehow he didn't seem to be very +enthusiastic on the subject. + +[Illustration: Wichita Indians Building a Straw Hut.] + + +A PATH UP THE FISSURE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 133. The Jacob's Ladder.] + +It was up this fissure that we decided to haul materials for our tree +hut. Our first task was to build steps and ladders in the steepest +parts. We had no tool for cutting out niches in the rock, but wherever +natural depressions were formed we wedged in sticks of wood between the +side walls to serve as ladder rungs. If no such niches appeared for +considerable height, we would stretch a rope ladder to the next fixed +rung. In most places the natural formation of the rock was such as to +afford sufficient footing. + + +ROPE LADDERS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 134. Rope Ladder.] + +The rope ladders were made of two parallel side straps, tightly +stretched between the fixed sticks, and then at intervals of fifteen +inches we inserted the ends of the ladder rung between the strands of +the rope. Below and above each rung the rope was bound with cord. The +rungs were notched at the ends to prevent them from slipping out. + +[Illustration: Fig. 135. A Ladder Rung.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 136. The Derrick.] + +After providing a means for scaling the cliff (we called it the Jacob's +Ladder), we were still confronted with the problem how to cart our +building materials to the top. It was a very hard task and you couldn't +have hired us to do it under any other circumstances. First, Bill +planned out on paper just how the house was to be built, and we cut all +the pieces to the right size so as not to carry up any superfluous +matter. When all was ready the boards and sticks were loaded on the +scow, and ferried over to the cliff. Then we carried them on our backs, +three or four at a time, up the slanting hillside to the first ledge. +From there up, owing to the steepness of the ascent, we had to employ +different tactics. + + +THE DERRICK. + +[Illustration: Fig. 137. The Derrick in Use.] + +A derrick was constructed of two sticks 10 feet long, which were bolted +together at the top, and secured about five feet apart at the bottom by +a cross piece, as shown in Fig. 136. The derrick was then taken apart +and with some difficulty hauled piecemeal up to the next ledge above. +Here it was put together again. The fall and tackle used in our aerial +railway was attached to the apex of the derrick, and the latter was then +erected with the legs set into depressions in the ledge and the upper +ends slanting outward but kept from falling over the edge by a rope tied +to one of the fixed rungs set in the fissure. With this derrick we +hoisted up the boards in a few hauls. The job was a very ticklish one, +but Bill used the greatest care to prevent accident. The derrick, rope +and tackle were carefully tested before used, and as soon as the load +was attached to the lower pulley block the two who did the loading were +instructed to crawl back into the fissure so as to be out of danger in +case anything gave way. At one time a stick which had been carelessly +tied did fall, and it might have badly hurt some one had we not observed +this precaution. When we had raised the material to the second ledge we +transferred operations to the top ledge, and when the materials had been +hauled up to this point we finally rigged up our fall and tackle in the +old oak tree itself. + + +THE TREE HOUSE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 138. Main Girder of the Tree House.] + +[Illustration: Fig 139. Top View of the Platform.] + +The tree had two large limbs which extended out at a wide angle from the +main trunk. Across these two limbs, at about seven feet out, we laid our +first girder, nailing it securely in place. Then to the main trunk we +nailed the second girder on a level with the first. Diagonal braces were +extended from the trunk to support the ends of this girder, and a tie +piece was nailed to the braces, as shown in Fig. 138, to prevent them +from spreading. The girders were rough sticks about 4 inches in diameter +and 10 feet long. We cut flat faces on them at the points where they +were nailed to the tree, and then, to make them doubly secured, we +nailed cleats, or blocks of wood, to the tree under them. The floor +beams were then laid across and nailed to the girders. They were cut to +a length of 10 feet so as to project beyond the outer girder to provide +for a piazza overhanging the Goblins' Platform. Six floor beams were +used, spaced 20 inches apart. All branches projecting up between the +beams were then cut away and a flooring of slabs was laid on. To the +main trunk six feet above the flooring, a stick or (to use the technical +term), "wall plate," was nailed on, and its ends were supported by +upright posts resting on the platform. Thirty inches from the outer end +of the platform two more posts were erected eight feet high and secured +by sticks nailed across from the other posts, and also by a second wall +plate connecting their upper ends. Four more posts were erected, one +between each pair of the corner posts, and then we were ready to enclose +the framing. + +[Illustration: Fig. 140. The Frame of the House.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 141. Nailing on the Clapboards.] + +The sidewalls were first clapboarded, because we were afraid the roof +would not hold us until the framing had been strengthened by nailing on +the siding. Slab boards were used for this purpose. Beginning at the +bottom, the boards were laid on, each lapping over the one below, as +shown in Fig. 141, so as to shed water. In each side we cut a window +opening and nailed on a window casing of the type shown in Fig. 142, +which will be described in a moment. As soon as the clapboards were +applied, we nailed on the rafters and then applied the roofing. The same +principle was here used for shedding water. The lowest board was first +laid on, and then the others were successively applied, each lapping +over the one below. + +[Illustration: Fig. 142. The Window Casing.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 143. The Window Sash.] + +The window casings we used each consisted of a frame about 15 inches +square, but with the upper and lower pieces extending 12 inches beyond +one of the side pieces. On these extended pieces a slideway was formed +for the window sash by nailing on two strips of wood about 3/4 inch +square and over them a pair of wider strips projecting inward, so as to +overlap the edges of the sash. The window sash consisted of a frame +13-1/2 inches square, made of 3/4-inch square strips over which canvas +was tightly stretched and tacked. A spool was nailed on at one side for +a handle. These windows were closed only in rainy weather, to keep the +water out. + + +SLIDING DOORS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 144. Section of the Door and Frame.] + +We had two doors; one at the back of the house, from which a ladder +extended down to the ground, and another opening out onto the veranda, +from which we dropped a ladder down to the Goblins' Dancing Platform. In +order to save space we used sliding instead of swinging doors. The back +door frame was 5-1/2 feet high and the front door frame 6 feet high. The +doors were mounted on the outside of the building. The side posts of +each frame were 2-1/2 feet apart, and the lintel and sill extended 3 +feet beyond the side post at one side. The upper face of the lintel was +planed down perfectly smooth, and its edges were tapered off to make a +track for the rollers on the door. The rollers consisted of two spools, +which turned on tenpenny nails driven into the top of the door. At the +lower end two more spools were mounted, turning on nails driven in the +bottom edge of the door. The rims of the spools extended slightly beyond +the outer face of the door and rolled against the sill. To keep the +water from leaking in at the top a slanting board was fastened above it, +as shown in Fig. 144. The back door was similarly constructed. Our tree +house was completed by a running balustrade around the veranda. + +It strangely happened that just after our tree house had been built we +received a photograph from Uncle Ed of a Filipino tree house made of +bamboo. + +[Illustration: A Filipino Bamboo Tree House.] + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +TROUBLE WITH THE TRAMPS. + + +We were a proud lot when the house was finally completed. From the +veranda we had an excellent view up and down the river. We could see our +camp on the island and keep watch of our goods. Late one afternoon +Dutchy and I were lolling about on the Goblins' Platform, idly watching +a hawk soaring above us. The rest of the boys had returned to the island +in canoes an hour before and left the heavy scow for us to row back. It +was drawing near supper time and we had about decided to start for home, +when I chanced to see a scow up the river. It looked exactly like ours, +and in it were two men, evidently drunk, from the way they carried on. A +glance showed me that our scow was not at its moorings. How were we to +reach the camp? One of the men had evidently seen us and was pointing us +out to his companion. We rushed down the Jacob's Ladder, but by the time +we reached the river bank they were in midstream and heading rapidly +northward. Our shouts merely brought forth derisive laughter. We were +certainly in a predicament. First we ran back up the cliff, and tried +from there to gain the attention of the rest of the fellows. They +evidently saw us but couldn't make out what we wanted. Then we ran down +to a point opposite the island and called to them. But the wind was +against us and we couldn't make them hear, so we had to plunge in and +wade across. + + +A COUNCIL OF WAR. + +Immediately we summoned a war council. Dutchy and Jack were chosen by +lot to guard the camp, while the rest of us started in pursuit in +canoes. By the time we got under way the sun had dropped back of the +Pennsylvania hills and the shadows were climbing slowly up the Jacob's +Ladder. Swiftly we paddled up-stream, keeping close to the western +shore, where the water was very quiet. We didn't expect to go far, +because there were rapids less than three miles up, and we were sure +that no tramps would ever be ambitious enough to row a heavy scow +against the swift current at that point. As we rounded a sharp bend in +the river, we noticed a camp fire a few hundred feet further up, around +which five or six men were lounging, and there, just below them, was our +scow. What were four boys to do against six grown men? We were each +armed with a club, and could have made a pretty good fight if necessary, +but after a whispered consultation we decided it would be best to wait +until dark, when we could creep up quietly and steal away unnoticed with +our boat. + + +VENGEANCE. + +It seemed as if darkness never would come. It was scarcely dusk when our +patience gave out and we paddled up stealthily, hugging the shore. Bill +gained the scow unnoticed, but just as he was about to push off he +discerned the body of a man within. It was one of the tramps lying there +in a drunken stupor. What was to be done? Every moment was precious. A +yell from the fireside decided him. With a mighty push he launched the +boat out into the current, while we threw him a line and towed the boat +out to midstream. With a volley of curses the men sprang up and pelted +us with stones. But they were poor shots, and we escaped without serious +injury. Our prisoner, in the meantime, was snoring heavily in the scow +undisturbed. We took him down-stream and then unceremoniously picked him +up and dumped him overboard within a few feet of the shore. It was a +rude awakening, and nearly frightened the wits out of the man. But it +brought him to his senses, and in a moment we were dodging more stones, +sent with such good aim that we had to lie flat in the bottoms of the +boats until the current carried us out of reach. + + +A DOUBLE SURPRISE. + +It was now quite dark, and we had some difficulty in groping our way +back to camp. There was no moon and the stars were obscured by clouds. +Our only course was to follow the shore line until we got around the +bend, and then we steered for the beacon fire, which, by prearrangement, +had been kindled on Point Lookout. But the spirit of mischief was in us. +We thought we would have some fun with Dutchy. We could see him +silhouetted against the blaze. Jim and I hung back in the canoes, while +Reddy and Bill went on with the scow, splashing their oars and shouting +and singing in disguised voices, like drunken men. Dutchy was evidently +very much agitated. His "Hello, there! Boat ahoy!" was greeted with +derisive yells. + +[Illustration: Fig. 145. A Joke on Dutchy.] + +"Say, we'll lick the life out of you, the same as we did them other +kids," shouted Reddy. + +This was too much for Dutchy. He ran for all he was worth, yelling for +Jack to come quick. + +We had a merry laugh over the situation when suddenly the tables were +turned. Something whizzed past Bill's ear; I was stung on the arm with a +heavy nail; a large stone hit the scow; Reddy had his hat knocked off, +and Fred upset his canoe trying to duck out of reach of the invisible +missiles before we could make our assailants understand that we were +friends and not the tramps. The joke was on us after all. We hadn't +counted on Dutchy's accurate aim or Jack's skill with the crossbow. + + +TRAMP-PROOF BOAT MOORING. + +[Illustration: Fig. 146. A Tramp-proof Mooring.] + +Around the camp fire that night we discussed our adventures and made +plans to prevent their recurrence. It was evident, for one thing, that +we would have to moor our boats off shore in such a way that they would +be out of reach of meddlesome persons, and yet could be drawn in toward +shore by any one who knew how. This was the way we did it. A pair of +galvanized iron ring bolts were procured on Jack's next trip to +Lamington for provisions, also a light rope about forty feet long. The +ring bolts were screwed into a pair of stout anchor stakes about two +feet from their lower ends. The rope was passed through the rings and +the ends were joined by tying them to a galvanized iron link. Then it +was soaked for a while to shrink it before it was set in place. After +the rope had shrunk sufficiently, the two stakes were driven into the +bed of the river, one close to the bank and the other far enough out to +hold the rope belt clear of the bottom. Both stakes were sawed off under +water, just above the ring bolts, so that they were hidden from sight. +When we wanted to moor our boats we secured their anchor ropes or +"painters" to the link. A large stepping stone marked the spot were the +inner stake was driven, and standing on this stone we were able to reach +down and haul in on the lower strap of the belt to draw the boat out a +safe distance from shore, and then when we wanted to use our boat again +we would haul in the upper strap to draw the boat in toward shore. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +WIGWAGGING AND HELIOGRAPHING. + + +Our tramp adventure was really quite a blessing to us, for it taught us +the necessity of a good signaling system between the Goblins' Platform +and the island and led to our learning how to wigwag, and later to the +construction of a heliograph. Uncle Ed, when he read of our experience, +sent us the U. S. Army "Manual of Signaling." Fred, the tailor of our +camp, made us two white flags with red centers. Each flag was two feet +square and was fastened to a light staff about five feet long. Then we +got out the manual and practised sending signals, at first within +shouting distance, until we got to be quite expert. + + +WIGWAG SIGNALS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 147-150. Ready, First Movement, Second Movement, +Third Movement.] + +There were only three different movements that could be made with flags, +but in the book different combinations of these movements were given to +represent each letter of the alphabet and the numbers from 1 to 0. All +these movements were begun and ended by holding the flagstaff upright, +directly in front of the body, as shown in Fig. 147. The first movement +was to swing the flag down to the right and back (Fig. 148), the second +to the left and back (Fig. 149), and the third forward and back (Fig. +150). The following table gives the different combinations used for +various letters: + +The Wigwag Alphabet. + +A 22 J 1122 S 212 +B 2112 K 2121 T 2 +C 121 L 221 U 112 +D 222 M 1221 V 1222 +E 12 N 11 W 1121 +F 2221 O 21 X 2122 +G 2211 P 1212 Y 111 +H 122 Q 1211 Z 2222 +I 1 R 211 tion 1112 + +Numerals. + +1 1111 4 2221 8 2111 +2 2222 5 1122 9 1221 +3 1112 6 2211 0 2112 + 7 1222 + + +[Illustration: Fig. 151. The Signal for Letter "B."] + +The numbers 1, 2 and 3 indicate respectively the first, second and third +movements. For instance, A was represented by the combination 22, which +means that the flag must be swept to the left and back twice. B is +represented by the combination 2112, that is, a sweep to the left, two +sweeps to the right and a final sweep to the left, as shown in Fig. 151. +The end of a word was represented by a sweep forward and back; the end +of a sentence by two sweeps forward and back, and the end of a message +by three sweeps forward and back. It will be noticed that the same +combinations are used for 2 and Z, 3 and _tion_, 4 and F, 5 and J, +6 and G, 7 and V, 9 and M, and 0 and B. The following abbreviations were +given in the Manual: + +Abbreviations. + +a after n not ur your +b before r are w word +c can t the wi with +h have u you y yes + +These abbreviations saved a lot of time, for when we wanted to signal +the word _after_ instead of spelling it out--22-2221-2-12-211-3--we +used the signal for A--22--followed by 3 to signify that it was the end +of the word. Before was represented by 2112-3, _your_ by 111-211-3, +etc. It took quite a little practice to learn the different +combinations. Fred and Reddy soon became experts, and could flash the +signals back and forth at a great rate. + + +WIGWAGGING AT NIGHT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 152. Wigwagging at Night.] + +At night we used a torch in place of a flag. The torch consisted of a +roll of dried birch bark tied with wire to the end of a staff. It was +found necessary to place another torch on the ground directly in front +of the signaler so as to fix a central point and enable one to determine +whether the moving torch was swung to the left or right. A later +improvement was to use three lanterns, one in each hand and one attached +to the waist to fix the central position. It was quite an advantage to +have a lantern in each hand, for it saved changing over from one to the +other when a second movement followed a first or a first movement a +second. + + +THE HELIOGRAPH. + +The book that Uncle Ed sent us had in it a description of a heliograph, +that is, an instrument for sending signals with flashes of sunlight. +Although our wigwagging system was good enough for our requirements, yet +we thought it would be more scientific to use the sun instrument, and +besides, the latter could be used for signaling many miles. + + +THE SINGLE MIRROR INSTRUMENT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 153. Trunnion for Mirror.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 154. The Single Mirror Instrument.] + +The first thing we did was to procure a small mirror about 4 inches +square, mounted in a wooden frame. Then we got a pair of small square +head bolts about 1/4 of an inch in diameter and 1 inch long, also two +strips of brass 1/2 inch wide and 3 inches long. In the center of each +brass strip we drilled a hole just large enough to admit the shank of +one of the bolts, and then the strips were fastened with screws tight +against opposite edges of the mirror frame, with the heads pressed +against the frame and the shanks sticking out at each side, as shown in +Fig. 153. These projecting shanks served as "trunnions" (that is, +pivots) for the mirror to turn on when it was mounted in place. After +the trunnions had been set in place we made a peep hole in the center of +the mirror by cutting out a piece of the wooden back of the frame and +scratching away the silver from the back of the glass. Only a very small +hole was required, about 1/8 inch in diameter. Great care was taken to +have the unsilvered spot exactly on a line with the trunnions and just +half-way between them. This done, we took two sticks of 3/8-inch wood, 1 +inch wide and 3-1/2 inches long. In the upper end of each stick a slot +was cut 1/2 inch deep and 1/4 inch wide. Into these slots the trunnions +of the mirror were placed, and then the nuts were screwed tightly on, +clamping the sticks against the sides of the mirror. The sticks were now +connected by nailing a 1/2-inch strip at the bottom, and braced by a +couple of corner pieces. This formed a swiveled frame for the mirror, +which was clamped to the base of the instrument by means of a bolt 1-1/2 +inches long. The bolt passed through the bottom board of the frame, +squarely under the peep hole of the mirror and through the baseboard of +the instrument near one end. The baseboard was 2 inches wide, 10 inches +long and 3/4 inch thick. + + +THE SIGHT ROD. + +[Illustration: Fig. 155. The Sight Rod.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 156. Nut Set in Baseboard.] + +At the end opposite to where the mirror frame was swiveled we mounted a +sight rod, which was merely a round stick of wood 1/2 inch in diameter +and about 8 inches long. We cut the stick from one of the rounds of an +old broken chair. The upper end of the rod was whittled to a point and +one side was flattened as shown in Fig. 155. Out of a piece of heavy +white cardboard we cut a round disk about 1/4 inch in diameter, with a +shank 1 inch long sticking out at one side. This was fastened with a +single tack to the flattened end of the rod in such a position that the +point lay exactly against the center of the disk. The disk could then be +turned up or down, to cover or uncover the point of the rod, as desired. +The rod was fitted snugly into a hole in the baseboard, and could be +raised or lowered to any extent desired, but we had to provide some sort +of an arrangement for making it stay where it was put. A small hole was +drilled from the edge of the baseboard through to the hole in which the +rod was fitted. A square socket was chiseled out around the small hole +to receive a nut. The nut was firmly wedged in and held in place by +driving in nails along the edges. A bolt or machine screw was threaded +through the nut, so that its inner end pressed against the sighting rod. +By tightening this screw the rod could be secured at any height desired. + +The instrument was mounted on a tripod similar to the one used for our +surveying instrument. To this it was attached by means of a bolt, which +passed through the center of the baseboard and the tripod head. + + +THE SCREEN. + +[Illustration: Fig. 157. Section through Shutter.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 158. General View of Screen.] + +The screen, or shutter, of the heliograph was mounted on a separate +tripod, so as to prevent shaking the mirror when it was operated. It was +made something like a window shutter. We cut out two slats, each 2-1/2 +inches wide and 6 inches long. They were made of hardwood 3/8 inch +thick. The upper and lower edges were tapered down to a thickness of +3/16 inch. Light nails were driven into the slats at the ends, and the +nail heads were then filed off so that the projecting ends formed +trunnions for the slats to turn on. The slats were linked to a +connecting rod with double point tacks. A small double point tack was +driven into the upper edge of each slat about 1/2 inch from the right +hand end. Then through each of these tacks we hooked a second double +point tack and drove it into the rod. The tacks on the rod were placed +just 2 inches apart. A substantial frame was then made of 3/4-inch stuff +1-1/2 inches wide. The frame was square, with an opening that measured 6 +inches each way, into which the slats were fitted. Before nailing the +frame together we drilled holes in the side pieces for the trunnions of +the slats to turn in. These holes were just 1-3/4 inches apart. After +the slats had been set in place, the frame was fastened together and +then nailed to a baseboard, which was fastened by a bolt to the tripod. +The shutter was operated by a key something like a telegraph key. It was +made of a narrow stick of wood hinged at one end to the lower strip of +the shutter frame, and a spool sawed in two was fastened to the other +end to serve as a handle for the key. A string connected the key with +the connecting rod. The slats were kept closed by a spring, which was +fastened at one end to the connecting rod and at the other to the top of +the frame. At first we used a rubber band for this purpose, but it soon +wore out, so we then made a spiral spring out of stiff spring brass wire +by wrapping it around a pencil. When the key was pressed down the slats +would be turned open, as shown in Fig. 159; but as soon as the key was +released the spring would pull them back again. + + +FOCUSING THE INSTRUMENT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 159. The Heliograph in Operation.] + +We were now ready to commence operations with our instruments. The +heliograph was set up on the ledge at the top of the cliff. First the +disk was turned down, uncovering the point of the sighting rod. Then +Bill sighted through the unsilvered spot in the mirror and shifted the +rod up and down until the tip end came squarely in line with the door of +our straw hut, where Jack was seated, notebook in hand, to take down our +message. Reddy stood by him with his wigwag flag to answer back. When +the instrument was properly sighted the shutter was set up directly in +front of it and the sighting disk turned up to cover the point of the +sighting rod. Then came the rather troublesome task of focusing the +mirror. The mirror reflected a square panel of light, in the center of +which there was a small shadow spot made by the unsilvered peep hole. +The object was to get this shadow to fall on the center of the sighting +disk. We knew that then the mirror would reflect the sunlight squarely +on the straw hut. We found it quite easy to direct this shadow spot to +the disk by holding a sheet of paper in front of the mirror six or eight +inches away, and following up the spot on the paper until it reached the +disk. + + +HELIOGRAPH SIGNALING. + +[Illustration: Fig. 160. Top View, showing position of Mirror and +Shutter.] + +When at last we succeeded in properly focusing the mirror Bill pressed +the key down three times, sending three quick flashes to Jack as a +signal that he was ready to begin. Reddy wigwagged back O. K., and then +the first heliographic message was sent from the ledge to the island. It +was a rather mixed-up message, and kept Jim and Reddy wigwagging back +and forth very strenuously to straighten matters out. It was my duty to +keep the mirror focused. As the sun moved across the sky the shadow spot +would move off the disk, and I had to keep shifting the mirror to bring +the spot back where it belonged. We used the International Telegraph +Code, which we had been studying every evening for a week, but it was +many weeks before we learned how to use it correctly, even slowly. The +International Telegraph Code is as follows: + +A ·- B -··· C -·-· D -·· +E · F ··-· G --· H ···· I ·· +J ·--- K -·- L ·-·· +M -- N -· O --- +P ·--· Q --·- R ·-· +S ··· T - U ··- V ···- W ·-- +X -··- Y -·-- Z --·· +1 ·---- 2 ··--- +3 ···-- 4 ····- 5 ····· +6 -···· 7 --··· 8 ---·· +9 ----· 0 ----- + +The three short flashes Bill sent represented the letter S, which stood +for the word "signal." A was formed by a short flash followed by a long +flash; B by a long flash followed by three short ones, and so on. The +key was held down three times as long for the long flash as for the +short one. We found the best way of learning to send the signals +properly was to count 1 for each short flash, and for each pause between +parts of the letter, and 3 for each dash and for each pause between +letters. Between words we counted 6. Thus, for the letter A the key +would be down when we counted 1, up when we counted 2, down while we +counted 3, 4, 5, and up while we counted 6, 7, 8, for the pause after +each letter. It was rather a confusing code, I admit, but in time we +mastered it, all but Reddy and Fred, who never would learn, but instead +used the wigwag code, letting a short flash stand for 1, a long flash +for 2 and a double long flash for 3. + + +THE DOUBLE MIRROR INSTRUMENT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 161. The Double Mirror Instrument.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 162. Top View, showing position of the Two Mirrors +and the Screen.] + +Our heliographing instrument did excellent service sending flashes from +the cliff to the island, but we couldn't make it work very well sending +messages from the island to the cliff, because we had to face almost due +north, and then the sun was nearly always at our backs and couldn't +shine squarely on the mirror. This led to our building a double mirrored +heliograph the following summer. To begin with, we built an instrument +which was the exact duplicate of our first heliograph; then, in +addition, to fit in the socket of the sighting rod, we rigged up a +second mirror, which was mounted in exactly the same way as the first. +The second mirror was called the station mirror, and differed from the +other, or sun mirror, in having a small patch of white paper pasted at +the center instead of a peep hole. When using this instrument, we set it +up so that the station mirror faced the ledge, then by sighting through +the hole in the sun mirror at the reflection in the station mirror we +could see just what was in focus. The station mirror had to be moved +until the patch at its center hid the ledge from view. After that the +sun mirror was shifted until the shadow spot fell on the white patch of +the station mirror. When once the station mirror was focused, it could +be clamped tightly in place by screwing up the trunnion and swivel nuts. +But the sun mirror had to be constantly shifted to keep the shadow on +the patch. Another way of focusing the mirrors was to stand behind the +instrument with the head close to the station mirror, shift the sun +mirror until the entire station mirror was reflected in it, with the +white patch squarely over the unsilvered spot; then still looking at the +sun mirror, the station mirror was shifted until the reflection of the +distant station was brought squarely in line with the unsilvered spot on +the mirror. The station mirror was now firmly bolted and the sun mirror +adjusted until the shadow spot fell on the paper patch. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +ICE BOATS, SLEDGES AND TOBOGGANS. + + +As our vacation was drawing to a close, we began to make plans for the +Christmas holidays. Our previous Christmas vacation had been so +completely taken up with preparations for the trip to Willow Clump +Island that we had had no time for the trip itself. We resolved this +time to have everything ready beforehand, so that we could spend the +entire two weeks in solid pleasure. Our skate sails and snow shoes were +stored in the attic, ready for use. If we were to make a trip in the +snow we would need a sledge, and then, too, we wanted to make an ice +boat. It would hardly pay to build these on the island and then cart +them home, so it was decided to break up camp a couple of weeks before +school commenced. + + +BREAKING CAMP. + +Consequently, on the first day of September we gathered up our +belongings, corraled our chickens, packed our goods, and the next day +started for home. Mr. Schreiner, in response to a letter from the +secretary, came down with a large wagon in which the majority of the +things were packed. The rest of our luggage was stowed in the scow and +the canoes, and these were towed down the canal, as before. We reached +home late in the afternoon, tired and hungry. It was a treat to sit at +the table again and eat some of Mother's appetizing dishes. And say, +wasn't that pie great, though! My, how ravenous we were! And then a +soft, comfortable bed with spotless white sheets and pillow cases. How +soundly we did sleep that night! You can just bet we were all glad +enough to get back to civilization, though, of course, no one could have +dragged out the confession from a single one of us. + + +THE ICE BOAT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 163. The Backbone.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 164. Frame of the Ice Boat.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 165. Runner Shoe.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 166. The Rudder Shoe.] + +School commenced on the 20th of September that year, so we hadn't much +time to spare. Work was begun immediately on the ice boat. Our first ice +boat was rather a crude one. A 2 by 4 inch scantling 14 feet long was +used for the backbone of the boat. The scantling was placed on edge, and +to lighten it and improve its appearance it was tapered fore and aft +from a point 4 feet from the bow end. The thickness of the ends of the +backbone was but 2 inches, as shown in Fig. 163. To the under edge of +the backbone, 5 feet from the forward end, a crosspiece was nailed. This +crosspiece was a 1-inch board 6 inches wide and 9 feet long. Braces were +then run from the ends of the crosspiece to the forward and rear ends of +the backbone, and at the rear end several boards nailed across the +braces served as a seat for the boat. + +Our next task was to rig up the runners. For these we used skates, which +were so arranged that we could remove them whenever we wanted to. Three +blocks of wood were used for the runner shoes. Two of them were cut from +a 2 by 4 scantling and measured a foot in length. The third block was +only 1 inch thick, but was otherwise of the same dimensions. The skates +were laid face downward on the blocks with the clamping levers open; +then we marked the places where the clamping jaws touched the wood and +drilled holes at these points. The forward end of each block was also +tapered off to fit flat against the face of the skate. Then by inserting +the jaws in the holes and closing the levers, the skate was clamped to +the block, just as it would be to a shoe. The two 2-inch blocks were +bolted to the ends of the crosspiece, but the third block needed further +attention, as it was to be used for the rudder or steering runner. + +[Illustration: Fig. 167. The Tiller.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 168. Drilling the Mast Step.] + +The rudder post was shaped from a block of hardwood 3 inches square and +10 inches long. Two inches from the lower end saw cuts were made in the +side of the block to a depth of 3/4 inch. Then with a chisel the sides +were split off, forming a large pin with a square shank 8 inches long. +Next the corners of the shank were cut off, rounding it to a diameter of +1-1/2 inches. The runner block was fastened securely to the head of the +rudder post with screws. A 1-1/2-inch hole was now drilled into the +backbone at the stern end to receive the rudder post. A tiller was next +cut out of a 1-inch board to the shape shown in Fig. 167. A slot was cut +in the end of the tiller, and the latter fitted snugly over the top of +the post, where it was held in place by screws threaded in through the +sides. + +[Illustration: Fig. 169. The Mainsail.] + +The mast of our boat was a pole 8 feet long, tapering from a diameter 2 +inches at the base to 1-1/2 inches at the top. A step for the mast was +cut from a 2 by 4 block 8 inches long. A 2-inch hole was drilled into +the face of this block. We had no drill large enough to bore this hole, +but accomplished the same result by drilling eight 1/2-inch holes inside +of a 2-inch circle (Fig. 168), and then used a chisel to cut off the +projecting pieces. The mast step was firmly bolted to the backbone at +its thickest part, that is, just four feet from the forward end. The +mast was braced with stay ropes stretched from the top to the forward +end of the backbone and to the ends of the crosspiece. A 9-foot pole, +tapering from 1-1/2 inches to 1 inch in diameter, was used for the boom +of the mainsail, and for the gaff we used a 6-foot pole of the same +diameter. + +[Illustration: Fig. 170. Jaws of the Boom.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 171. A Cleat.] + +The dimensions of the mainsail are given in Fig. 169. For mast hoops we +used curtain rings. Five were attached to the sail along the luff, and +one was fastened with a piece of leather to the end of the gaff. We used +a different scheme for holding the boom to the mast. The forward end of +the boom was flattened at the sides and a couple of cheek blocks were +bolted on, forming jaws of the shape indicated in Fig. 170. The jaws +were whittled out to fit nicely around the mast, and were kept from +slipping off by a piece of rope passed around the mast and threaded +through the ends of the cheek blocks. Half a dozen small pulley blocks +were now procured, of the type used on awnings. A rope called the throat +halyard was strung from the throat or forward end of the gaff through a +pulley block near the top of the mast, and led down to the backbone, +where it was "belayed," or wrapped around a cleat. The cleat, which was +whittled out of a stick of wood, was made in the form indicated in Fig. +171. A short length of rope was strung through a pulley block and tied +with some slack to the upper end and to the center of the gaff. This +rope is called a "bridle," and to the pulley block on this "bridle" a +rope was attached called the "peak halyard." The peak halyard was passed +through a pulley block at the top of the mast, and belayed on a cleat at +the side of the backbone. For the main sheet (that is, the rope used for +guiding the mainsail) two pulley blocks were fastened to the backbone, +one just in front of the seat and the other a few feet further forward, +and two more were lashed to the boom, midway between these blocks. The +sheet was fastened near the aft end of the backbone and then strung +through the blocks in the order illustrated, the free end of the sheet +being brought back to the seat, where a cleat was provided, to which it +could be secured when desired. + +[Illustration: Fig. 172. The Jib-sail.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 173. The Ice Boat Completed.] + +The jib-sail was now cut out to the dimensions given in Fig. 172. The +foot of the sail was lashed to a jib-boom 3 feet 4 inches long. The +jib-boom was attached to the backbone at its fore end by means of a +couple of screw eyes. The eye of one of these was pried open, linked +through the other and then closed again. One of the screw eyes was now +screwed into the head of the jib-boom and the other was threaded into +the end of the backbone. The upper corner or "head" of the jib was tied +to a jib-halyard, which passed through a block at the top of the mast, +and was secured on a cleat on the backbone. On the jib we used two +sheets. They were attached to the end of the jib-boom and passed on +opposite sides of the mast through blocks on the crosspiece to the stern +of the boat, where separate cleats were provided for them. + +This completed our ice boat, and a very pretty little boat she was. It +was with great reluctance that we furled the sails, unstepped the mast, +and stowed away the parts in our attic until old Jack Frost should wake +up and furnish us with a field of smooth ice. + + +THE SLEDGE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 174. A Spacing Block.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 175. The Runners and Rails Spaced Apart.] + +Our sledge was patterned after a picture of one used by Peary in one of +his Arctic expeditions. First we got four strips of hickory 1 inch +thick, 1-1/2 inches wide and 8 feet long for the runners and side rails. +Beginning 18 inches from the ends, each stick was tapered gradually to a +thickness of 1/2 an inch. Then we made eight spreaders or spacing +blocks, each 1-1/2 inches thick, 2-1/2 inches wide and 11 inches long. +In each end a notch 1/2 inch deep was cut to receive the runners and +side rails. In the edge of each block, midway of its length, a slot 1 +inch deep was cut to receive the cross sticks of the sledge. First we +nailed the runners and rails to the blocks, fastening them with screws, +spacing the blocks 16 inches from the ends, and 20 inches apart from +center to center. Then we bent the ends of the rails and runners +together, fastening them with bolts, as in Fig. 175. Four crosspieces, +or floor beams, were cut out of a 1-inch board, each 2 inches wide and +30 inches long. These were fitted into the slots in the space blocks and +secured with screws. A cross stick was also fastened between the rails +and runners at the forward end. On the floor beams we nailed a flooring +of 1/2-inch slats, 2 inches wide and 6 feet long. At the rear end these +slats projected 8 inches beyond the last space block and over them a +cross slat was nailed. A stick of hickory 4-1/2 feet long was soaked in +hot water, as described on page 39, and was bent to an U-shape. The ends +were then fitted over the first cross stick, and under the first floor +supports, and securely nailed in place. Another stick of hickory 6 feet +long was similarly bent, and the ends slipped over the rear cross slats +and fitted against the rear space blocks, in which position the stick +was securely nailed. + +[Illustration: Fig. 176. The Sledge.] + +It was our intention to shoe the runners with strips of brass, but these +were not procurable in our village, and we had no time to go down to +Millville. However, the village blacksmith came to our rescue and shod +our sledge with sleigh runner iron. + +We had planned to make two more devices for our winter sports--a +toboggan and a peculiar looking contrivance called a "rennwolf," a +picture of which Dutchy happened to unearth in one of his father's +books. Unfortunately Bill and I had to return to school before either of +these was completed. However, the work was entrusted to Reddy, who was +quite handy with tools, and Jack, who was made secretary _pro +tempore_, took notes on the work. + + +THE TOBOGGAN. + +[Illustration: Fig. 177. Tying Down the Head Piece of the Toboggan.] + +The toboggan was made of light flexible hickory boards, 1/4 of an inch +thick, 6 inches wide and 8 feet long. Three of these boards were used, +and they were fastened together with cross sticks or battens, about 3 +inches wide and 1/2 an inch thick. There were six of these battens +spaced about 15 inches apart, and secured to the floor boards with +flathead screws introduced from the under side and countersunk so that +the heads would not project below the bottom of the toboggan. At the +forward end we screwed on a head piece of oak, 3/4 of an inch thick, +1-1/2 inches wide and 20 inches long. The head piece was fastened to the +under side of the boards, so that when they were curved up into a hood +it would lie on top. The ends of the head piece, which projected 1 inch +each side of the boards, were notched to hold the rope, which was tied +fast after the boards had been steamed. The boards were steamed by +wrapping them in burlap for a distance of 2 feet from the forward end, +and pouring boiling water over them, as was done with the snow shoes +(page 39). Before bending the boards we had fixed screw eyes in the ends +of each batten, except the forward one; a rope had been strung through +these screw eyes and the ends were now tied to the head piece and drawn +tight so as to bend the boards into a graceful curve. In this way the +ropes were of service not only for curving the front end into a hood, +but also for side rails, to hold on by when shooting swiftly around +curves. + +[Illustration: Fig. 178. The Toboggan.] + + +THE RENNWOLF. + +The runners of the rennwolf were made of hickory strips, 1 inch thick, 2 +inches wide and 8 feet long. At their forward ends these strips were +tapered down to a thickness of 1/2 an inch and curved upward. About 30 +inches from the rear end of each runner an upright post was nailed. The +post was 3 feet long and was braced by a diagonal brace 24 inches long, +as shown in Fig. 179. A tie bar was nailed to the post about 6 or 8 +inches from the bottom and connected with the forward curved end of the +runner. + +[Illustration: Fig. 179. Dimensions of Rennwolf.] + +The two runners were now placed parallel to each other about 18 inches +apart, and connected by four cross bars, one at the forward end, and +three on the upright posts, in about the positions illustrated. The +upper cross bar was extended 6 inches beyond the posts at each side, and +served as a handle for guiding the queer craft. An 18-inch square board +was used for the seat of the rennwolf. It rested on the second cross-bar +of the post about 12 inches from the runners, and the forward end was +supported on legs nailed to the tie bars. On each runner back of the +posts a loop of leather was nailed, large enough to receive the toe of +one shoe. + +When using this odd sled one foot would rest on the runner with the toe +in the strap, and by kicking out against the snow or ice with the other +foot the rennwolf would be made to spin along at a rapid rate. Of +course, when coasting both feet would rest on the runners and the sled +was steered by an occasional side push at the right or left. Owing to +the great length of the runners the rennwolf would easily ride over +uneven surfaces and thin spots in the ice. + +[Illustration: Fig. 180. The Rennwolf in Use.] + + +ICE CREEPERS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 181. The Ice Creeper.] + +In order to provide a better hold for the propelling foot, we fastened +around the toe a strap of leather, through which a number of long tacks +projected. Their sharp points would stick into the ice, and prevent the +foot from slipping. The seat of the rennwolf was convenient for carrying +a coat or any light luggage, and it was often used to give a friend a +very exhilarating ride. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE SUBTERRANEAN CLUB. + + +I am afraid we were not very glad to get back to school that fall. It +seemed very hard to give up the sport we had been having, and our heads +were brimful of new schemes which we could hardly wait to put into +practice. But we soon learned that there are many things that could be +done during recreation hours at school. We had intended building a cave +on our island that summer, but our vacation came to an end before we got +around to it. There seemed no reason why we shouldn't dig one in the +woods at the back of the schoolhouse. + + +A CAVE-IN. + +Bill had read somewhere that if you dig a cave under a tree the roots of +the tree will support the ground on top and make a natural and +substantial roof. It sounded very reasonable, we thought; in fact, we +never questioned the truth of the statement, because we had somehow +gotten the notion that books were never wrong, and that whatever was set +up in type must surely be so. But events proved that the man who wrote +that book had never attempted to build a cave in the manner he +described, at least not in the loose, sandy soil of south Jersey. A +large spreading cedar was selected as the tree which should support the +roof of our cave. It was situated on a mound at the edge of the woods. +First a passageway, or ditch, was dug at the bottom, and then we begun +tunneling in the side of the mound under the roots of the tree. For a +while the ground above held, and our tunnel had reached a length of +about four feet, when suddenly, without the slightest warning, the sandy +soil gave way and we were engulfed. Bill, who was furthest within the +cave, was almost entirely covered, while I was buried to the shoulders. +A crowd of boys came to our assistance and dug us out. Poor Bill was +almost smothered before they scooped the sand away from around his mouth +and nose. The boys made slow work of it, having to dig with their hands +and a couple of shingles, because the two spades we had were buried with +us at the bottom of the cave. + +Of course, this little episode gave us a scare, but it was only +temporary. We swore every one to secrecy, so that Mr. Clark, the +principal, wouldn't hear of the mishap and suppress any further cave +building. It was obvious that the only roof we could depend on for our +cave would be a wooden roof. If we had been at Willow Clump Island we +would have gotten any amount of slabs from the lumber mills across the +river. + +One of our schoolmates, a day scholar, came to the rescue. His name was +Chester Hill, a little bit of a chap, about the shortest for his age +that I have ever seen. His name was so at variance to his size that we +called him "Hillock," for short. Now Hillock lived on a farm about eight +miles from school, and used to drive in every day on a farm wagon. He +had helped us dig the cave under the cedar tree, and when he learned +that we would need some lumber to build a safe cave, he told us that he +had an uncle who owned a lumber mill on the Morris River, from whom he +was sure we could get all the slabs we wanted. Of course, we were +delighted, and laid our plans for an elaborate cave house. Hillock +promised to be on hand on the following Saturday afternoon with his load +of lumber. + + +EXCAVATING FOR THE CAVE. + +We immediately set out to make the necessary excavation. The side of a +bushy knoll was chosen as a suitable site. First we carefully +transplanted the bushes that grew in the square we had marked out for +the cave, and cutting the sod into squares, piled it all neatly to one +side. Then we shoveled away the top-soil and heaped it up for future +use. After that we dug away the sandy subsoil. The cave proper we +planned to make about 8 feet by 10 feet, with a passageway 2 feet wide +and 6 feet long, leading in from a large bush at the base of the knoll. +Our excavation was therefore somewhat T-shaped (see Fig. 182). At the +deepest part we had to dig down about 10 feet. + +[Illustration: Fig. 182. Excavation for the Cave.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 183. Framework of the Cave.] + +The digging was all done by Saturday, when Hillock pulled up with a big +load of slabs. Slabs are a very unsatisfactory kind of wood for most +purposes. Being the outside cut, they are usually very irregular and +weak in spots. In many places they are almost clear bark. Of course, had +our pocketbooks permitted, we would have used stout scantlings for the +corner posts of our cave house and substantial boards for the walls, +roof and flooring, but we had to be content with materials at hand. +Eight of the best slabs were selected for our corner posts; four of them +we cut to the length of 8 feet and the others to a length of 6 feet. The +long slabs were set up at the rear of the cave, two at each corner, one +flat against the rear wall, with its edge buried in the corner, and the +other against the side wall, with its edge tight against the rear slab, +as in Fig. 183. The same was done at the forward corners with the +shorter slabs. A couple of slabs were now set up on each side of the +passageway, and a corresponding pair against the rear wall. The upper +and lower ends of the uprights were then connected with slabs, called +stringpieces. + +[Illustration: Fig. 184. The Siding and Flooring.] + +The sides were now boarded up with upright slabs nailed to the +stringpieces. An opening 3 feet 6 inches high was left in the forward +wall for a passageway. Several slabs were now placed on the edge across +the bottom of the cave, to serve as floor beams, upon which a flooring +of slabs was laid. Next the rafters were set in place, one on each +upright slab. Slots were cut in the ends of the uprights to receive the +rafters, which were slabs placed on edge. As the forward uprights were 2 +feet shorter than the rear ones, the rafters were given a good slant, so +that the roof would properly shed any water that might soak in through +the ground above. + +[Illustration: Fig. 185. Notching in the Rafters.] + +The roof was laid on the same way that we had made the roof of our tree +house; that is, a slab was first nailed at the forward end of the +rafters with its edge projecting far enough to make a good eave; then +the second slab was nailed on, with its edge overlapping the first, and +a third with its edge overlapping the second, and so on with the rest. +At the rear end of the roof a hole was cut, into which we fitted a piece +of stovepipe. We didn't plan to have a fire in the house, but set the +stovepipe in place to provide the necessary ventilation. As the pipe had +an elbow in it, there was no danger of rain or dirt falling through it. +The upper end of the stovepipe was concealed among some rocks at the top +of the knoll. + +A suitable flooring was now laid in the passageway, and the sides were +boarded up to a height of 2 feet from the floor at the entrance to a +height of 3 feet 6 inches at the inner end. A roof of slabs was nailed +on, and then we were ready to cover our slab house with dirt. + + +COVERING THE CAVE. + +We avoided piling on the dirt very deep, because there was danger of +breaking in the roof with a heavy load. A thin layer of sand covered +with the top-soil brought up the level to about that of the rest of the +knoll. Then the sod was laid back in place and well watered, and the few +bushes planted back in their original positions. Our sodding should have +been done in the spring for best results. The frost soon killed the +grass, and the bushes withered away. But a few cents' worth of grass +seed was sowed in, and in time gave the knoll a very natural appearance. +A bush at the bottom concealed the entrance of the cave, so that no one +who was not in the secret would have suspected that beneath that +innocent looking knoll were gathered the members of the "Big Bug Club." + + +THE BIG BUG CLUB. + +[Illustration: Fig. 186. A Section through the Completed Cave.] + +Of course, we had to organize a secret society, to occupy our +subterranean dwelling. In that I fear we overstepped the rules of the +school. Of course, Mr. Clark knew of our cave, in fact he visited us +there once, lowering his dignity sufficiently to squeeze into the narrow +passageway, and playing Bill a game of chess at our club table. He +seemed quite pleased with our work, and complimented us very highly on +the masterful way in which we had built the underground house. We told +him that we had organized a club of the older fellows to play indoor +games and have occasional spreads, but we did not tell him that most of +our spreads were held at the dead of night, when there was no moon and +the stars were hidden by clouds. At 10 o'clock each night the bell rang +for us to turn out our lights, and after that the six members would +each, in turn, keep a half-hour watch, that is, first one would sit up +and try to keep awake for half an hour, after which he would waken the +next fellow, who at the end of a half hour would rouse the third, and so +on, until 1 o'clock, when the sixth watcher would wake up the entire +club. Then we would all creep out the back window in the hall, onto the +roof of the rear annex of the schoolhouse, and thence climb down a rope +ladder to the ground. + + +MIDNIGHT BANQUETS. + +I suppose we could have just as easily have tiptoed downstairs and out +the back door, but it would have spoiled the romance of it all. The +absolute stillness and the pitch-black darkness of the night were +awe-inspiring. The roll of a pebble or the crack of a twig under foot +would set us all atingle as we stole out to our cave house. Sometimes +the night was so black that we could hardly find the entrance of the +cave. Once inside, in the light of a few candles, the nervous tension +was relieved, and we reveled in a banquet of cold victuals and dainties, +purchased out of the monthly club dues. Our meetings in the cave lasted +scarcely half an hour. In fact, the meeting, and even the banquet, were +mere incidentals. The main enjoyment consisted in stealing out to the +cave and back again, always at the risk of getting caught. Usually when +we got to bed again we would be too excited to fall asleep right away, +and when we did finally drop off our sleep was so sound that several +times the breakfast bell caught one or more of us still napping. + + +THE CLUB PIN. + +[Illustration: Fig. 187. The Club Pin.] + +The only other charm our secret club afforded was the wearing of a +mysterious club pin. It was a silver beetle, with the letter G engraved +on the head and the letter B on the body, while down the center of the +back was the letter I (see Fig. 187). In public we called ourselves the +G. I. B.'s, but it was only the initiated members who knew that these +letters were to be read backward, and, with the beetle on which they +were engraved, signified the "Big Bugs." Of course, we had some secret +signs and signals, a secret hand grasp, a peculiar whistle as a warning +to run, another meaning "lie still," and a third signifying "all is +well." + + +THE COMBINATION LOCK. + +[Illustration: Fig. 188 The Notched Washers.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 189. Washers Fastened on Spools.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 190. The Combination Lock.] + +We found it necessary to close the entrance of our cave with a door +fastened with a padlock, so as to keep meddlers out. The entire school +had watched us build the cave house, and, of course, knew just where our +entrance lay. Then, in addition to the outer door, we put in another +one, half-way down the dark passageway. On this Bill rigged up a simple +combination lock which would baffle any one who managed to pick the +padlock. This inner door opened outward. It was hinged to the floor of +the passageway, and swung up against a frame set in the passageway. At +the top was a board whose lower edge lay flush with the edge of the door +when it was closed. For the combination lock we used a couple of spools, +each with one head cut off and the central hole plugged up with a stick +of wood. In the floor and the top board of the frame, holes were drilled +just large enough for the shanks of the spools to fit snugly in them. +Next we made a trip to a hardware store for a file and a couple of large +copper washers, about 1-1/4 inches in diameter. The washers were +fastened to the inner ends of the spools after they had been pushed +through the hole. The washer on the door came just to the edge of the +door, while the other extended below the door frame and lapped under the +door washer. Then in the edge of the washer on the frame a notch was +filed, while in the other washer two notches were filed, so as to leave +a tooth which fitted snugly into the notch of the first washer (see +Figs. 188, 189). The door was locked by turning both the washers until +the notch and tooth came in line with each other, then pushing the tooth +through the notch, and turning the washers so that the frame washer +hooked over the door washer. Then the door could be opened only when the +tooth and notch were brought in line. + +On the head of each spool we pasted a disk of white cardboard, the edge +of which was graduated, as in Fig. 190. Then we had a secret +combination, say 11-19, which meant that when the spools were turned so +that the number 11 on the door spool came in line with the number 19 on +the frame spool the tooth and notch would be in line, and the door could +then be opened. Of course, this combination was known to the members of +the club only, and any one outside who tried to open the door might have +tried for some time without bringing the tooth and notch into line with +each other. Occasionally we changed the combination by loosening the +screws which held the washers, and turning them so that the notch and +tooth came opposite different numbers on the dials. This was done so +that if any one should chance to learn our combination he could not make +use of it very long. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +SCOOTERS. + + +"Hello, Dutchy! What in thunder have you got there?" + +It was Bill who spoke. We were on our way home for the winter holidays, +and had been held up at Millville by Reddy Schreiner, who had informed +us that Dutchy was down by the river with the boat to give us a sail up +to Lamington. + +A vision of a fleet ice boat skimming up the river at express train +speed swam before our eyes. But the next moment, as we turned the corner +into River Street, we were surprised by the sight of our old scow just +off the pier at anchor, and in open water. It was rigged up with a jib +and mainsail, which were flapping idly in the wind. It had also been +altered by decking over the top, with the exception of a small cockpit, +evidently for the purpose of keeping out the water when she heeled over +under the wind. We were disappointed and quite annoyed at not finding +the ice boat on hand; furthermore, our annoyance was considerably +heightened by Dutchy's broad grin of evident delight at our +discomfiture. "The river wasn't all frozen over," he explained, "and we +couldn't bring the ice boat down, so we rigged up the scow and she came +down splendidly." + + +A SAIL IN THE SCOW. + +There was nothing to do but to jump in, though I, for one, would have +taken the train in preference had there been one inside of two hours. +Dutchy, however, seemed to be in a surprisingly good humor, and kept up +a lively chatter about things that the club had made in our absence. The +skis, which have already been described on page 42, had been built under +Reddy's guidance, and they had already used them on Willard's Hill, +coasting down like a streak and shooting way up into the air off a hump +at the bottom. Then there was the toboggan slide down Randall's Hill, +and way across the river on the ice. + + +OUR CRAFT STRIKES THE ICE. + +Dutchy talked so incessantly that we hadn't noticed the field of ice +which we were nearing. Just at this point Bill turned around with an +exclamation. + +"Here, Dutchy, you crazy fellow, where are you going to? Hard to port, +man--hard aport--or you will crash into the ice!" + +But Dutchy only grinned nervously. + +"I tell you, you will smash the boat!" Bill cried again, making a dive +for the steering oar; but just then the boat struck the ice, and both +Bill and I were thrown backward into the bottom of the boat. But the +boat didn't smash. + +[Illustration: A Sail on the Scooter Scow.] + +There was a momentary grinding and crunching noise, and, much to my +surprise, I found that the old scow had lifted itself clean out of the +water, and was skating right along on the ice. Then Dutchy could control +himself no longer. He laughed, and laughed, as if he never would stop. +He laughed until the steering oar dropped from his hands, and the old +scow, with the head free, swung around and plunged off the ice ledge +with a heavy splash into the open water again. Then Reddy, who was +almost equally convulsed, came to his senses. "Now you've done it, +Dutchy; you're a fine skipper, you are! How do you expect to get us back +to shore again?" The steering oar was left behind us on the ice, and +there we were drifting on the open water, with no rudder and no oar to +bring us back. + + +THE SCOOTER SCOW. + +[Illustration: Fig. 191. Scow with Runners nailed on.] + +The only thing we could do was to wait until the wind or current carried +us to the ice or land. In the meantime Dutchy, who had suddenly sobered +down when we took our water plunge, explained how he had rigged up the +scow to travel both on ice and on water. He called the rig a sled boat, +but the name by which such a rig is now known is a "scooter." It was +Dutchy's idea primarily, but Reddy had engineered the work. Along the +bottom of the scow two strips of hickory had been nailed to serve as +runners. The hickory strips had been bent up at the forward end, as +shown in Fig. 191. Each runner was shod with a strip of brass, fastened +on with flathead screws, which were countersunk, so that the heads +should not project below the brass. This virtually made a sledge out of +the old scow, and didn't spoil it for use on the water. + + +A SPRIT SAIL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 192. Mainsail of Scooter Scow.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 193. The Snotter.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 194. Jib-sail of Scooter Scow.] + +A sprit sail and jib were rigged up. The dimensions of these sails, +which were taken from a book in Mr. Van Syckel's library, are given in +the illustrations. A sheet of heavy muslin was made to measure 7 feet +square, as indicated by dotted lines in the drawing; then the corners +were cut off along the full lines shown in the illustration. The edges +were now hemmed all around, and the lower edge of the sail was lashed to +a boom, 7 feet 6 inches long. To the luff were attached a number of mast +rings, which were slipped over a stout mast projecting about 5 feet 6 +inches above the deck of the boat. The peak of the sail was held up by a +spar called a sprit. The sprit was sharpened at each end, and the point +at the upper end was inserted in a loop of heavy cord fastened to the +peak of the sail, while the lower point of the sprit rested in the loop +of a rope on the mast, called a "snotter." The snotter was a short piece +of rope with a loop at each end. It was wrapped around the mast, as +shown in the drawing, with one loop holding it in place, like a slip +knot, and the other supporting the end of the sprit. A single halyard +was used to raise this sail. It was attached to the boat and passed over +a block in the mast. When raising the sail it was first partly hoisted, +then the sprit was hooked in the loop and the snotter, after which the +throat halyard was drawn taut. Then the snotter was pulled up the mast +as far as it would go, flattening out the sail. The jib-sail was made +out of the large corner piece left when cutting the mainsail. The +dimensions of the jib-sail are given in Fig. 194. It was such a small +sail that no boom was used with it. In place of a rudder the steering +oar had to be used. This was made of a rake handle with a large trowel +blade fastened to the end of it. The sharp blade cut into the ice, and +so steered the scow when it was running as an ice boat, and in the water +the blade offered sufficient resistance to act as a rudder. + + +SCOOTER SAILING. + +But to return to our sail home to Lamington, we were not out on the open +water long before the current carried us back to the ice ledge. Reddy +jumped off and soon returned with the steering oar; then we proceeded on +our way homeward, now in the water and now on ice. Once or twice the +scow was unable to climb out of the water, because she had not +sufficient headway, and was clumsy and heavy with four boys aboard. Then +we had to push off until we could get a sufficient start. It struck me +that while Dutchy was quite clever to think of such a rig, yet it was +very clumsy and capable of much improvement. Bill wasn't saying very +much all this time, and I could see he was doing a lot of thinking. +Evidently he was planning some improvement, but Bill was a very +considerate fellow, and did not want to spoil Dutchy's pleasure just +then by telling him how much better a scooter he might have built. It +wasn't until after supper, when a meeting of the S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. +I. was called, that Bill came out with his scheme. + + +A MEETING OF THE SOCIETY. + +"Why not mount the sailing canoe on runners, instead of the scow? You +would have a very light rig then, and it would sail like a streak." + +"Mr. President," said Reddy, "your plan sounds first-rate, but how are +you going to fasten runners onto the canoe?" + +"I've thought all that out," replied Bill. "If we can only get hold of a +pair of sleigh runners it won't take long to rig up the sled boat." + +Dutchy, who had looked rather crestfallen at a suggestion of an +improvement on his pet invention, now suddenly brightened up. + +"I know where we can get the sleigh runners!" he exclaimed. "Dad has an +old ramshackle sleigh in the barn that is just falling to pieces with +dry rot. I'll ask him for it to-night." + +"Do you think you can get it?" inquired Bill. + +"I guess so," Dutchy answered, rather doubtfully. "But say, suppose we +send a delegation to see him about it?" + + +AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. VAN SYCKEL. + +This was agreed upon, and in the morning, as soon as breakfast had been +downed, the entire society marched in a body into Mr. Van Syckel's +library. I was appointed spokesman, with Bill to back me, while the rest +of the party were strung out behind, with Dutchy bringing up the rear. +Mr. Van Syckel was not the man to take much interest in boys' work, but +we happened to strike him at the right moment, and before our interview +was over we had told him all our experiences of the summer before and +all our plans for the future. Then we did a good turn for Dutchy, too. +Mr. Van Syckel had always considered his boy a "know-nothing," and was +very much surprised to find that he had invented the scooter scow. Why, +he actually seemed proud of his son, much to Dutchy's embarrassment. +After that there was no trouble about getting the sleigh runners, and +Mr. Van Syckel forgot the objections he had offered at first. + + +THE SCOOTER CANOE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 195. Runners of Scooter Canoe.] + +Naturally we were very much elated at our success, and straightway made +for the barn, where we began operations on the scooter canoe. The sleigh +was an old-fashioned affair, with rather broad wooden runners. First we +removed the body of the sleigh, and then the runners were cut down to a +height of about 15 inches. We spaced them apart about 28 inches, and +connected them with four crosspieces at the top. The runners were now +placed over our larger canoe, with forward ends about on a line with the +mast, and the crosspieces were fastened with screws to the gunwales. As +an additional security, a pair of crosspieces were now run under the +canoe at each end and fastened with screws to the keel. At the bow the +keel was shod with a strip of brass. The rudder was taken off the boat, +and an oar lock was fastened to the stern to hold the steering oar. In +place of lee boards we nailed a couple of thin boards over each runner, +as shown in the drawing. We were in a hurry to finish this, as our +vacation was short, so we used on the scooter canoe the sails that we +had made for our ice boat. This required a bowsprit, but as we had +little time to spare we used the jib-boom of the ice boat, nailing it to +the deck beam of the canoe. We decided that the jib-sail could be used +without a boom, as we had done with the scow. The mast was braced by +stays attached to the ends of the runners and bowsprit. This spread of +canvas was far greater than that originally provided for sailing the +canoe, but the heavy runners on each side helped to keep the boat on +even keel, and then to further balance the sail a board was nailed +across the aft end of the boat. This overhung the runners about 18 +inches each side, and in a strong wind we could sit out on the windward +end of this board, thus preventing the scooter from heeling over too +far. + +[Illustration: Fig. 196. The Scooter Canoe.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +AN ARCTIC EXPEDITION. + + +As soon as our scooter canoe was completed we prepared for the +long-planned winter expedition to Willow Clump Island. The weather +conditions were ideal. We had had ten days of steady cold weather, which +had followed a heavy fall of snow, so that we could tramp up the island +on snow shoes, or we could use our scooter canoe and scooter scow on the +river. It was out of the question to use our skate sails or the ice boat +on the river, and the canal would be serviceable only in case the wind +should blow from a southerly quarter. But we stowed them on the sledge +for use on Lake Placid. + +On the Tuesday morning following Christmas we made the start. Bill in +the scooter canoe and Dutchy in the scooter scow sailed up the river, +and the rest of us, on snow shoes, took the tow path of the canal, +hauling the sledge along. We carried provisions for a week and a good +supply of blankets. The island was reached without mishap, except that +Dutchy had to be helped several times in dragging the heavy scow around +the rapids. Bill reached the island long before we did, and after +unloading the canoe came racing back under a stiff breeze for a second +load. Then he took his turn at hauling the sledge, while Reddy sailed +the reloaded scooter canoe up to the island. + + +WILLOW CLUMP ISLAND IN WINTER. + +We brought no tent with us, as we expected to take up our quarters in +the straw hut. When we reached the hut we hardly recognized it. It was +almost completely covered with snow and looked like an Eskimo house. The +snow had drifted well up over the north side, completely closing the +entrance. We had to set to work at once with a shovel and open up a +passageway, and then we had to shovel out a large pile of snow that had +drifted into the hut from the open doorway. + + +KINDLING A CAMP FIRE. + +In the meantime Jack scoured the island for some dry wood. In this he +was not very successful, because everything was covered with snow, and +when he tried to kindle a fire in the open space in front of our hut he +found the task an exceedingly difficult one. Unfortunately we forgot to +bring the oil stove with us, and the prospect of something warm to eat +was exceedingly remote. We hadn't yet learned the trick of building a +camp fire in wet weather. After exhausting our stock of paper Fred and I +started over to Lumberville for several newspapers and a can of +kerosene. We went to old Jim Halliday's, who had befriended us on one or +two occasions the previous summer, and made known to him our troubles. + +"What! A can of oil to build yer fire with? Well, ye won't git it from +me. I know a man as got blowed up apourin' oil on a fire. Why, shucks, +boys, you don't need no oil ner paper nuther on that there island. Its +chuck-full of silver birch trees, and there ain't no better kindlin' +than birch bark." + +Birch bark! Why, yes, why hadn't we thought of that? We had used it for +torches the summer before and knew how nicely it burned. So back we +skated to camp, and then, peeling off a large quantity of bark from the +birch trees around us, we soon had a rousing big fire in front of the +hut. + + +THE OUTDOOR FIREPLACE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 197. An Outdoor Cooking Fire.] + +But there were more things to be learned about open fires. In our summer +outing Jack had done most of his cooking on a kerosene stove, and he +soon found that it was a very different matter to cook over an +unsheltered fire. The heat was constantly carried hither and thither by +the gusts of wind, so that he could scarcely warm up his saucepans. We +had to content ourselves with cold victuals for the first meal, but +before the next meal time came around we had learned a little more about +fire building. Two large logs were placed about 10 inches apart, and the +space between them was filled in with pieces of bark and small twigs and +sticks. The back of the fireplace was closed with stones. One touch of a +match was enough to kindle the fire, and in a moment it blazed up +beautifully. The logs at the sides and the stones at the back prevented +the wind from scattering the flames in all directions, and a steady +draft poured through the open end of the fireplace and up through the +heart of the fire. The side logs were so close together that our cooking +utensils could be supported directly on them. + + +A STONE-PAVED FIREPLACE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 198. A Stone-paved Fireplace.] + +The following summer we continued our open fireplace experiments. +Instead of using logs we drove stakes into the ground, forming a small +circular stockade about 2 feet high and 3 feet in diameter. A paving of +small stones covered the floor of the fireplace, and a lining of stones +was laid against the wall. The stakes were driven in on a slant, as +illustrated in Fig. 198, so as to better support the stone lining. A +break in the stockade at one side let in the necessary draft. Two of the +stakes on opposite sides of the fire were made extra long, and were +crotched at their upper ends. They served to support the cross stick +from which our kettles were hung. This form of fireplace was more +satisfactory for baking than the one in which logs were used for the +side walls, because the stone lining retained the heat much longer. To +bake biscuit, a pot of beans, or the like, the ashes would be drawn away +from the stone paving and the pot placed directly on the hot stones, +after which it was covered with hot embers and ashes. + + +A COLD NIGHT IN THE HUT. + +But to return to our experiences on the island. We found it very cold on +the first night in the hut. We were afraid to build a fire inside lest +the straw thatchings would catch fire, and so we huddled together in the +corner, rolled up tightly in our blankets. But it was cold, +nevertheless. We had no door to close the opening into the hut, and +instead had piled up branches of cedar and hemlock against the doorway. +But a bitterly cold northwest wind was blowing down the river, and we +couldn't keep warm, no matter what we did. Most of the boys were ready +to go right home, but we stuck it out until the morning, and then after +we had toasted ourselves before a blazing bright fire, and had eaten a +hot breakfast, we forgot much of the discomfort of the night and were +ready for more "fun." We thought we would spend the next night in our +tree house, and so, right after breakfast, we packed up our blankets and +some provisions and started for the Jacob's Ladder. + + +MOUNTAIN CLIMBING. + +Each fellow was provided with a pair of ice creepers of the same sort as +we had used in connection with the rennwolf (see page 170). In addition +to this each boy was provided with a home-made alpine stock, consisting +of a stout wooden stick in the end of which a large nail was driven and +the head filed off. Thus equipped we came to the foot of the cliff, and +much to our delight found it one mass of ice from top to bottom. Now was +our chance to try some Swiss mountain climbing. Bill took the lead, with +an old hatchet in his hand, to hack out any necessary footholds in the +ice wall, and the rest of us strung out behind him tied to a long rope, +each boy about 10 or 12 feet from the one ahead. Bill cautioned us to +keep our distance, holding the rope taut in one hand, so that if a +fellow stumbled he could be kept from falling either by the one in front +or by the one behind. + +"Besides," he said, "if the rope drags on the ice, it is liable to be +cut or worn so that it will break when any strain was put on it." + +Now, one would think from all these precautions that we were launched on +a perilous expedition. That was the impression we were trying to make on +ourselves, though, as a matter of fact, any one of us could have climbed +the cliff unaided and without any ice implements if he had used ordinary +care not to slip on the ice-clad ladder rounds or the snow-covered +ledges. + +[Illustration: Fig. 199. Winter Expedition to the Goblins' Platform.] + + +A POOR SHELTER. + +The climb was without mishap and we reached our tree house, only to find +it so badly racked by storm and weather that it was clearly out of the +question to attempt to spend the night there. The wind howled around the +house and whistled through dozens of cracks and chinks that had opened +in the walls. All that we could do, therefore, was to turn back to the +island and make the best of our straw hut again. On the way, however, we +stopped at Lumberville for some straw to be used for bedding. The +afternoon was spent sailing around on Lake Placid and the large smooth +stretch above the island. + + +A COSTLY CAMP FIRE. + +After supper Bill and Reddy went into the hut to arrange the straw +bedding, while the rest of us gathered wood for a huge bonfire in front +of the hut. The wind was blowing right down the river and we expected it +to carry the warmth of the fire into the hut. The fire was built some +distance in front of the doorway, so as to prevent the hut from catching +fire. But we had evidently miscalculated the strength of the wind, for +no sooner was the fire fairly started than a shower of flaming brands +was blown right into the hut. In a moment the straw blazed up, cutting +off all escape for Bill and Reddy. Fortunately the framing was not +strong and the frost had loosened up the foundations, so that a few +frantic kicks opened an exit in the rear of the hut just in time to save +our comrades from cremation. Once it was fairly started we were +powerless to put out the blaze until the hut was ruined. The snow that +covered the walls checked the fire somewhat, but the thatching burned +from the inside, melting the snow and dropping it suddenly into the +flaming straw bedding on the floor. As we sat in a gloomy ring about the +camp fire, watching the tongues of flame play about the charred ribs of +our hut, we had reason to be thankful that the wind had played its +pranks before we turned in for the night. What a risk we had run of +being all burned to death! It made me shudder to think of it. Well, our +hut was burned. What next? That was the question put before the society. + +[Illustration: Bill Gets Tangled up with His Skis.] + +[Illustration: Warming the Lunch on a Cold Day.] + +"Might build a snow hut," suggested Dutchy. + +"Now, be sensible," answered Reddy. "We can't build a snow hut in five +minutes." + +"The best plan," I volunteered, "would be to go over to Jim Halliday's +and ask him to let us sleep in his barn." + +Immediately the suggestion was acted upon. + + +A FRIEND IN TIME OF TROUBLE. + +Old Jim Halliday greeted us very gruffly. He said he wouldn't have us in +his barn. "You'll be amussin' up the hay so't wouldn't be fit fer the +horses to eat. Any boy that is fool enough to build a fire on a straw +bed ought to go right home to his mother, and he hadn't oughter be +trusted with matches, nuther. He might get his fingers burned." + +But I caught a twinkle in the old man's eyes and wasn't surprised to +have him end his lecture by taking us into the kitchen and seating us +around an old-fashioned log fire while "Marthy," his daughter, made us +some hot coffee to take the chill out of our bones. We didn't sleep in +the barn that night. The Hallidays had only one spare bed, hardly enough +for six boys, and the old man didn't want to be partial to any two of +us, but his daughter solved the difficulty by dragging down two large +feather mattresses and laying them on the kitchen floor in front of the +hearth. + +Before bidding us "good night," Mr. Halliday put on his sternest +expression and bade Marthy clear out all the matches from the room. + +"Jest as like as not they'll set fire to the house," he growled. "I +expect this is my last night on airth." And then, with a solemn warning +not to hang our clothes on the flames, and to "keep them feather beds +offen the embers," he left us to a comfortable night's rest. + +In the morning, after we had disposed of all the hot griddle cakes we +could eat, and had sincerely thanked our host and hostess for their +hospitality, we wended our way back to the island, silently packed up +our goods and started home for Lamington. + +"Well, this isn't going to happen again," was Bill's comment. "Next year +we'll have a log cabin on the island." + +[Illustration: Fast Asleep in a Sleeping Bag.] + +[Illustration: How the Pack Harness was Worn.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +TRAMPING OUTFITS. + + +Our winter expedition to Willow Clump Island filled us with a wholesome +respect for Arctic explorers. If we could find it so uncomfortable with +the thermometer only at 10 degrees above zero, what would it be to +endure a temperature of 40, 50 or even 60 degrees below zero? We were +interested to learn how they managed to stand it. This led to a study of +the subject in Mr. Van Syckel's library. + + +SLEEPING BAGS. + +In one of the books Dutchy came across the description of a sleeping +bag. It was made of reindeer's skin sewed into a large bag with the fur +side turned in. This bag was large enough to hold three or four +sleepers, and each man was covered with a pair of woolen bags, one bag +slipped inside the other. The woolen bags were made of blankets sewed +together and provided with flaps at the upper ends to cover the head of +the sleeper. + +Of course, we had to make a sleeping bag, too. The innermost bag was +made of an old quilt and the next one of a blanket that we were +fortunate enough to get hold of. But when it came to the reindeer skin +we were balked, until we happened to run across a piece of rubber +sheeting at the village store. This was a lucky find, for I doubt if one +country store in a hundred carries such stock. The piece was just large +enough to cover the blanket bag and allow for an ample flap to cover the +head. To be sure, this furnished a shelter for only one person, and +there were six in the society. It was clear that the treasury could not +afford the expense of six sleeping bags; but as such a device would be +useful only under very unusual circumstances we decided that two +sleeping bags would be all the society would need. We had been rather +curious to explore the country back of the hills on the Pennsylvania +side of the river, and with some light provisions and these sleeping +bags strapped to the back a couple of boys could make quite an extended +tour, unmindful of weather conditions. On real hot nights a fellow could +get into the quilt bag and sleep on the blanket and waterproof bag. In +cold weather the combination of all three bags provided sufficient +warmth. The rubber bag would protect the sleeper from any moisture in +the ground, and would also keep him thoroughly dry, even in a pouring +rain. + + +BILL'S "MUMMY CASE." + +[Illustration: Fig. 200. Bottom Piece of Sleeping Bag.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 201. Top Piece of Sleeping Bag.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 202. Headboards.] + +Our second sleeping bag was Bill's own design, and was, in many +respects, an improvement on the first, though it looked ridiculously +like an Egyptian mummy case. The inner bags were just like those of the +first sleeping bag, but as there was no more rubber sheeting in town we +had to make the outer bag of enameled cloth, such as is used for +carriage curtains. Out of this cloth Bill cut a piece of the shape shown +in Fig. 200 to serve as bottom, sides and ends of the sleeping bag. The +bag was sewed wrong side out; that is, the piece was laid with enameled +side up, and then the corners were sewed together after painting the +seams with white lead. Then a top piece was cut out, of the size +indicated in Fig. 201. The edges were hemmed over a piece of rope, which +thus formed a corded edge. Now, with the enameled side of the cover +piece turned inward, its edges were sewed to the edges of the first +piece. The bag was now turned inside out, so that the enameled surface +lay on the outside and the seams turned inward. The corded edge on the +cover piece lapped over the sides, forming a watershed. + +[Illustration: Fig. 203. The Mummy Case.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 204. Sleeping Bag in Use.] + +It was Bill's idea to rig up the flap in such a manner that it would not +lie against the face, so that the sleeper could have plenty of fresh +air, even in rainy weather. This required the use of two headboards, of +the form shown in Fig. 202. The headboards were connected at the bottom +by a thin board, and to this framework the sides of the bag were nailed. +To the end flap several cleats were nailed, adapted to fit into notches +cut in the headboards. The cleat at the end of the flap was laid on +edge, as shown, and fitted into deep notches in the headboards just +above the edge of the cover piece. This held the flap securely, +preventing it from flying open in a heavy wind. At the same time the +small space between the flap and the cover piece allowed for an ample +supply of fresh air. When using this sleeping bag, if there was any +indication of a shower, we took care to have the head pointed to +windward so as to prevent entrance of rain through this air space. + + +THE "A" TENT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 205. The "A" Tent.] + +In connection with the sleeping bags it may be well to describe here a +curious shelter Dutchy and I came across in one of our tramps. It was +just about dusk one day when we discovered a temporary camp at which a +couple of men were preparing dinner. They informed us that they were +naturalists on a two weeks' outing. At their invitation we joined camp +with them. They had a small "A" tent of balloon silk, under which they +kept their provisions. The tent had no ridge pole, but was supported +instead by a rope stretched between two trees (see Fig. 205). + + +A CAMP CHAIR. + +[Illustration: Fig. 206. The Camp Chair.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 207. Pockets in the Canvas Back.] + +The camp was also furnished with an easy canvas chair, made by driving a +couple of short posts in the ground for front legs and a pair of longer +ones for the back. A piece of canvas was hung over these posts, forming +both seat and back. The posts were driven into the ground on a slant, as +illustrated in Fig. 206, and the canvas was formed with pockets at the +corners which were hooked over these posts. This made a very comfortable +chair, though, of course, it was fixed to one spot. When the men moved +camp they would carry with them only the canvas piece, and at the next +stopping place new posts were chopped and used for legs. + +[Illustration: Waiting for a Bite.] + +[Illustration: Temporary Shelter under an "A" Tent.] + + +THE CAMP BED. + +[Illustration: Fig. 208. Canvas Bed.] + +But what interested us most was the form of bed they had. This, like the +chair, consisted of a piece of canvas arranged to be supported on posts +cut from the woods in the neighborhood of the camp. The canvas piece was +3 feet wide and 6 feet long, with a wide hem at each side, forming +pockets through which poles were passed, as in a stretcher. The ends of +the poles were supported on posts driven into the ground. The poles were +also propped up at the center, as shown, the pockets being cut away and +bound, so as not to permit any wear on the canvas. To prevent the posts +from leaning inward under the weight of the sleeper, they were braced +apart by cross sticks. + +[Illustration: Fig. 209. Bed Set up on Posts.] + + +THE CAMP BED IN A SHOWER. + +[Illustration: Fig. 210. A Poncho.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 211. Camp Bed in the Rain.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 212. Umbrella with Fly.] + +As a precaution against rain, a tall post was set up at the head and +another at the foot of the bed, and a rope was stretched over the posts +with the ends fastened to stakes driven into the ground. Over this rope +a rubber "poncho" was laid to keep off the rain. A "poncho," by the way, +is a blanket of rubber cloth about 4-1/2 feet wide and 6 feet long, in +the center of which is a slit through which you can put your head; then +the rubber cloth falls over you like a cape, as in Fig. 210, and makes a +perfect protection against rain. The ponchos these men had were not +quite long enough to cover the whole bed, so they fastened umbrellas to +the head posts, as shown in Fig. 212. During a shower in the woods the +rain comes straight down in large drops, caused by the water collecting +on the leaves. To prevent these large drops from splashing through the +umbrellas, they laid pieces of cloth over the umbrellas, which served, +like the fly of a tent, to check the fall of rain drops. + + +A NIGHTMARE. + +I slept in the mummy case that night and Dutchy in the first sleeping +bag. It must have been about midnight when I was awakened by a most +unearthly yell. It sent the cold chills running up and down my back. A +second scream brought me into action, and I struggled to throw back the +head flap, which had become caught. It seemed an age before I could open +it and wriggle out of the bag. Dutchy was sitting up in bed with a look +of horror on his face, and his whole body was in a tremor of fear. One +of the men dashed a glass of water in his face, which brought him back +to his senses. It was only a nightmare, we found. Dutchy dreamed he had +been injured in a railway accident and had been taken for dead to the +morgue. He tried to let them know that he was alive, but couldn't utter +a sound, until finally he burst out with the yells that roused the camp. +Then, as he awoke with the horror of the dream still on him, his eyes +fell on the two stretcher beds that looked like biers and the black +coffin-like sleeping bag. It was not much wonder that Dutchy was +frightened. The camp did certainly have a most ghastly appearance in the +vague moonlight that filtered through the trees, and it must have been +still more gruesome to see the coffin and biers suddenly burst open and +the corpses come running toward him. To prevent any further nightmare we +set Dutchy's sleeping bag under the "A" tent, where he would be saved +the horror of again waking up in a morgue. + + +PACK HARNESS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 213. Pack Harness.] + +In the morning our friends broke camp and started westward. Dutchy and I +watched them packing up their goods into a couple of very compact +bundles, which they strapped to their backs with a peculiar pack +harness. I took careful note of the way the harness was put together, +and when we returned to the island we made two sets for use on our +tramping expeditions. A canvas yoke was first cut out to the form shown +in Fig. 213. We used two thicknesses of the heaviest brown canvas we +could find, binding the two pieces together with tape. The yoke was +padded with cotton at the shoulders and a strap was fastened to each +shoulder piece. These were arranged to be buckled to a pair of straps +fastened to the back of the yoke and passing under the arms. Riveted to +these straps were a pair of straps used for fastening on the pack. The +yoke straps were attached with the rough side against the yoke, while +the pack straps were riveted on with the rough side uppermost, as +indicated in the drawing. + + +RIVETING. + +[Illustration: Fig. 214. Riveting the Straps Together.] + +The method of riveting together the leather straps may need a word of +explanation. A copper rivet was passed through a hole in the two straps; +then the washer was slipped over the projecting end of the rivet. This +washer had to be jammed down tight against the leather, and to do this +we drilled a hole of the diameter of the rivet in a block of wood, and +putting this block over the washer, with the end of the rivet projecting +into the hole, we hammered the block until the washer was forced down +tight against the leather. Then taking a light tack hammer we battered +down the end of the rivet onto the washer. Care was taken to do this +hammering very lightly, otherwise the end would have been bent over +instead of being flattened. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE LAND YACHT. + + +Only one thing of importance occurred between our Christmas holidays and +Eastertide: this was Bill's invention of the tricycle sailboat or land +yacht. We had returned to school with sailing on the brain. Our skate +sail served us well enough while there was any ice, but as spring came +on we wished we had our canoe with us, or even the old scow to sail on +the lakes near the school. Once we seriously considered building a +sailboat, but the project was given up, as we had few facilities for +such work. But Bill wasn't easily baffled, and I wasn't surprised to +have him come tearing into the room one day, yelling, "I've got it! I've +got it!" In his hands were two bicycle wheels, which I recognized as +belonging to a couple of bicycles we had discarded the year before. + +"What are you going to do with them?" I inquired. + +"I'm going to make a tricycle sailboat." + +"What?" + +"A tricycle sailboat, a land boat, or anything you've a mind to call it. +I mean a boat just like our ice boat only on bicycle wheels instead of +skates. We can sail all over south Jersey on the thing. Come on down and +help me build it." + + +THE FRAME OF THE YACHT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 215. The Backbone and Crosspiece.] + +I followed him to the shed at the back of the school and found that he +had already procured a couple of scantlings for the frame of the boat. +The sticks were 2 inches thick and 4 inches wide. The backbone was cut +to a length of 10 feet, and a 5-foot link was sawed off for the +crosspiece. The two pieces were securely nailed together about 3 feet +from the forward end of the backbone. The crosspiece was set on edge, +but a notch was cut in it about 1 inch deep to receive the backbone. We +might have braced the frame with wooden braces, as in the ice boat, but +we thought that this time we would vary the design by using wire bracing +instead, thus making the frame much lighter. I asked Bill how he +proposed to tighten the wire. Turnbuckles were the thing, but I knew +that they were rather expensive. + +"Just you leave that to me," said Bill. "I've a scheme that I think will +work out all right." + + +A SIMPLE TURNBUCKLE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 216. An Eye Bolt.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 217. Stretching the Guy Lines.] + +At the hardware store of the town we bought a pound of No. 16 iron wire, +eight large screw eyes and six eye bolts, with nuts and washers. Both +the screw eyes and eye bolts had welded eyes and the shanks of the eye +bolts were 6 inches long. A pair of screw eyes were now threaded into +the backbone at each side about 18 inches from the end, and at each end +of the crosspieces an eye bolt was fastened. I began to see Bill's plan. +He was going to draw the wire taut by tightening up the nuts on the eye +bolts. To get the best effect the hole for the eye bolt had to be +drilled in on a slant, so that the bolt would pull directly in the line +of the wire. To get just the right angle we ran a cord from the screw +eye on one side to the point where the bolt was to be inserted, and +traced its direction on the crosspiece. The hole for the eye bolt was +now drilled parallel with the mark we had traced. The same was done at +the other end of the crosspiece. A pair of screw eyes were now screwed +into the backbone at the fore end and a pair of eye bolts were set at a +corresponding angle in the ends of the crosspiece. The crosspiece was +notched at each side so that the nuts and washers on the eye bolts would +have a square seating. Then we stretched on the wire guy lines, drawing +them as tight as possible, with the eye bolts held in place by a turn or +two of the nuts, after which we screwed up the nuts as far as we could, +thus drawing up the wire until it was very taut. This done the second +nut was threaded onto each bolt against the first so as to lock it in +place and prevent it from jarring loose. + + +STEPPING THE MAST. + +[Illustration: Fig. 218 The Frame with Wire Braces.] + +Our next task was to step the mast. We found in the shed an old +flagstaff 15 feet long and 3 inches in diameter. The lower end of this, +for about a foot, we whittled down to a diameter of 2 inches, and drove +it into a hole in the backbone 12 inches from the forward end. The mast +was stayed by a wire stretched from the head to an eye bolt at the fore +end of the backbone. The end of the mast which projected below the +backbone was stayed with wire running forward to an eye bolt and aft to +a screw eye on the backbone, and also with a pair of wires running to +screw eyes threaded into the crosspiece near the ends. We couldn't very +well use eye bolts on these wires except at the fore end, but we +stretched the wires as tight as possible before the screw eyes were +screwed all the way in, and then, as we turned the screw eyes, the wire +was wound up on them and drawn fairly taut. Fig. 219 shows a side view +of the frame, and wires marked 1 and 2 are the same as illustrated in +Fig. 218, which is a top or plan view of the frame. + + +MOUNTING THE FRAME ON BICYCLE WHEELS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 219. Bracing the Mast.] + +We were now ready to mount the frame on the bicycle wheels. We used only +the front wheels of the bicycles with the forks in which they were +journaled. The shanks at the top of the forks were firmly driven into +holes in the crosspiece near the ends. For the steering wheel Bill took +the front fork and wheel of his new bicycle, letting the shank into a +hole at the stern end of the backbone. + + +THE TILLER. + +[Illustration: Fig. 220. The Tiller.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 221. The Seat.] + +For a tiller we used a piece of an old rake handle. A small hole was +first drilled into the handle and the end of the stick was then split +through the hole, permitting the projecting shank of the fork to be +driven tightly into the hole. The split wood was now tightly closed onto +the shank by means of a bolt (see Fig. 220). In the rubbish heap we +found an old chair. The legs were sawed off and the seat was then firmly +nailed to the backbone. The back of the chair was cut down so that it +just cleared the tiller. + + +A "LEG-OF-MUTTON" SAIL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 222. Leg-of-Mutton Sail.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 223. The Sailor's Stitch.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 224. Laying Out the Sail.] + +Everything was now completed but the sail. This was a triangular or +"leg-of-mutton" affair, of the dimensions given in Fig. 222. It was made +of light canvas, 30 inches wide, of which we bought 14 yards. Out of +this we took one strip 18 feet long, one 13 feet, one 8 feet, and one 3 +feet long. We had no sewing machine, and therefore had to sew the strips +together by hand. The selvedge edges of the strips were lapped over each +other about an inch and then they were sewed together sailor fashion, +that is, each edge was hemmed down, as shown in Fig. 223. The strips +were sewed together so that at the foot each projected at least 21 +inches below the next shorter one. This done, the sail was cut to the +dimensions given, allowing 1-1/2 inches all around for the hem. The hem +was turned over a light rope, forming a strong corded edge. At the clew, +tack and head loops were formed in the rope which projected from the +canvas, and at intervals along the foot the canvas was cut away, +exposing the rope so that the sail could be laced to the boom, as +illustrated. The boom was a pole 11 feet long attached to the mast by +means of a screw hook threaded into the end of the boom and hooked into +a screw eye on the mast, after which the screw hook was hammered so it +would close over the screw eye to keep it from slipping off. The sail +was raised by a halyard passing over a block at the top of the mast. The +sheet was fastened near the end of the boom, passed through a block on +the backbone, back of the tiller, and through another block on the boom, +and was led to a cleat within easy reach of the chair seat. + + +A SAIL THROUGH THE COUNTRY. + +[Illustration: Fig. 225. A Sail on the Land Yacht.] + +Our land yacht proved to be quite a successful craft in the flat country +around the school. Of course, we could not sail everywhere; a country +road is too narrow for any tacking when it comes to sailing against the +wind. We hadn't thought of that when we made our trial trip. A strong +east wind was blowing and so we ventured forth on a road that led due +west from our school. Off we sped before the wind for two miles, until +we came to a sharp turn in the road. Then we began to think of turning +homeward. But this was a very different proposition. The wind was dead +against us and to try to tack from side to side of the road was useless, +because we would hardly get under way on one tack before we had to swing +around on the other tack, losing all our momentum. It ended up by our +lowering sail and ignominiously trundling the yacht back to school. +After that we carefully selected our course, and never sailed away from +home before the wind unless we knew of a roundabout way that would lead +us back to port on a couple of reaches (long tacks). + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +EASTER VACATION. + + +Just before Easter that year Bill's Aunt Dorothy invited him to spend +Eastertide with her and bring along his roommate. I accepted the +invitation with alacrity. Bill had once spent a whole summer at his +aunt's home, and when we arrived there he had many old haunts to visit. +We spent the first day rambling through the woods, in the hills and back +of the house. + + +BILL'S CAVE. + +He introduced me to a cave which he believed was known to only two other +boys, both of whom had since moved to New York city. The mouth of the +cave was almost closed by a large boulder that had lodged in front of +it. We had to climb to the top of this rock, and then letting ourselves +down with a rope we slid down the sloping rear face of the boulder into +a crevice in the rocks. Then after squirming under a ledge we emerged +into a large chamber, which appeared to be as dark as night after our +sudden entrance from the outer light. + +[Illustration: Fig 226. Sliding Down into the Cave.] + +Bill lighted a candle which projected from a chink in the wall. By its +light I saw that there was a pool in the center of the cave fed from a +spring at one point. From the pool the water trickled off into a tiny +stream to the mouth of the cave, where it was lost in a crack in the +rocks. The water was ice cold and clear as crystal. Around the pool were +several chairs and a table made by Bill and his two friends. That was +evidently where Bill had gotten his idea of a subterranean club. + + +THE BARREL STAVE HAMMOCK. + +[Illustration: Fig. 227. The Barrel Stave Hammock.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 228. Tying the Staves Together.] + +Hanging between a couple of projecting rocks was a hammock made of +barrel staves. The hammock was a very simple affair, made by drilling a +1-inch hole in each end of each barrel stave. The staves were then +connected by two ropes on each side, woven alternately in and out +through these holes, that is, one rope would be passed down through one +stave, up through the next, down through the third, etc., and through +the same holes another rope would be threaded in and out but in the +opposite direction. The end staves of the hammock were provided with +double holes, as shown in Fig. 228, so as to make them lie flat, then +the ropes were threaded through them. + + +THE BARREL ARMCHAIR. + +[Illustration: Fig. 229. The Armchair Frame.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 230. Casters on the Chair.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 231. Tacking on the Straw Sandwiches.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 232. The Barrel Armchair.] + +Aside from the hammock and the rustic furniture there was a fine +armchair, made from a barrel that had been sawed off, as in Fig. 229, to +form the arms and back. The barrel was raised from the ground by setting +it on a couple of boards arranged in the form of a V. Then a caster was +fastened to the point of the V and another at each end, making a +three-legged chair of it. The chair was upholstered with ticking stuffed +with straw. First a piece of ticking large enough for the back was laid +on the ground and covered over with an even layer of straw. Over the +straw a second piece of ticking was laid, making what Bill called a +"straw sandwich." This was nailed to the chair back along the edge and +at the bottom, drawing the cloth as taut as possible. To make a better +finish for the chair, the ticking was covered with dark red denim. Then +strips of braid were laid on the chair back, crossing each other like a +lattice. At the crossing points of the braid brass-headed tacks were +nailed right through the sandwich into the wood, producing the padded +upholstered effect. Next a long, thin sandwich was made to run along the +edge of the back, and another one to run around the chair just below the +seat, also a couple of small sandwiches to cover the legs and the +brackets leading to them. These were all covered with denim before being +tacked to the chair and then they were bound with tape at intervals to +produce the padded effect. The rest of the woodwork was covered with +denim, and a neat ruffle made by Aunt Dorothy hung about the bottom of +the chair. A thick, round sandwich was now made to cover the seat board. +This was also given a padded effect by binding it with tape. The seat +board was not nailed to the chair, but rested on four cleats nailed to +the barrel on the inside. When the seat was lifted out it uncovered a +shallow chest in which various things could be stored. + + +THE SUMMER TOBOGGAN. + +[Illustration: Fig. 233. The Summer Toboggan.] + +Bill informed me that he and his two chums used to spend hot summer +afternoons in this cool place whittling out various ornaments and making +furniture for the cave. In one corner were a number of home-made +amusement devices, one of which struck me as rather odd. It consisted of +a pair of large barrel staves, hollow side up and connected with two +short boards, as in Fig. 233. Bill said it was a summer toboggan, to be +used on grass instead of snow. I had never heard of such an affair, and, +of course, had to have a demonstration. Bill went to the top of the hill +and from there coasted down the grassy slope in fine style. + + +TAILLESS KITES. + +"There's a better place over on the other side of the hill," he said, +and led the way to his favorite coasting spot. But here our attention +was diverted from coasting by the curious sight of a full-grown man +flying a kite. We found out afterward that he was a Professor Keeler, +who had made a great scientific study of kites. Professor Keeler was +very affable, and we soon got acquainted with him. His kite was way up +in the air, almost out of sight, and was pulling like everything. +Neither Bill nor I could hold it long. But the most remarkable part of +it all to me was the fact that the kite had no tail. I had heard of +tailless kites made like a box, but this one appeared to be very much +like the kites I had made in my younger days, and I well knew the +importance of a long tail to keep such a kite steady. We asked the +professor about it, and were informed that this kite was of the Malay +type, which is so designed that the cloth bellies out into pockets on +each side of the central stick or backbone, and these pockets balance +the kite while the backbone acts as a rudder. + +Finding that we were interested in the subject he gave us full +instructions for making kites from 5 to 8 feet long, and these I jotted +down for future use. In a 5-foot kite he said the stick should be 3/8 +inch thick and 1/2 inch wide, in a 6-foot kite 7/16 inch thick and 9/16 +inch wide, in a 7-foot kite 5/8 inch thick and 3/4 inch wide, and in an +8-foot kite 3/4 inch thick and 1 inch wide. On the following summer we +built a 5-footer and also an 8-footer. + +[Illustration: Fig. 234. Coasting in Summer.] + + +A FIVE-FOOT MALAY KITE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 235. Tying on the Cleats.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 236. Hook on the Vertical Stick.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 237. Double Hook.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 238. Connection at Corner.] + +For the 5-foot kite we used two sticks of hickory 3/8 of an inch wide, +1/2 an inch thick, and each 5 feet long. According to directions, one +stick was laid across the other at a point two-elevenths of its length +from the top. Two-elevenths of 5 feet is a little less than 11 inches, +and so we fastened on the cross stick 11 inches from the upper end of +the backbone. The sticks were not nailed together, because this would +have weakened the frame just at the point where it was under the +greatest strain. Instead we followed the professor's directions and tied +cleats to each stick, as shown in Fig. 235, so as to form sockets. Then +the sticks were laid across each other, each stick fitting into the +socket of the other, just like a mortised joint. A coat of shellac on +the bottom of each cleat glued it temporarily to the stick, after which +it was very tightly bound with fine cord. The stick and cleats were now +thoroughly shellaced. The end of each stick was tapered off to receive a +brass ferrule of the kind used on chisel handles. They can be bought at +any hardware store. At the end of the backbone we fastened hooks made of +brass, bent to the form shown in Fig. 236. The cross sticks were also +provided with hooks, but these were double, as shown in Fig. 237, so +that a hook lay on both the front and the rear side of the frame. + +[Illustration: Fig. 239. Bending the Cross Stick.] + +The frame was covered with a kind of cloth called "percaline." The cloth +was hemmed along each edge over heavy picture wire, and at each corner +the wire was twisted around a small solid ring of brass. The rings were +now slipped over the hooks on the frame and then the cross stick was +bowed back by fastening a wire to the rear hooks and drawing it taut. +Professor Keeler told us to tighten this bowstring until the distance +from the wire to the cross stick at the center was equal to one-tenth of +the length of the stick. As our sticks were each 5 feet long we +tightened the wire until the cross stick bowed out 6 inches, as in Fig. +239. The belly band of the kite was fastened at one end to the lower end +of the backbone and at the upper end to a wire hook at the juncture of +the two sticks. The hook was fastened to the cross stick by flattening +the ends and running them under the cord used for binding on the cleats +(see Fig. 240). A buttonhole was made in the cloth covering to let this +hook project through. The belly band was just long enough, so that it +could be stretched over to one end of the cross stick, as in Fig. 241, +and at this point, that is, 30 inches from the upper end of the belly +band, a brass ring was made fast, to which the main kite string was +tied. The kite possessed the advantage that it could be quickly taken +apart and folded into a small space. + + +AN EIGHT-FOOT MALAY KITE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 240. Belly Band Hook.] + +Our 8-foot kite was made in the same way only the sticks were 3/4 inch +thick, 1 inch wide and 8 feet long. The cross stick was fastened 17-1/2 +inches (two-elevenths of 8 feet) from the top of the backbone and it was +bowed back 9-1/2 inches (one-tenth of 8 feet). The wire in the hem of +the covering was a double thickness of the heaviest picture wire +obtainable. + +[Illustration: Fig. 241. The 5-foot Malay Kite.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 242. Malay Kite with Elastic Belly Band.] + + +THE ELASTIC BELLY BAND. + +An important change was made in the belly band of the kite. The lower +strand was made elastic by tying it fast to a number of heavy rubber +bands, as in Fig. 242. When flying the kite, if a sudden, strong puff of +wind struck it, the elastic belly band would give, tilting up the lower +end of the kite so that the wind passed under; but as soon as the gust +had passed the rubber bands would draw the lower end of the kite back +against the wind. The elastic belly band had the effect of making the +kite rise almost vertically. Sometimes it would even sail square +overhead. The 8-foot kite was a very powerful one. To hold it we had to +use a very strong cord, the kind used by upholsterers for tying down the +springs in a chair or a sofa. + + +PUTTING THE KITES TO WORK. + +Bill tested the strength of the kite once by hooking a spring scale to +the kite string. The scale was made to register weights up to 25 pounds. +But our kite yanked the pointer immediately past the 25-pound mark as +far as it would go. We judged from this that the kite would lift at +least 40 pounds. Such a pull as this it seemed a pity to waste, but how +to utilize the power was a problem until one day, when the kite was +soaring up on a south wind, Dutchy suggested that we tie it to one of +the canoes and go sailing up-stream. We tried the trick at once, but it +didn't work very well, because the canoe was too light. The kite would +drop unless there was a heavy pull on the string. We had better success +with the scow, however, which provided a sufficient drag on the kite, +and with the two kites to pull us we sailed a long ways up-stream, +drifting down with the current when we had gone as far as we cared to. + + +THE DIAMOND BOX KITE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 243. The Scow Towed by Kites.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 244. Cleat for Spreader.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 245. Corner Stick and Spreader.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 246. The Narrow Frame.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 247. Tacking on the Cloth.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 248. Forked End of Long Spreader.] + +Professor Keeler also gave us instructions for making a diamond-shaped +box kite, and though we never built one, it may not be amiss to publish +his instructions here. I quote from the chronicles of the S. S. I. E. E. +of W. C. I.: + +"Materials: Four sticks, 1/4 inch thick by 5/8 inch wide by 44 inches +long, for the corner sticks. Two sticks, 1/4 inch thick by 5/8 inch wide +by 15 inches long, for the short spreaders. Two sticks, 1/2 inch square +by about 38 inches long, for the long spreaders. Two strips of cloth 81 +inches long, hemmed at each edge to a width of 13 inches. Whittle out +twelve cleats to the form shown in Fig. 244. At the ends of the 15-inch +spreaders nail cleats on each side with long wire brads, so as to form +forks, as shown in Fig. 245, in which two of the corner sticks are held. +The short spreaders are fastened to the corner sticks, 7 inches from the +ends, with brads driven through the cleats, making the frame (as in Fig. +246). To prevent the frame from skewing off sidewise it should be braced +with wire running diagonally across from one corner stick to the other. +Ordinary soft stovepipe wire will do. Care must be taken to have the +spreaders meet the corner sticks squarely or at right angles. Now take +one of the cloth strips and sew its ends together to form a band. The +end should be lapped about an inch and fastened with the sailor stitch +(see Fig. 223). The same should be done to the other cross strip, and +then each band should be marked off with pencil lines at four points, +all equidistant from each other. The two bands may now be tacked to the +two ends of the frame with opposite pencil lines over the edges of the +corner sticks, as in Fig. 247. The two remaining corner sticks are then +nailed to the bands at the two other pencil lines. These corner sticks +will now be braced apart by the long spreaders, which are notched to the +right length to stretch the cloth taut. A cleat is nailed over each +notch, as shown in Fig. 248, forming forks to hold the corner pieces. +The long spreaders are now forced down until they meet the short +spreaders, to which they are tied with waxed string. The long spreaders +may be nailed to the corner sticks by driving brads right through the +cloth into the cleats and the sticks. The belly band may be fastened to +any one of the corner sticks at the spreaders, and from the points where +it is tied it should measure about 45 inches in length. The point where +the main string should be attached to the belly band may be best +determined by experiment." + +[Illustration: Fig. 249. The Diamond Box Kite.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE WATER WHEEL. + + +Summer found us again on Willow Clump Island with heads full of new +ideas. Bill had come across an old copy of Ewbanks' "Hydraulics" in the +school library. It was a book describing machines of the +ancients--principally devices for raising water. Rather dry reading, I +thought, even though it was a wet subject; but Bill seemed to find it +absorbingly interesting. I came in late one afternoon, after a glorious +game of baseball, only to find Bill poring over the yellowed leaves of +the "Hydraulics" as fascinated as most fellows would be over a detective +story. It exasperated me to note that he thought more of this old book +than he did of our baseball team. + +"Bill," I exclaimed, "what's got into you? I can't for the life of me +see what is so entertaining in that prehistoric book." + +"Oh, go way. Don't bother me," was the surly reply. + +But I wouldn't be put off that way. Quickly I snatched the book from his +grasp and threw it out the window. + +"Now, sir," I cried, "maybe you will kindly explain to me why you +persist in studying that old volume, to the neglect of our baseball +team." + +"Don't get so excited, old chap," he replied. "That book is all right. +I'm studying up some new schemes for next year's expedition to Willow +Clump Island. Why, there are lots of things in that old book that we can +make." And he proceeded to unfold his plans, sketching out some curious +designs of water wheels and pumps. + +By the time school closed for the summer Bill had thoroughly digested +that volume, and was ready to reconstruct many of the ancient machines. + + +THE WATER WHEEL. + +Our first work on reaching the island was to erect a water wheel, or +"noria," as it was called in the book, in front of the camp. It had been +a great nuisance to keep our filter barrel full. Every few days we would +have to form a bucket brigade, passing pails of water up the line until +the barrel was filled. Now Bill proposed to do away with all this bother +and let the river do the work for us. + + +SURVEYING FOR THE WATER WHEEL. + +We first determined the height of the upper filter barrel above the +level of the river. This was done with our surveying instrument, which +was set level with the top of the barrel. We sighted with the instrument +to a long pole that was held upright at the edge of the water. The pole +had been marked off into feet with white chalk marks, and on sighting +through the sight holes we found that the hairs came in line with the +eleventh chalk mark. The top of the filter was, therefore, 11 feet above +the level of the river. Bill figured that it would be necessary to +construct a wheel about 15 feet in diameter in order to raise the water +to the proper height. + +[Illustration: Fig. 250. Surveying for the Water Wheel.] + + +TOWERS FOR THE WATER WHEEL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 251. Frame for Large Tower.] + +First we built the towers to support the wheel. One tower was 16 feet +high and the other only 10 feet. The large tower was made something like +a very tall and narrow saw-horse. Two stout poles 17 feet long were +flattened at their upper ends and nailed together, with the ends +projecting about a foot, as shown in Fig. 251. At the bottom these poles +were spaced 8 feet apart by a cross bar, and about 9-1/2 feet from the +bottom a pair of boards were nailed to opposite sides of the pole to +serve as supports for the axle of the water wheel. Another pair of +17-foot poles was now similarly fastened together and then the two pairs +were spaced about 12 feet apart and connected at the top and bottom with +boards. + +[Illustration: Fig. 252. The Large Tower.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 253. V-shaped Trough.] + +At the top two smooth boards were used and these were nailed to the +inner sides of the projecting ends, which were tapered off. In this +manner a V-shaped trough was formed. The boards were firmly nailed +together at their meeting edges so as to prevent them from warping +apart. A diagonal brace at each corner made the wedge-shaped tower very +substantial. A number of cleats nailed to one of the poles provided a +ladder by which we could mount to the top of the tower. The shorter +tower was a three-legged affair, made of three 12-foot poles. At first +two of these were flattened and nailed together at their upper ends, and +they were braced at the top and bottom. The third leg was then nailed in +place and braced by cross bars connecting it with the other two poles. + + +THE WHEEL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 254. The Small Tower.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 255. The Hub.] + +We were now ready to make the wheel. From Lumberville four 1/2-inch +boards, each 3 inches wide and 15 feet long, were procured; also a bar +of iron 3/4 of an inch in diameter and 2 feet long. At the center of one +of the boards a block of wood 4 inches long and 4 inches in diameter was +nailed on for a hub. A 3/4-inch hole was now drilled through this hub +and the board. Holes were also drilled into the other boards at their +centers. Then they were all strung onto the bar and spaced like spokes +at equal angles apart. Bill had figured it out some way that the ends of +the boards should be just about 5 feet 10-1/2 inches apart. When the +boards were all arranged we nailed them together at the center, and +connected the ends with narrow tie boards, as indicated in Fig. 256. + + +THE BUCKETS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 256. The Water Wheel.] + +Eight large tomato cans were now procured and fastened to the spokes at +the ends on the inner side, that is, the side the hub was nailed to. We +couldn't very well nail on the cans, so we punched two holes in the side +of each can and then secured them to the spokes by passing bolts through +these holes and the boards. + + +THE PADDLES. + +[Illustration: Fig. 257. A Paddle.] + +Then we cut sixteen paddles of the form shown in Fig. 257. Eight of +these were 12 inches long, and the rest measured 18 inches. A slot 3 +inches deep was cut in each paddle of just the right width to slip over +the tie boards. The shorter paddles were fastened on just back of the +spokes, and the rest were secured half-way between each spoke. The +paddles were braced by stretching a wire from one to another all the way +around the wheel. + + +THE RECEIVING TROUGH. + +[Illustration: Fig. 258. How the Paddles and Cans Were Attached.] + +[Illustration: Fig 259. The Receiving Trough.] + +Our next task was to nail the receiving trough in place on the higher +tower. We set up the towers on land and mounted the wheel between them +with the axle resting in the crotch of the short tower and in a deep +notch cut in the cross boards of the larger one. The cans on the wheel +faced the larger tower, but the hub at the center and a block nailed to +the larger tower spaced the wheel far enough out so that the cans did +not strike the tower as they revolved. We carefully measured the +distance between the spokes and the larger tower, and then built a +square trough of a size to just fit into this space. This trough was +nailed across the end of the V-shaped trough on top of the tower, but a +notch was cut in the side so that the water would pour from the square +or receiving trough into this V-shaped one. The square trough was about +8 feet long and its sides were 12 inches high; but at the ends we had to +cut them down to a height of but 6 inches, so as to permit the cans to +pass without hitting them. + + +SETTING UP THE TOWERS. + +Our filter was located nearly 20 feet from the end of the river, and in +order to get a good current of water to revolve our wheel we had to +place it about 15 feet from shore. This necessitated building a trough +line 35 feet long. Ten feet of this line were already provided in the +top of the tall tower. This tower was now set up in place with the legs +firmly wedged into holes excavated in the bottom of the river. The legs +on the shore side were sunk a little deeper, so as to tilt the trough +slightly shoreward. The outer end of the trough was about 12 feet above +the level of the water. We needed but one more tower to support the +remainder of the trough line. This tower was built like the first one, +but was much shorter, as it was erected on land and the level of the +trough at the top had to be 5 or 6 inches lower so as to make the water +flow. We connected the towers by another V-shaped trough section. This +we nailed to the under side of the first trough and to the inside of the +second trough. The latter was then in the same way connected by a trough +section with the upper filter barrel. We now rigged up our shorter tower +about a foot from the taller one, wedging in the legs so that the top +came level with the slotted boards of the other tower. + + +MOUNTING THE WATER WHEEL. + +Then came the task of mounting our wheel in place. We were working in a +pretty strong current and found it no easy matter. In the first place, +the wheel was floated down to the towers, but there it got jammed and we +couldn't lift it up. One of the paddles was broken and a bucket wrenched +off before we could disentangle the wheel from the towers, and then the +wheel was carried quite a distance down-stream before we could drag it +in to shore. + +Our next attempt was more successful. This time we anchored the wheel so +that it just cleared the towers, then fastening a couple of long guy +ropes to it, we raised the wheel on edge, while a boy stood on each side +holding the ropes to keep the wheel steady. The anchor rope was now +slowly paid out and the wheel was rolled in between the towers. This +done, the wheel was lifted up and the axle rod was pushed in, with the +ends of the rod resting in slots of the boards on the tall tower and in +the crotch on the shorter one. To prevent the axle rod from working +endwise out of its bearings, we nailed pieces of wood across the crotch +and the slots against the ends of the rod. Then we cast off the anchor +rope and our wheel started work, the cans dipping up the water as they +were carried around by the wheel and pouring it out of the top into the +receiving trough, from which the water flowed down into the filter +barrel. + + +COOLING THE FILTER BARREL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 260. The Water Wheel in Action.] + +The trough line was very leaky and a great deal of water splashed out of +the buckets. But for all that, within a few moments our barrel was full +and overflowing. We hadn't figured on its filling so rapidly, but we +soon found a way of utilizing the surplus water. It was led to a +half-barrel in which we washed our dishes, and from there it flowed +through a ditch back to the river. The water for the wash barrel was +taken from the top of the upper filter barrel. But we let the lower +filter barrel flow over so that it would be kept wet on the outside. Our +filter was fortunately placed at a point where a good breeze struck it, +and we shoveled away the earth that had been piled around it so that the +wind playing on the wet barrel evaporated the moisture, making the water +inside very cool. + + +THE CANVAS BUCKET. + +[Illustration: Fig. 261. Bottom of Bucket.] + +This same trick was used for cooling our drinking water whenever we went +off on an expedition away from camp. We had a heavy canvas bucket, the +kind used on ships. We would fill this bucket with water and then hang +it up in the wind. The water seeping out of the pores of the bucket +would be evaporated by the wind, and this would, in a few moments, make +the water inside delightfully cool. Such buckets may be bought for $1.50 +to $2.00 apiece, but ours was a home-made affair, and made somewhat +differently from the store kind. The canvas used was the heaviest we +could find. A piece 9 inches in diameter was cut out for the bottom. A +ring 7 inches in diameter, made of heavy brass wire, was laid on the +canvas, and the cloth was turned over it and sewed down the inside of +the ring. For the sides of the bucket we cut a piece 14 inches wide and +23 inches long. The upper edge was strengthened by a piece of light rope +held in place by hemming the cloth over it. The lower edge was now sewed +to the bottom, just inside the wire ring and then the ends of the piece +were joined, completing the sides of the bucket. The bail of the bucket +was formed of a piece of rope fastened to the roped upper edge of the +bucket. + +[Illustration: Fig. 262. The Canvas Bucket.] + +But to return to the current wheel; the day after it was completed, when +I went over to Lumberville for the mail, I was met by old Jim Halliday, +who wanted to know what sort of a rig we had out on the river. I told +him, and after a dint of much persuasion, induced him to take a ride +back in the scow with me. He had never visited our camp and hadn't +realized how handy we were with the tools, because, with the exception +of the current wheel, all our work had been done on the opposite side of +the island. We made him a guest of honor, showing him over the whole +place. The bridges struck him as remarkably clever, but what pleased him +most was our current wheel. + +"I swan," he said. "Ef that ain't jest the thing I have been awantin' +for the past twenty year. What'll ye sell me the hull plant fer, boys?" + + +MR. HALLIDAY'S WATER WHEEL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 263. Mr. Halliday's Water Wheel.] + +We thought he was fooling at first, but when he had assured us that he +was in earnest, Bill told him that we needed our own plant, but we could +build him a similar and even better current wheel for any amount he +thought it was worth to him. The figure settled on was six dollars (a +dollar apiece) for our work, Mr. Halliday paying for the material. It +was not a large sum, but it seemed a lot to us, and considering the +scarcity of money in that region it was pretty generous pay. We built +Mr. Halliday's current wheel just like our own, except that the paddles +were much broader, and instead of using cans for the buckets Mr. +Halliday supplied us with small dinner pails. The method of fastening on +the pails is shown in Fig. 263. A stick was nailed across the end of +each spoke and the bail of the pail was held by a screw eye threaded +into this stick. The pails would hang straight, holding all the water +without spilling a drop until the receiving trough was reached. This +trough was fastened high enough to strike the bottom of the pails as +they went by, tipping them over and emptying them of their contents. +From the trough the water ran directly into a large cider barrel and +from here was carried through a pipe to Mr. Halliday's barn. A stopcock +was here provided so that he could turn the water on or off, as he +desired. The use of pails was a great improvement on tin can buckets. +Fully three times as much water was poured into the receiving trough, +because not a drop was spilled out on the way up. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE LOG CABIN. + + +Immediately after fitting out Jim Halliday with his water wheel we set +to work on our log cabin. As a model we had a photograph of a log hut +which Uncle Ed had sent us. As the cabin was designed particularly for +use in winter time, we decided that it should be located where it would +be sheltered from the northern winds and would be exposed to the sun. +The ideal spot seemed to be on the southern shore of Kite Island, which +was backed by a thick grove of trees but gave an unobstructed view in +front for a distance of about four miles down-stream. + + +FOUNDATION OF LOG CABIN. + +First we staked out the plan of the house. It was to be 12 feet long by +10 feet wide, so we leveled off a space of this area, and at the +corners, where the greatest weight of the building would come, large +rocks were embedded in the ground. + + +A LOGGING EXPEDITION. + +The logs for the house were cut from a tract of wooded land about five +miles up the river, belonging to Mr. Schreiner. To be sure we could have +cut the timber from our own island, but when Reddy had said something to +his father about our building a log cabin, Mr. Schreiner had warned us +not to cut down any of the trees without the owner's permission. All we +could learn about the owner was that his name was Smith, and that he +lived somewhere in New York city. It seemed unlikely that he would ever +have anything to say about our cutting down a few trees, but rather than +run any risk Mr. Schreiner advised us to make use of his woods for any +timber we might need. Accordingly we started out early one morning on a +logging expedition. We had no apparatus for handling any logs more than +6 or 8 inches in diameter, and Bill reckoned it out that we would have +to have about fifty logs of this size for the sides of the building +alone. This did not mean that fifty trees had to be chopped down, +because we could usually cut two logs from a single tree. As the logs +would have to overlap about a foot at each corner, we had to cut the +longer ones to a length of 14 feet and the others to a length of 12 +feet. Aside from these we had to have several 16-foot logs for the roof. +Only the straightest logs were chosen, and while Bill and Reddy wielded +the axes the rest of us hacked off the small branches with hatchets and +hauled the sticks down the river. Here we tied them together to make a +raft. + + +THE LOG RAFT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 264. Tying the Logs Together.] + +This was done by running a pair of ropes alternately over and under the +logs at each end (see Fig. 264). About fifteen were thus fastened +together, and then as an extra precaution a log was laid across each end +of the raft and tied fast. As soon as we had cut enough timber for our +first raft, we all ceased work, to take a ride down the river on the +logs. Two of us, armed with poles, were to do the steering. There was +one spot in the river of which we were rather apprehensive. That was a +bit of shallow, swift water three miles from camp. A line of rocks +jutted up from the river, forming a natural dam which was broken only at +the eastern end. The water swirled madly through this opening, and +veering off a huge rock which lay directly in front of the gap turned +sharply westward. As we neared this dam the river became deeper and +deeper, until finally we could no longer reach bottom with the poles, +and could not properly steer the boat. For some time we drifted +helplessly round and round in the still water above the dam. Then +suddenly the current caught us and we swept like a shot for the opening. +The gap was quite wide, and had we only thought to provide ourselves +with oars we could have steered the raft clear of the rocks below, but +we were entirely at the mercy of the current, and with a terrific crash +we were hurled head on against the boulder. + +[Illustration: Getting Dinner.] + +[Illustration: The Photo after which Our Log Cabin was Modeled.] + +Just what happened then I can not say. When I undertook to record the +incident in the chronicles of the S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I., I found +there were five entirely different versions of the affair besides my +own. I knew that immediately after the shock I found myself struggling +in the water just below the rock over which I must have been slung by +the force of the impact. Dutchy declared up and down that he had sailed +fifty feet in the air astride of a log. Bill had been almost stunned by +a blow on the head and was clinging desperately to a jagged projection +of the rock. The ropes that had held the raft together had parted, +scattering the logs in all directions, and I could see the rest of the +crew hanging on to them for dear life. + +Shouting to Bill to let go his hold on the rock. I swam over and caught +him as he drifted down, then I helped him ashore. Leaving Bill to +recuperate I rushed down the bank, shouting to the others to paddle the +logs over toward shore. Then I plunged in, and pulling myself up on the +nearest log, paddled shoreward as we had done on the planks when +shooting the rapids. In this way one by one we corralled the logs, and +after tying them together again resumed our voyage down the river. We +now had no swift water to fear and were able to guide the raft +successfully down to Lake Placid. But here we moored it, not venturing +to take it past the mill-race until we had gotten the oars from the scow +and nailed on oar locks at each side and the rear, so that we could +properly row and steer the raft safely to Kite Island. + + +THE SAIL-RIGGED RAFT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 265. A Sail-rigged Raft.] + +When we went up the river again we carried the oars with us, also the +sail and mast belonging to our ice boat, as there was a good breeze +blowing down-stream. Our second trip was more successful. The mast was +stepped in a small but solid box nailed to the logs. In the top of this +box a hole was cut for the mast to fit into and then the mast was braced +with guy lines. We came down the river in fine style, steering straight +for the opening in the dam, and just as we were about to shoot through +Reddy and I plied the oars for all we were worth on the port (left) side +so as to swing the raft around past the boulder. However, we didn't +escape entirely without accident, for the raft rode up on a submerged +ledge, dipping the starboard side clear under water and nearly tipping +us over. But in a moment the raft had righted itself and we had smooth +sailing for the rest of the way. + + +BUILDING THE LOG CABIN. + +[Illustration: Fig. 266. Foundation Logs Notched.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 267. Foundation Logs Fitted Together.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 268. A Corner of the Log Wall.] + +Our third expedition completed the number of logs we required for the +log cabin. Two large 12-foot logs were chosen for the foundation logs at +the front and rear of the building. The logs were flattened along the +bottom so that they would have a firmer bearing on the ground, and +particularly on the corners, where they rested on foundation stones. +Each log was now notched about a foot from the ends. The notches were 8 +inches long and about 2 inches deep. Care was taken to place those on +one log squarely opposite the notches on the other. A pair of 14-foot +logs were now laid across the foundation logs and rolled along them +until another half-turn would have dropped them into the notches (shown +in Fig. 266). Then notches were cut in the 14-foot logs to correspond, +so that when the final half-turn was given one notch would fit over the +other, making a mortise joint (Fig. 267). When the side logs were in +position notches were cut in their upper surface to receive a pair of +12-foot logs which were rolled onto them, notched and dropped into +place. Then another pair of side logs were laid on, and so the work +progressed. The notches in each log were cut to a depth equal to +one-quarter the diameter of the log; that is, if the log was 8 inches in +diameter the notch was made 2 inches deep, and if 6 inches in diameter +it was cut to a depth of 1-1/2 inches. When the logs were laid in place +no space intervened between them, as will be clearly understood by +reference to Fig. 268. + +We found, after a few logs had been set in place, that our cabin was +growing faster at one end than at the other. The trouble was that our +logs were not of uniform diameter throughout, and we had been laying the +butt ends, which were larger, all at one end of the building. So we had +to take down the logs and relay them with the butt end of the front +foundation log at one end and that of the rear foundation log at the +other. Then the cross logs were laid on with their butt ends on the +small ends of the foundation logs. The next end logs were laid with +their small ends on the butt ends of the cross logs, and so on, taking +care never to lay the butt end of one log across the butt end of +another. In this way the walls were built up evenly to a height of 3 +feet. + +[Illustration: Fig. 269. Piece Cut Out to Admit Saw.] + +We had planned to make a large open fireplace in the cabin, and this +necessitated cutting an opening in the rear wall. But we did not want to +cut the opening until the wall was built up to its full height lest it +might buckle while the remainder of the logs were being placed in +position. So we merely cut a piece out of the top log to make room for a +saw when we were ready to cut the complete opening. As our fireplace was +to be 5 feet in width, a 5-foot piece was cut out of the center of the +log. Then the ends were supported by cleats nailed on each side, as +shown in Fig. 269. This done the building was continued as before, but +as the walls grew we found it more and more difficult to raise the logs +to position. We could not lift them directly to the top of the wall, but +had to roll them up on "skids"; that is, on a pair of 14-foot logs which +were laid against the top of the wall. When the walls had reached a +height of about 5 feet above the foundation logs, a length 4 feet 9 +inches long was cut out of the top log to allow space for sawing out the +front door and window, and also a 30-inch piece was cut out for the side +window. Cleats temporarily held the sawed ends of the logs, while the +walls were carried on up to a height of a little over 6 feet from the +foundation logs. + + +THE ROOF OF THE LOG CABIN. + +[Illustration: Fig. 270. Skids] + +Then we started laying the roof. A 16-foot log was now notched in place +at each side, with its forward end projecting about 3 feet over the +front of the cabin to form a shelter in front of the building. A pair of +12-foot logs were then laid in position. The next pair of 16-foot logs +were laid about 20 inches in from the sides, and after a pair of the +cross logs had been set in place a third pair of logs were laid about 40 +inches from the sides. Finally, a single 16-foot log was set in place at +the center, to serve as the ridge beam of the roof. The roof logs were +all carefully tested to see if they were sound before we laid them in +place, because we did not want to run any risk of the roof falling in, +particularly in the winter time, when it would be heavily covered with +snow. A chalk line was drawn from the ridge beam to the lower roof beam, +and the cross logs were sawed off along this line, as indicated in Fig. +271. Several slabs were now procured and laid across the roof beams to +serve as rafters. These rafters projected about 18 inches beyond the +side walls of the cabin, so as to support the eaves. Over the rafters we +laid a roofing of slabs, starting with the bottom and lapping them, as +we had done on our tree house. + +[Illustration: Fig. 271. How the Roof Logs were Laid.] + + +THE DOOR AND WINDOW FRAMES. + +We were now ready to cut out and frame the doors and window openings. +The front window of the cabin was to be close beside the door, so we +merely widened the door opening at the top to include the window opening +as well (see Figs. 271 and 272). The door was made 2-1/2 feet wide, and +was cut down to the foundation logs. The window opening was cut to a +depth of 24 inches. Before sawing out the opening we wedged pieces of +wood between the logs along the line we were to follow with the saw, so +as to keep them in place. After the opening had been made a couple of +stout boards were nailed to the sawed ends of the logs at each side, to +hold them securely in place and make a suitable framing for the door. +The cleats were then removed. The foundation log and the one at the top +of the opening were flattened, to serve as the sill and lintel of the +door. Between the door and window a short post was wedged in place. This +post was flattened on opposite sides, so that the door jamb could be +nailed against it on one side and the window frame on the other. The +side window was next cut out and framed. After it had been framed it +measured 2 feet square. + +[Illustration: Fig. 272. The Finished Roof.] + + +THE FIREPLACE. + +Then came the task of building our fireplace. First we sawed out the +opening, cutting right through the rear foundation log. Then we gathered +from the river a large number of the flattest stones we could find. With +these we planned to build the three outer walls of our chimney. But the +question of getting mortar to bind the stones together bothered us for a +while. + +"If only we could find a bed of clay. Don't any of you know of one +around here?" queried Bill. + +But none of us remembered seeing any clay bed in the vicinity. + +"If we were in south Jersey now," I said, "we could use some of that red +mud they have down there. It sticks like the mischief to shoes and pant +legs. I bet it would hold those stones together." + +"Red mud? Why there's plenty of it over the hill, back of Lumberville," +said Reddy. "All the roads over there are red shale roads, and I saw +some red banks along the river when we went after the logs." + +That was just what we wanted. The banks Reddy referred to turned out to +be genuine red shale, and soon we had ferried several scow loads of the +stuff down to Kite Island. When the shale was wet it made quite a sticky +mortar. The foundations of the chimney were laid in a trench about 2 +feet deep, and the side walls of the chimney were carried inside of the +cabin and covered the ends of the logs at the chimney opening. The side +walls extended outward a distance of 3 feet, where they were joined by +the rear wall of the chimney. + + +THE PROPER WAY TO BUILD A STONE WALL. + +In making our chimney we could not rely on the red shale to hold the +stones as firmly as good lime mortar would, so we had to be careful that +each stone, as it was laid, had a firm bearing. The stones were embedded +in a thick layer of mud, and if they showed any tendency to teeter we +propped them up by wedging small stones under them until they lay solid. +Another thing that we were very careful about was to "break joints"; +that is, to keep the joints in each layer of the stones from coinciding +with those in the next layer, above or below. To make sure of this we +made it a point to lay a stone over each joint in the top of the wall +and then to fill in the space between the stones with smaller stones. In +this way the wall was made very substantial. + +[Illustration: Fig. 273. How to Build a Wall.] + +When the masonry had been carried up to the top of the chimney opening, +a heavy timber about 12 inches wide was laid across the walls close +against the wall of the building. This was to support the fourth wall of +the chimney, and so we flattened its upper surface. To prevent it from +catching fire it was covered with a thick plastering of mud, and then to +keep the mud from cracking and flaking off we procured a piece of tin +and tacked it over the log. The tin also extended over the top log of +the opening. Then we went on with the building of the chimney walls, +carrying them up about a foot above the ridge of the roof. Our chimney +was completed by paving the bottom with stones, well packed in mud and +nicely smoothed off to make the hearth. The hearth extended about 18 +inches into the cabin, and was framed with logs, as shown in Fig. 275. + + +THE FLOOR OF THE CABIN. + +A number of logs were now laid on the ground to serve as floor beams. +Slabs were used for the floor. We had some trouble in making the floor +perfectly even, because the floor beams were rather irregular, and a +great deal of time was spent in smoothing the logs off to a common +level. If we had the work to do over again we would have bought two or +three planks and laid them on edge to support the flooring. + +[Illustration: Fig. 274. Building the Chimney.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 275. Section through the Fireplace.] + + +THE DOOR HINGES AND LATCH. + +[Illustration: Fig. 276. The Door Hinges.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 277. The Latch Guard.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 278. Door Catch.] + +A door was now constructed by battening together a number of slabs. In +place of a hinge a hole was drilled into the sill and another into the +lintel directly in line with it. Two sticks of wood were then whittled +to fit snugly, but without jamming, into these holes. These sticks were +then nailed to the inner face of the door, with their whittled ends +projecting into the holes, forming pintles on which the door could turn. +A narrow strip of wood was nailed to the outer jamb for the door to +close against. The latch consisted of a stick of wood, fastened to the +door at one end with a nail. It hooked onto a catch whittled out of hard +wood to the form illustrated in Fig. 278, and nailed to the jamb. Then +to keep the latch from dropping too far when the door was open, and to +guide it when slammed against the catch, we whittled out a guard piece +to the form illustrated in Fig. 277, and nailed this to the door, with +the latch projecting through the slot of the guard. A string was now +fastened to the latch and passed through a hole in the door. A block was +tied to the end of the latch string to prevent it from slipping back +through the hole; but at night, when we did not want to be molested by +any intruders, we untied the block and drew in the latch string. + + +THE WINDOW SASH. + +[Illustration: Fig. 279. The Latch.] + +For our windows we made wooden sashes which fitted nicely into the +window openings. A small hole was drilled through the sash at each side +into the frame, and nails inserted in these holes held the sash in +place, and served also as hinge pins for the sash to turn on. The sash +could be taken out at any time by removing these nails. As we could not +afford to use glass for our windows, we covered the sashes first with +cloth, and later, when it occurred to us that in winter time it would be +difficult to keep the cold air out, we used oiled paper. + + +BUNKS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 280. Hinged Window Sash.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 281. Bunks.] + +Our next work was directed toward providing sleeping accommodations in +the log cabin. A large log was laid on the floor the full length of the +cabin, as far out as possible without interfering with the opening of +the front door. Stakes were laid across this log, with their opposite +ends wedged in between the logs of the wall. A nail or two in each slab +held it in place. This formed a sort of shelf 12 feet long, which was +divided at the center to form two bunks, each wide enough for two +persons. But as there were six of us in the society, we had to provide +two more berths. A stout post was set into a hole in the ground, and +nailed firmly at the bottom to the lower berth log and at the top to one +of the roof beams. This post supported a second berth log, which +extended the full length of the building at a height of about 3 feet +from the floor, and was wedged at the ends between the logs of the +house. Cleats were nailed to the walls under this berth log to make it +perfectly secure. Then slabs were nailed across it to form the two +bunks. + + +STOPPING UP THE CHINKS. + +The log cabin was completed by stopping up all the chinks between the +logs of the walls. Strips of wood and bits of bark plastered with mud +were driven into all the cracks and crevices until everything was made +perfectly tight. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +THE WINDMILL. + + +When our log cabin was completed we immediately transferred our camp +from the tent to the hut. But at the very outset we were confronted with +the problem of getting drinking water. We hadn't thought of that before. +It was easy enough to move the filter barrels, but when it came to +moving the water wheel we could find no suitable place for it anywhere +near the log cabin. The water of Lake Placid was too quiet, while the +mill-race and the rapids on the other side of Kite Island ran so swiftly +that we were afraid the water wheel would be swept away with its course. +The matter was carefully considered at a special meeting of the society. +It occurred to Bill that we might build a windmill in place of the water +wheel, and use it to pump water from a well which could be dug near the +hut. + +"We wouldn't have to use a filter, then," he said. + +"Why not?" I asked. + +"Why, because the sand of the island will strain out all the dirt in the +water. You see, the water in the well will have to soak in from the +river, and by the time it gets through all the gravel and sand between +the river and the well it ought to be filtered pretty clear." + + +DIGGING THE WELL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 282. Digging the Well.] + +That sounded logical, and so we adopted the plan at once. We chose a +spot quite near the hut for our well. When we had dug down about 6 feet +we struck water, but continued excavating until the water lay 3 feet +deep in the well. While making the excavation we shored up the sides +with planks, to prevent the loose soil from falling in on us and +smothering us, as it so nearly did when we were digging our first cave. +By "shoring," I mean we lined the walls with planks, which were driven +into the ground with large wooden mallets. The planks were braced apart +with sticks at frequent intervals. As the well hole grew deeper we had +to rig up a bucket to haul the dirt out. Our bucket was a soap box +attached to a rope, which passed through a pulley at the top of the +well. The pulley was supported by a tripod made by firmly lashing +together the upper ends of three stout poles and spreading their lower +ends far enough apart to straddle the mouth of the well, as shown in +Fig. 282. After the well had been carried down to a sufficient depth, we +began laying the stone wall, which was to form the permanent lining. We +knew that the wooden walls would not do, because they would soon decay. +Our stone wall, which was built up of flat stones like the chimney of +the log house, was not very strong, I fear, and had not the soil around +it been pretty firm it would probably have caved in. However, if it +served no other purpose, it formed a fairly good finish for the well. + + +THE WINDMILL TOWER. + +[Illustration: Fig. 283. Frame for the Tower.] + +The mouth of the well was carefully covered with planks while we +constructed the windmill above it. For the tower of the windmill we +chose four long sticks. They must have measured about 16 feet in length, +and were from 4 to 6 inches in diameter. With them we made two frames of +the form given in Fig. 283, using slabs to brace them apart. These +frames were now set in position, with their lower ends firmly planted in +holes in the ground, and the tower was completed by nailing on a number +of diagonal braces. A couple of boards were nailed across the upper ends +at opposite sides, and holes were drilled through them to provide +bearings for the wind wheel shaft. + + +THE CRANK SHAFT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 284. The Crank Shaft.] + +The shaft was a piece of heavy iron rod which we procured from the +blacksmith at Lumberville. Under Bill's direction the blacksmith +hammered a U-shaped bend at the center of the shaft, so as to form a +crank, and then he flattened the rod near the ends (see Fig. 284). When +the shaft was set in its place these flat spots lay just outside of the +bearing boards, and then, to keep the shaft from sliding back and forth +in its bearings, we fastened on two clamps over these flattened parts. +The clamps were made of pairs of hardwood blocks bolted together in the +manner indicated in Fig. 285. + + +THE WIND WHEEL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 285. A Clamp.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 286. Wedge for Wind Wheel.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 287. Spokes of Wind Wheel.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 288. Wind Wheel Blade.] + +Our next task was to construct the wind wheel. First we procured three +boards, each 3 inches wide and 3-1/2 feet long. A 1/2-inch hole was +drilled in the center of each board, and then, with these holes +coinciding, the boards were nailed together, with their ends projecting, +like spokes, equally distant from each other. Six wedges were now made +of the size indicated in Fig. 286. These were made of a 2 x 4-inch +scantling, sawed diagonally in two and then planed down to the given +dimensions. The wedges were now nailed firmly to the spokes, as shown in +Fig. 286. For the blades we used six thin boards, each about 4 feet +long. Each blade measured 10 inches in width at the outer end, and +tapered down to a width of 3 inches at the inner end, as illustrated in +Fig. 288. The blades were now securely nailed to the wedges, and their +outer ends were braced together by means of wires stretched from the +forward edge of each blade to the rear edge of the next one ahead. The +wheel was then fitted onto the shaft and nailed to one of the clamps. In +this way it was practically keyed to the shaft. + +We did not make any vane for our windmill. It did not need any. The wind +nearly always blew either up or down the river, more often up the river, +for the prevailing summer winds in that part of the country are +southerly. But, aside from that, east and west winds could not very well +reach us on account of the hills on both sides of the river. The wheel +was set facing the north, because the strongest winds came from that +direction, and as an extra brace against these winds we stretched wires +from the projecting end of the shaft to the center of each blade. + + +A SIMPLE BREAK. + +[Illustration: Fig. 289. The Wind Wheel.] + +A brisk northerly wind was blowing when we set the wheel in place, and +it began to revolve at once, before we could nail it to the clamp. To +stop it we nailed a stick of wood to the tower, so that its end +projected in the path of the blades and kept the wheel from turning +around. This brake was swung up to the dotted position illustrated when +we were ready to have the wheel revolve, but it could be thrown down at +any time to stop it. + + +THE PUMP. + +[Illustration: Fig. 290. Side View of the Wind Wheel, showing Brake.] + +Our pump was made of a galvanized leader pipe; that is, a pipe used to +carry off rain water from the roof of the house. The pipe was only about +8 feet long, and so we had to piece it out with a long wooden box pipe. +A block closed the lower end of this box, and the leader pipe fitted +snugly into a hole in the block (Fig. 291). A spout was set into the +upper end of the box pipe to carry the water to the cask, which was to +serve as our water reservoir. + + +THE PUMP VALVES. + +[Illustration: Fig. 291. The Box Pipe.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 292. The Lower Valve.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 293. The Piston Valve.] + +We plugged the bottom of the leader pipe with a block of wood, in the +center of which a large hole was drilled. The hole was covered with a +piece of leather nailed at one side, so that it could lift up to let +water into the pipe. The piston was made of a disk of wood of slightly +smaller diameter than the inside of the pipe, and over it was fastened a +piece of leather just large enough to fit snugly against the walls of +the pipe. This piston was fastened to a wooden rod long enough to reach +from well within the pipe to the wind wheel shaft. A strip of brass was +bent over the crank, or U-shaped bend in the shaft, and its ends were +fastened to the rod. + +[Illustration: The Old Windmill at Work on a Lumberville Farm.] + + +ACTION OF THE PUMP. + +[Illustration: Fig. 294. Connection of Rod and Crank.] + +It was rather a crude pump, but it did all the work we required of it. +As the wheel went around the crank shaft would move the piston up and +down. Whenever the piston went down, the air in the pipe would press up +the edges of the leather disk and squeeze past (see Fig. 295). Then when +the piston came up again, the leather disk, being backed by the wooden +disk beneath it, was kept flat, so that no air could force its way back +into the pipe. This made a partial vacuum in the pipe, and the water +from the well rushed up through the valve at the bottom to fill it (see +Fig. 296). When next the piston went down the bottom valve closed and +more air forced its way past the piston. Then on the next upward stroke +more water flowed into the pipe, until, after a number of strokes, all +the air was pumped out and the water which took its place began to force +its way up past the piston and eventually to flow out of the spout into +the cask. + +Our old windmill was sold to a farmer near Lumberville when we broke +camp that fall. We carted it over and set it up for him. A number of +years later I saw it still faithfully at work pumping water for his +cattle. The original pump had been worn out and a new one substituted, +but otherwise the old windmill remained just as we had first rigged it +up. + +[Illustration: Fig. 295. Fig. 296. Action of the Pump.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE GRAVITY RAILROAD. + + +"About all we lack now," said Dutchy, when the windmill had been +completed, "is a railroad." + +"Then suppose we build one," was Bill's unexpected rejoinder. + +We all thought he was joking, but he wasn't. + +"I don't mean a steam railroad," he said, "but a gravity railroad." + +"A what?" + +"A gravity railroad. Oh, you know what that is--a roller toboggan--the +kind they have down at Coney Island." And he went on to explain how we +could rig up a simple roller toboggan on our island. + +His plan was to build an inclined trestle on the high ground just below +the lagoon, and then run wooden tracks along the shore down to the +pontoon bridge, and across the mill-race to Kite Island. We started +first to dig a road down to the bridge, because the bank was quite high +at this point. The task was rather greater than we anticipated, but we +kept steadily at it until we had cut a fairly good road through the +bank, though the grade was rather steep. + +Before proceeding with the trestle and track we thought the best plan +would be to build our car, and then we could use it as a gauge to +determine how far apart the rails should be set. + + +THE CAR. + +[Illustration: Fig. 297. Putting the Car Body Together.] + +First we got a 2 x 4-inch scantling, and cut from it two lengths, each 4 +feet 6 inches long. These were laid on edge just 30 inches apart, and +then a number of boards were nailed across from one scantling to the +other and sawed off flush with their edges. The floor thus formed was +now turned over so that the scantlings lay uppermost and the sides of +the car were then nailed on with their edges overlapping the ends of the +floor boards. The sides, which were about 18 inches high, were each made +of two boards firmly battened together. Great care was taken to securely +nail both the flooring and the sides to the scantlings, because these +scantlings were to carry the wheels of the car. The car body was +completed by nailing on the end pieces which overlapped both the +flooring and the side walls. + + +THE FLANGED WHEELS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 298. The Car Wheel.] + +Next we sawed out the wheels of our car. From a board of hardwood 3/4 of +an inch thick four disks, 12 inches in diameter, were sawed out. Then +from a board 1 inch thick four 9-inch disks were sawed out. We cut these +disks in the same way as we had made the disks for our surveying rod +(see page 78), by making cuts across corners and finally smoothing off +the angles with a draw-knife. A half-inch hole was now drilled in the +center of each disk. Then on each large disk a smaller one was placed, +with the center holes of the two coinciding and the grain of one lying +across the grain of the other. In this position they were firmly nailed +together, making a wheel like those used on a railway car, with the +small disc forming the tread of the wheel and the large disk serving as +a flange. + + +THE CAR AXLES. + +[Illustration: Fig. 299. Car Body with Axles in Place.] + +For the car axles we bought four 1/2-inch bolts, 6 inches long, with two +washers and two nuts for each bolt. In each side of the car, about 8 +inches from the ends, we nailed face blocks; that is, blocks of wood for +the wheels to bear against. These face blocks were only 1/2 inch thick. +Then in these blocks holes were drilled which were carried clear through +the scantling. The holes were just large enough for the bolts to fit +snugly in them. The bolts were inserted from the inside, so that their +threaded ends projected out at each side of the car. A patch of wood was +nailed to the scantling over each bolt head to prevent the bolt from +slipping back into the car. Then the wheels were mounted on these bolts, +which served as axles. + + +MOUNTING THE WHEELS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 300. Section Showing How to Fasten on the Wheel.] + +First a washer was placed on the axle, then the wheel was applied, with +the larger or flange disk against the face block, after which another +washer was slipped on. A nut was screwed against this washer just +tightly enough to keep the wheel snugly in place, and yet let it turn +freely on its axle. Then to keep this nut from shaking loose a second +nut was screwed on against it. While one fellow held the first nut from +turning, another screwed the second nut against it as tightly as he +could. The second nut is technically known as a "jam nut," or "lock +nut." The car was completed by laying a couple of boards across from one +scantling to the other to serve as seats. + + +THE RAILWAY TRACK. + +[Illustration: Fig. 301. The Inclined Trestle.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 302. Joints of the Track.] + +The trestle was now begun. First we erected a level platform, which was +to be the starting point of the railway. This was made very substantial +by planting the corner posts firmly in the ground and then bracing them +together with diagonal braces. A couple of planks leaning against the +platform at one side provided a convenient means for mounting to the +top. From the platform the trestle ran down at an easy incline to the +ground. It was made of 2 x 4-inch scantlings supported at intervals on +posts driven into the ground. The opposite posts were firmly braced with +boards fastened diagonally across them. The scantlings were to serve as +rails, and so we fastened them at the proper distance apart with ties +nailed to the under side. But to be sure that the rails were not too far +apart or too close together, the car was rolled over the track and the +rails were set to keep the tread disks of the wheels on them and the +flange disks just clear of their inner edges. The ends of the rails were +cut off at an angle, making a slanting joint, as shown in Figs. 301 and +302. They were fastened firmly together by nailing a piece of board on +the bottom and also on the outer side. + + +THE CARPENTER'S MITER BOX. + +[Illustration: Fig. 303. Carpenter's Miter Box.] + +To make sure that the ends were all cut to the same angle, we made a +carpenter's "miter box." Two sideboards were nailed to a baseboard, +making a trough large enough for the scantling to be set in it. Then we +sawed through the sides of the trough at an angle of 45 degrees. When we +wanted to cut the end of the scantling at an angle it was placed in the +trough, and with the saw set in the saw cuts, as a guide, we were sure +that they would all be cut at the same angle. + + +LAYING THE TRACK. + +[Illustration: Fig. 304. How the Track was Anchored.] + +From the bottom of the inclined trestleway we continued the track down +the slope to the river; but for the sake of economy, instead of using 2 +x 4-inch scantlings for the rails, we bought a number of 2-inch planks +at Lumberville, and had them sawed up into strips 2 inches wide. These +2-inch square rails were fastened together with slabs nailed on at +frequent intervals. To maintain the proper gauge the car was rolled over +each pair of rails, which were nailed first at the ends and center. To +anchor the track we drove short posts into the ground so that their +upper ends lay flush with the surface. A post was provided under each +joint and one under the center of each rail, and then the slab ties were +nailed securely to these posts. In imitation of a full-sized railway, we +made it a point to "break joints" on our track; that is, to make the end +of one rail come in line with the center of the opposite rail, as shown +in Fig. 302. Our track was continued across the pontoon bridge and ran +around the west shore of Kite Island. The track was straight as far as +the shore of Kite Island, whence, by an easy curve, it was carried +around to the log cabin. + + +THE FIRST RAILWAY ACCIDENT. + +Dutchy was the first one to try the railway. He sneaked back to the +platform while the rest of us were putting a few last touches on the +track. The first we knew the car came tearing down the track at full +speed, with Dutchy yelling at the top of his voice for us to get out of +his way. Bill was on the bridge when the car came along and he had no +time to run for shore, but with great presence of mind he jumped into +the water and clung to one of the barrels. But the joke of it all was +that Dutchy himself got a wetting too. The track at the middle of the +bridge was not quite true to gauge. It was this very spot that Bill was +fixing up when Dutchy came along. The end of a rail was bent in far +enough to catch the flange of one of the car wheels, and in a moment +Dutchy, car and all, was slung head over heels into the mill-race. +Fortunately no serious harm was done. Dutchy landed a little ways +down-stream, and Reddy, by quick work, managed to rescue the car just as +it was floating off under the suspension bridge. The car was undamaged +except that the flange of a wheel was split off. + +Of course, Bill was as mad as a hornet at Dutchy, and expressed his +feelings in no mild terms. But his anger was somewhat tempered by the +fact that Dutchy received as bad a punishment as he had inflicted. + +[Illustration: The Start of the Gravity Railroad.] + + +TESTING THE TRACK. + +We had to cut a new flange disk for the broken wheel, and to prevent the +flanges from splitting off again we nailed a batten across the inner +face of each wheel extending down to the very edge of the flange disk. +This batten was fastened on across the grain. When everything was +completed the car was started down the track empty to see if it would +keep the rails. It went beautifully as far as the bridge, but was too +light to run much beyond. The next time we loaded it up with stones and +had the pleasure of watching it sail down hill, across the bridge and +vanish out of sight around the shore of Kite Island. That was +demonstration enough. We knew it would carry us safely and it did. The +next time we tried it four of us piled into the small car, and in a +moment we were off on a most thrilling ride, which ended right in front +of the log cabin, where the car came to a sudden stop after riding off +the end of the rails and plowing through the sand for a short space. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +THE CANTILEVER BRIDGE. + + +There is one more piece of work done by our society which yet remains to +be described, and that is the cantilever bridge. This we all voted to be +the greatest of our achievements on the island. To be sure, it was Uncle +Ed's design, but I think we justly deserve credit for the masterful way +in which it was erected. In our search for types of bridges before +building the king post bridge, we came across a simple cantilever bridge +that didn't look very difficult to construct. To be sure, none of us +knew a thing about stresses and strains, and ingenious though we were, +Bill realized that the task of designing a cantilever bridge was far +beyond him. Nevertheless, we were sure we could build one if only we had +a good set of plans. A letter was therefore mailed to Uncle Ed, asking +him for the required details. The answer came promptly from Western +Australia, asking us to send him the exact width of the water we wished +to span, the depth of the water, the distance from the top of one bank +to the top of the other, and the exact height of the banks above water +level. We decided we would build the bridge across the mouth of the +lagoon. The distance here between the two banks measured a little over +60 feet. The banks were very precipitous, and rose 13-1/2 feet above the +level of the water. All these details, together with soundings of the +bottom, all the way across, were sent to Uncle Ed, and on the day after +our railway was completed quite a bulky package was received in answer. +It contained complete directions for building the bridge of wooden +frames, which were so designed that they needed merely to be hooked +together to form the bridge, though to make the structure perfectly safe +Uncle Ed cautioned us to tie the frames together wherever they met. + +I am half afraid to tell my readers how to build this bridge, as it +required the utmost care, and had to be built just so to avoid disaster. +Bridge building is a serious business, and I would not advise any one to +attempt building this, of all bridges, who does not propose to follow +instructions implicitly. Uncle Ed told us that if we built it properly, +and with sound timbers, we would find the bridge strong enough to +support a dozen boys, but he warned us not to crowd more than that +number on it. + + +FRAMES FOR THE CANTILEVER BRIDGE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 305. A Frame (make four).] + +[Illustration: Fig. 306. B Frame (make four).] + +[Illustration: Fig. 307. C Frame (make four).] + +[Illustration: Fig. 308. D Frame (make four).] + +The frames with which the cantilever bridge was built were made of +saplings from 3 to 4 inches in diameter. We procured them from Mr. +Schreiner's lands up the river. In making the frames the sticks were +fastened together with 1/2-inch bolts 6 inches long. It was quite a +strain on our pocketbooks to buy these bolts, but Uncle Ed had written +that nails or spikes would be useless to stand the strains of so large +a bridge, and that if we could not get any bolts we had better give +up the idea of building a cantilever bridge. To make sure that we +made no mistakes, Uncle Ed had made a drawing of each different +size of frame we would need, designating each with a different +letter, and then these same letters were marked on a general +view of the bridge, so that we would know exactly where the +frames belonged. These drawings are reproduced here in Figs. 305 +to 316 and 318. We had to make four frames each, of the _A_, _B_, +_C_ and _E_ sizes, two each of the _F_, _G_ and _L_ sizes and +one each of the _H_, _I_, _J_ and _K_ sizes. Of the _D_ frames +two were made with the ends cut away on the outer half, as illustrated +in Fig. 308, and two were cut away at the inner side, the reason for +which will appear presently. When fastening the timbers together we cut +notches in each stick, as shown in Fig. 317. The depth of each notch was +just one-quarter the diameter of the stick; that is, the notch was 3/4 +of an inch deep in a 3-inch stick and 1 inch deep in a 4-inch stick. +Care was taken not to exceed this depth, for fear of weakening the +sticks. In the case of frame _D_, the sticks were not notched or +mortised together. It will be noticed that the measurements are given to +the inner edges of the sticks in some cases, and to the outer edges in +others. The reason for this, as Uncle Ed explained it, was because +the thickness of our sticks would vary considerably, and it was +important that many of the measurements be exact, otherwise the +frames would not fit into each other as they should. Another +thing to which he called our attention was the fact that frames +_A_, _B_, _E_, _F_, _H_, _K_ and _L_ were stiffened with cross +braces, while the rest were not. The braced frames, he wrote, were those +which would be under a compression strain, while the others would be +under tension; that is, when any weight was placed on the bridge it +would push against the ends of the braced frames, trying to crush them, +but would pull on the unbraced frames, trying to tear them apart. In +fact, the bridge would have been just as strong had we used heavy iron +wire in place of the unbraced frames, and the only reason Uncle Ed did +not recommend our doing so was because we had no simple way of +stretching the wire taut. + +[Illustration: Fig. 309. E Frame (make four).] + +[Illustration: Fig. 310. F Frame (make two).] + +[Illustration: Fig. 311. G Frame (make two).] + +[Illustration: Fig. 312. H Frame (make one).] + +[Illustration: Fig. 313. I Frame (make one).] + +[Illustration: Fig. 314. J Frame (make one).] + +[Illustration: Fishing off the Cantilever Bridge.] + +[Illustration: The Cantilever Bridge in Reddy's Back Yard.] + + +ERECTING THE TOWERS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 315. K Frame (make one).] + +[Illustration: Fig. 316. L Frame (make two).] + +[Illustration: Fig. 317. Notching the Sticks Together.] + +We built the complete set of frames before attempting to erect the +bridge. Then we began by building the towers. Two _A_ frames were +set on end and spaced 4 feet apart at the top and 5 feet apart at the +bottom, measuring not from the inner but from the outer edges of the +frames. In this position they were connected by short spars, notched in +place. The notches for these connecting spars will be seen in Fig. 305 +on the main or vertical timbers of frame _A_, just below the upper +and middle cross sticks and above the lower cross sticks. The upper +connecting spars were wedged tightly under the cross sticks, and served +as an additional support for them. Diagonal braces were nailed from one +frame to the other, as illustrated in Fig. 318. The towers were built on +opposite banks, at the mouth of the lagoon, and when completed we +lowered them carefully down the banks into the water. According to +directions they were to be set just 30 feet apart, measuring from the +center of one tower to the center of the other. The water was quite +shallow where the towers rested, but the bottom was pretty firm. Holes +were dug in the bottom for the legs of the tower to set into, and then +large stones were piled around each leg to provide a firm foundation for +the towers. + + +SETTING UP THE FRAMES. + +[Illustration: Fig. 318. View of Part of the Bridge, with Letters +Indicating the Various Frames.] + +A _B_ frame was now hauled out to one of the towers and lifted by +its narrower end, with fall and tackle, until its lower tie piece rested +on the projecting ends of the center crosspieces of the tower. The upper +end of the frame was held against the top of the tower, while a _C_ +frame was hooked over the upper ends of the tower legs; then frame +_B_ was allowed to swing outward until its smaller end locked with +the outer end of frame _C_. It will be observed in Fig. 306 that +the upper crosspiece or tie piece of frame _B_ was fastened to one +side of the vertical sticks and the lower tie piece to the other side. +This was done purposely, so that when the frame was set in position the +bottom tie piece would be on the lower side of the frame and the top +piece would lie on the upper side, as shown in Fig 318, or, better +still, in Fig. 319. The rest of the frames were all arranged to be set +in place with their tie pieces on the lower side, or facing the towers, +as will be clearly understood by examining the illustrations. As +soon as the _B_ and _C_ frames were set up on one side of the +tower, another pair of _B_ and _C_ frames was set up on the other +side of the same tower. A cantilever bridge must always be built +out on both sides of the tower at the same time, otherwise it +will be overbalanced on one side and topple over. After the +_B_ and _C_ frames were in place we took two _D_ frames, with +oppositely cut ends, and rested their tie sticks on the top of the +tower, just under the ends of the _C_ frames. The ends of the two +_D_ frames overlapped at the center of the tower, and, as one was +cut away at the outer side and the other at the inner side, they fitted +neatly together and were fastened with bolts. The _D_ frames were +supported near their outer ends with _E_ frames, which rested +on the _B_ and _C_ frames. Fig. 319 shows an _E_ frame set +in position on the landward side of the tower, while two of the boys +are climbing out on the opposite _B_ and _C_ frames preparatory to +setting up the other _E_ frame. A cross stick was now bolted to +each _D_ frame, just beyond the upper ends of the _E_ sticks. +This done, the frame _F_ was hooked in between the ends of _B_ +and _C_, at the shoreward side of the tower, and its outer ends +were supported by frame _G_, which was hooked over frame _D_ +and the upper ends of frame _E_. The frame _L_ was then rested +on the ends of frame _F_ and _G_, and supported the shore end +of frame _D_. A stick nailed across frame _D_ on each side of +the upper ends of frame _L_ served to hold the latter in place. + + +BINDING AND ANCHORING THE STRUCTURE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 319. Preparing to Put an E Frame in Place.] + +As the different frames were coupled together, we bound the overlapping +ends with soft iron wire. The place where frames _B_, _C_, +_E_ and _F_ came together was quite a vital point, and we took +pains to make the wire binding at this place doubly strong. As soon as +the _L_ frame was in place we anchored the bridge to shore by +running wires from the ends of the _D_ frame and the ends of the +_G_ frame to stakes driven into the banks. The frames on the second +tower were now similarly erected and anchored, after which we were ready +to put in the center panels of the bridge. + + +THE CENTER PANELS OF THE BRIDGE. + +First, the frame _H_ was wedged into place and thoroughly fastened +by a liberal winding of wire. Next the frames _I_ and _J_ were +set in place, and in order to do this we had to remove the upper tie +pieces of these frames. Then one frame was hooked in the other, and the +two were carried out on the scow under the center of the bridge. Ropes +were tied to the ends of the two frames, and they were lifted together, +like a wide _V_, to the position shown in Fig. 318, after which the +tie pieces were bolted on again, resting against the ends of the +_E_ frames. As an additional security, two sticks were bolted to +the under side of the frame _H_, one at each side of the _I_ +and _J_ frames. The bridge was then completed by wedging the frame +_K_ under the ends of the _D_ frames, and also placing a stick +across each tower under the joints of the _D_ frames. We planned to +run our gravity railway across this bridge, moving our platform and +trestle to the opposite bank; so instead of flooring our bridge with +slabs, we fastened ties across at intervals of 15 or 18 inches. These +ties were sticks 3 inches in diameter, which were secured to the +_D_ frames. + + +A SERIOUS INTERRUPTION. + +[Illustration: Fig. 320. A General View of our Cantilever Bridge.] + +We were just preparing to lay the tracks across the bridge when we met +with a serious interruption. Mr. Halliday had told us that a few days +before our arrival that summer Mr. Smith, the owner of the island, and +another man had paid a visit to the place. Jim Halliday himself had +rowed them over, and learned from their conversation that Mr. Smith was +trying to sell the island, and that the stranger, a Mr. Gill, was a +prospective purchaser. All summer long we had been dreading the return +of this customer, though, as time passed without his putting in an +appearance, we almost forgot the incident. But now, at the end of +August, just as we had about completed our cantilever bridge, who should +arrive but this very man Gill and three other men with a large tent and +camping outfit. It was a sorrowful crowd of boys that watched the wagon +with their belongings ford the shallow water over to our island. We felt +that the island was ours by right of discovery and occupation, but we +were powerless to force our claims. And what if they did not insist on +our leaving the island? It would not be the same place with strangers +around to meddle with our things. + + +DISPOSSESSED. + +But the new owner of the island was even more of a boor than we had +anticipated. As soon as he landed he wanted to know what we were doing +on his property, and peremptorily ordered us off. Bill answered that we +were camping there, and politely asked if we couldn't stay out the +summer. But Gill would not listen to the idea. We must get off the +island that very day or he would see to it that we did. + +I tell you it made us boil. We were just itching to give the pompous +little man the sound thrashing he deserved, but knew that we would stand +a very small show against his three powerful companions. At any rate, we +were determined not to leave at once. Instead, we repaired to Kite +Island, taking our belongings with us. Then we cut away the suspension, +spar and pontoon bridges, so that we would not be annoyed by any of the +Gill crowd. We were resolved that they should not benefit by any of the +things we had built. + +At the dead of night we paddled back to Willow Clump Island, crept past +the slumbering intruders and waded out to the old water wheel. After a +good deal of exertion we managed to dislodge the smaller tower, letting +the wheel drop into the river and float away. Then we made for the +cantilever bridge. It didn't take us very long to cut away the wire +bindings, unhook the frames and drop them into the lagoon. But the task +was quite a perilous one, as the night was pitch black. Finally, nothing +remained of the bridge but the two towers, which were left as monuments +to mark the spot where our last piece of engineering on the island was +done. + +[Illustration: Building the Cantilever Bridge over Cedar Brook.] + + +FAREWELL TO WILLOW CLUMP ISLAND. + +We spent several days on Kite Island, knowing that we were safe from +intrusion, because the Gill crowd had but one boat, and that was on the +Jersey side of the island. We felt confident that they would not take +the trouble of wading around Point Lookout with their boats, as we had +done; nevertheless, to prevent a surprise, we kept a sentry posted on +the Lake Placid side of the island and gathered a pile of stones for +ammunition. But our fun was spoiled, and we finally decided to break +camp and bid farewell forever to Willow Clump Island and its vicinity. +Our goods were ferried over to Jim Halliday's farm, where we were given +shelter. The windmill, as I have already stated, was sold to a farmer at +Lumberville, and we were kept busy for several days carting it over and +setting it up in place. When everything had been done we stole back to +Kite Island and set fire to the log cabin. The next day Mr. Schreiner +took us home in a couple of his wagons. Thus ended our "investigation, +exploration and exploitation of Willow Clump Island." The work of two +summers was practically all destroyed in a few days. + + +REDDY'S CANTILEVER BRIDGE. + +I believe I have given a careful account of everything that was recorded +in the chronicles of the society. We were too discouraged to undertake +anything new in the two weeks before school opened. I presume I might +mention here Reddy's cantilever bridge, which, however, had really +nothing to do with the S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I., because our society +was formally disbanded the day before Bill and I returned to school. +About a month after leaving home I received a letter from Reddy +inclosing three interesting photographs, which are reproduced herewith. +Reddy certainly had the bridge fever, because soon after we had left he +started to work, with the rest of the boys, on a cantilever bridge +across Cedar Brook. The brook was entirely unsuited to such a structure, +because the banks were very low; but he made the towers quite short and +built an inclined roadway leading up to the top of them. The legs of the +towers were driven firmly into the bank, making them so solid that he +thought it would be perfectly safe to build the frames out over the +brook without building them at the same time on the shore side. But +he had made a miscalculation, for when a couple of the boys had +crawled out on the _B_ and _C_ frames to set up an _E_ frame the +structure commenced to sag. The trouble was remedied by propping up the +tower with a stout stick driven into the river bottom and wedged under +the upper tie piece of the tower. The towers were really too short to +make a well proportioned bridge, for the panels had to be made very long +and narrow, so as to reach across. But on the whole it was a very +creditable structure when completed, though it had only half as long a +span as our cantilever bridge over the lagoon. + + + + +INDEX + +A + "A" tent, 207 + Abbreviations, wigwag, 146 + Accident, railway, the first, 290 + Ainu snow shoe, 41 + Alarm clock, a unique, 63 + Alphabet, wigwag, 145 + Alpine stock, 198 + Anchoring cantilever bridge, 303 + Annex, the, 50 + Arctic expedition, 193 + Armchair, barrel, 227 + Axles of railroad car, 285 + +B + Bags, sleeping, 203 + Banquets, midnight, 179 + Barrel armchair, 227 + Barrel filter, 68 + Barrel hoop snow shoe, 36 + Barrel stave hammock, 226 + Barrel stave snow shoe, 36 + Bat's wings, 33 + Bed, a camp, 209 + Bed in shower, 210 + Belly band, elastic, 235 + Bending wood, 39 + Bicycle wheels, mounting frame on, 219 + Big Bug Club, 177 + "Bill," 17 + Bill's cave, 224 + Bill's skate sail, 21 + Binding cantilever bridge, 303 + Blades of wind wheel, 278 + Boat, ice, 159 + Boat mooring, tramp-proof, 142 + Boat, scow, 59 + Box kite, diamond, 236 + Box, the black walnut, 19 + Brake for wind wheel, 278 + Bridge building, 95 + Bridge, cantilever, 292 + Bridge, king post, 105 + Bridge, king rod, 102 + Bridge, pontoon, 101 + Bridge, Reddy's cantilever, 308 + Bridge, spar, 95 + Bridge, stiffening, 104 + Bridge, suspension, 99 + Bridge wreck, 66 + Bucket, the canvas, 251 + Buckets for water wheel, 246 + Bunks, 270 + +C + Camp bed, 209 + Camp bed in shower, 210 + Camp, breaking, 158 + Camp chair, a, 208 + Camp fire, a costly, 200 + Camp fire, kindling, 194 + Canoe, Indian paddling, 121 + Canoe lee boards, 119 + Canoe rudder, 115 + Canoe, the sailing, 111 + Canoe sails, 117 + Canoe, scooter, 190 + Canoe, stretching on canvas, 114 + Canoes, canvas, 109 + Cantilever bridge, 292 + Cantilever bridge, anchoring, 303 + Cantilever bridge, binding frames, 303 + Cantilever bridge, center panels, 304 + Cantilever bridge, frames for, 293 + Cantilever bridge, Reddy's, 308 + Cantilever bridge, setting up frames of, 300 + Cantilever bridge towers, 299 + Canvas bucket, 251 + Canvas canoes, 109 + Canvas, stretching on canoe, 114 + Canvas tent, 46 + Car axles, 285 + Car for gravity railroad, 284 + Car, mounting wheels on, 286 + Carpenter's miter box, 288 + Cave, Bill's, 224 + Cave, covering the, 177 + Cave, excavating for, 173 + Cave, framing, 174 + Cave-in, a, 171 + Center panels of cantilever bridge, 304 + Chain, surveyor's, 77 + Chair, a camp, 208 + Chair seat snow shoe, 35 + Cheek blocks, 162 + Chinks in log cabin, stopping up, 272 + Christmas vacation, 19 + Clamp for crank shaft, 276 + Clapboards, nailing on, 135 + Cleat, a, 163 + Climbing, mountain, 198 + Clock, a unique alarm, 63 + Club, the Big Bug, 177 + Club pin, 180 + Club, the Subterranean, 171 + Code, International Telegraph, 155 + Combination lock, 181 + Council of war, 139 + Crank shaft, the, 276 + Creepers, ice, 170 + Crossbow, 55 + Crossbow trigger, 57 + Cutting out disk, 78 + +D + Danish sail, 30 + Derrick, the, 131 + Diamond box kite, 236 + Digging the well, 274 + Disk, cutting out, 78 + Disk, sighting, 79 + Dispossessed, 306 + Diving tree, 84 + Door hinges, 269 + Door latch, 269 + Doors, sliding, 136 + Double mirror heliograph, 156 + Double surprise, 140 + Drill, fire, 69 + Drowned, how to restore, alone, 92 + Drowned, restoring the, 89 + +E + Easter vacation, 224 + Elastic belly band, 235 + Expedition, Arctic, 193 + Expedition, logging, 255 + Expedition, preparing for, 53 + Exploration, preliminary, 66 + +F + Farewell to Willow Clump Island, 307 + Fastener, brass, 58 + Filter, the barrel, 68 + Filter barrel, cooling the, 250 + Filter, the small, 67 + Fire drill, 69 + Fireplace of log cabin, 265 + Fireplace, outdoor, 195 + Fireplace, stone-paved, 196 + Fissure, path up the, 129 + Flanged wheels, 285 + Fly, ridge pole, 54 + Fly for tent, 54 + Fly, umbrella with, 211 + Focusing heliograph instrument, 153 + Frame on bicycle wheels, 219 + Frames for cantilever bridge, 293 + Frames of cantilever bridge, setting up, 300 + Friend in time of trouble, 201 + +G + Goblins' Dancing Platform, 126 + Grass hut, 124 + Gravity railroad, 283 + +H + Halliday, Jim, 194 + Hammock, barrel stave, 226 + Harness, pack, 212 + Heliograph, the, 147 + Heliograph, double mirror, 156 + Heliograph instrument, focusing, 153 + Heliograph screen, 151 + Heliograph sight rod, 150 + Heliograph signaling, 154 + Heliograph, single mirror, 148 + Hinge for spars, 30 + Hinges, door, 269 + House building, 124 + House, log, 254 + House, the tree, 132 + Hut, cold night in, 197 + Hut, log, 254 + Hut, straw, 124 + +I + Ice boat, the, 159 + Ice boats, sledges and toboggans, 158 + Ice, craft strikes the, 184 + Ice creepers, 170 + Indian paddling canoe, 121 + Instrument, double mirror, 156 + Instrument, single mirror, 148 + Instrument, surveying, 73 + International Telegraph Code, 155 + Iroquois snow shoe, 39 + Island, mapping the, 82 + Island, off to the, 63 + Island, trip to the, 64 + +J + Jacob's Ladder, 129 + Jaws of boom, 162 + Jib-sail for ice boat, 164 + Jib-sail for scooter scow, 187 + Jim Halliday, 194 + +K + King post bridge, 105 + King rod truss, 102 + Kite, diamond box, 236 + Kite Island, 83 + Kite, Malay, 5-foot, 231 + Kite, Malay, 8-foot, 233 + Kites, putting to work, 235 + Kites, tailless, 229 + _Klepalo_, the, 70 + +L + Ladder, the Jacob's, 129 + Ladders, rope, 130 + Lagoon, the, 83 + Lake Placid, 83 + Land yacht, 215 + Land yacht, a sail on, 222 + Lanteen sail for canoe, 117 + Lanteen skate sail, 29 + Latch, door, 269 + Latch string, 270 + Lee boards, canoe, 119 + "Leg-of-mutton" sail, 220 + Levels, spirit, 74 + Lock combination, 181 + Log cabin, 251 + Log cabin, building the, 259 + Log cabin door hinges, 269 + Log cabin door latch, 269 + Log cabin door and window frames, 263 + Log cabin fireplace, 265 + Log cabin, floor of, 267 + Log cabin, foundation of, 254 + Log cabin, roof of, 262 + Log cabin, stopping up chinks, 272 + Log cabin window sash, 270 + Log raft, 256 + Logging expedition, 255 + +M + Mainsail for canoe, 117 + Mainsail for ice boat, 162 + Malay kite, 5-foot, 231 + Malay kite, 8-foot, 233 + Mapping the island, 82 + Mast of land yacht, stepping, 218 + Mast step, ice boat, 161 + Mast step, leather, 30 + Mast step, wooden, 30 + Megaphone, 57 + Megaphone mouthpiece, 58 + Midnight banquets, 179 + Mill-race, the, 88 + Mirror instrument, heliograph, 148 + Miter box, carpenter's, 288 + Mizzen sail of canoe, 118 + Mooring, tramp-proof boat, 142 + Mountain climbing, 198 + Mouthpiece of megaphone, 58 + "Mummy case," 204 + +N + Needle, weaving, 39 + Night, cold, in the hut, 197 + Nightmare, a, 211 + Noria, 241 + Norwegian ski, 42 + Numerals, wigwag, 145 + +O + Oar, the, 61 + Off to the island, 63 + Organizing the society, 25 + Outdoor fireplace, 195 + Outfits, tramping, 203 + +P + Pack harness, 212 + Paddling canoe, Indian, 121 + Paddles for water wheel, 246 + Panels, center, of cantilever bridge, 304 + Path up the fissure, 129 + Patient, how to work over, alone, 93 + Pin, the club, 180 + Plank, swimming on, 86 + Platform, Goblins' Dancing, 126 + Point Lookout, 83 + Pole, ridge, 48 + Poncho, 210 + Pontoon bridge, 101 + Poor shelter, a, 199 + Preparing for the expedition, 53 + Protractor, the, 76 + Provisions and supplies, 54 + Pump, the, 279 + Pump, action of, 281 + Pump valves, the, 280 + +R + Raft, log, 256 + Raft, sail-rigged, 258 + Railroad car, 284 + Railroad car axles, 285 + Railroad flanged wheels, 285 + Railroad, gravity, 283 + Railway track, the, 287 + Railway accident, the first, 290 + Railway, rope, 97 + Railway spikes, 50 + Rapids, shooting the, 88 + Receiving trough for water wheel, 247 + Records of the S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I., 19 + Reddy's cantilever bridge, 308 + Rennwolf, the, 168 + Restoring the drowned, 89 + Ridge pole, 48 + Ridge pole, fly, 54 + Riveting, 213 + Rod, heliograph sight, 150 + Rod, surveyor's, 78 + Rope ladders, 130 + Rope railway, 97 + Rowlocks, sockets for, 60 + Rudder, canoe, 115 + Rudder shoe, ice boat, 160 + Runner shoe, ice boat, 160 + Runners of scooter canoe, 190 + Runners of sledge, 165 + Rustic table, 66 + +S + S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I., records of, 19 + Sail, jib, for scooter, 187 + Sail, "leg-of-mutton," 220 + Sail, mizzen, of canoe, 118 + Sail-rigged raft, 258 + Sail, sprit, for scooter, 186 + Sail stitch, 46 + Sail through the country, 222 + Sailing canoe, the, 111 + Sailor's stitch, 221 + Sails, canoe, 117 + Sails for ice boat, 162 + Sandwiches, straw, 227 + Schreiner, a visit from Mr., 110 + Scooter canoe, 190 + Scooter sailing, 188 + Scooter scow, 185 + Scooters, 183 + Scow, the, 59 + Scow, a sail in, 184 + Scow, scooter, 185 + Scow, stolen, 138 + Screen, heliograph, 151 + Seat, swing, 97 + Shaft, the crank, 276 + Shelter, a poor, 199 + Shooting the rapids, 88 + Sight rod, 150 + Sighting blocks, 74 + Sighting disk, 79 + Signaling, heliograph, 154 + Signals, wigwag, 144 + Simple method of surveying, 79 + Single mirror heliograph, 148 + Sioux snow shoe, 37 + Skate sail, bat's wings, 33 + Skate sail, Bill's, 21 + Skate sail, Danish, 30 + Skate sail, double Swedish, 26 + Skate sail, lanteen, 29 + Skate sail, single Swedish, 28 + Skate sails, 26 + Ski, Norwegian, 42 + Ski sticks, 43 + Skids, 262 + Slabs, 101 + Sledge, the, 165 + Sleeping bags, 203 + Sliding doors, 136 + Snotter, 187 + Snow shoe, Ainu, 41 + Snow shoe, barrel hoop, 36 + Snow shoe, barrel stave, 36 + Snow shoe, chair seat, 35 + Snow shoe, Iroquois, 39 + Snow shoe, Sioux, 37 + Snow shoe, Swiss, 43 + Snow shoes, 35 + Society, meeting of, 189 + Society, organizing the, 25 + Spar bridge, 95 + Spars, hinge for, 30 + Spikes, railway, 50 + Spiral spring, 153 + Spirit levels, 74 + Spring, spiral, 153 + Sprit sail, 186 + Stepping mast of land yacht, 218 + Stitch, the sail, 46 + Stitch, sailor's, 221 + Stick, ski, 43 + Stiffening the bridge, 104 + Stone-paved fireplace, 196 + Stone wall, how to build, 266 + Straw hut, 124 + Straw sandwiches, 227 + Subterranean Club, 171 + Summer toboggan, 229 + Supplies and provisions, 54 + Surprise, a double, 140 + Surveying, 73 + Surveying, first lesson in, 79 + Surveying instrument, 73 + Surveying, a simple method of, 79 + Surveying for water wheel, 241 + Surveyor's chain, 77 + Surveyor's rod, 78 + Suspension bridge, 99 + Swamp shoe, 43 + Swedish sail, double, 26 + Swedish sail, single, 28 + Swimming, 84 + Swimming on a plank, 86 + Swing seat, 97 + Swiss snow shoe, 43 + +T + Table, a rustic, 66 + Tailless kites, 229 + Telegraph Code, International, 155 + Tent, the "A", 207 + Tent, annex, 50 + Tent, canvas wall, 46 + Tent fly, 54 + Tent making, 44 + Testing the track, 291 + Thole pins, 61 + Tie block, wood, 49 + Tie, wire, 50 + Tiger's Tail, 83 + Tiller, ice boat, 161 + Tiller of land yacht, 219 + Toboggan, the, 167 + Toboggan, the summer, 229 + Tower, the windmill, 275 + Towers of the cantilever bridge, 299 + Towers for water wheel, 243 + Towers of water wheel, setting up, 248 + Track, laying the, 289 + Track, the railway, 287 + Track, testing the, 291 + Tramping outfits, 203 + Tramp-proof boat mooring, 142 + Tramps, trouble with, 138 + Tree, diving, 84 + Tree house, the, 132 + Trigger for crossbow, 57 + Trip to the island, 64 + Tripod, the, 75 + Trouble with tramps, 138 + Trunk, the old, 18 + Truss, king rod, 102 + Turnbuckle, a simple, 216 + +U + Umbrella with fly, 211 + Umbrella rib crossbow, 55 + Uncle Ed, word from, 45 + Uncle Ed's departure, 109 + +V + Vacation, Christmas, 19 + Vacation, Easter, 224 + Valves, the pump, 280 + Van Syckel, interview with, 189 + Vengeance, 139 + Visit from Mr. Schreiner, 110 + +W + Wall, how to build, 266 + Wall tent, 46 + Water wheel, 241 + Water wheel buckets, 246 + Water wheel, construction of, 245 + Water wheel, Mr. Halliday's, 252 + Water wheel, mounting the, 249 + Water wheel paddles, 246 + Water wheel receiving trough, 247 + Water wheel, surveying for, 241 + Water wheel, towers for, 243 + Water wheel towers, setting up, 248 + War, council of, 139 + Weaving needle, 39 + Well, digging the, 274 + Wheel, the wind, 276 + Wheels for gravity railroad, 285 + Wheels, mounting, on car, 286 + Wheels, mounting frame on, 219 + Wigwag abbreviations, 146 + Wigwag alphabet, 145 + Wigwag numerals, 145 + Wigwag signals, 144 + Wigwagging and heliographing, 144 + Wigwagging at night, 147 + Willow Clump Island, 23 + Willow Clump Island, farewell to, 307 + Willow Clump Island in winter, 194 + Wind wheel, 276 + Wind wheel blades, 278 + Wind wheel brake, 278 + Windmill, 273 + Windmill tower, 275 + Window hinge, 270 + Window sash, log cabin, 270 + Wings, bat's, 33 + Wire tie, 50 + Wood, bending, 39 + Wood tie block, 49 + Word from Uncle Ed, 45 + +Y + Yacht, land, 215 + Yacht, land, frame of, 216 + + + + +The Most Popular Scientific Paper in the World + +SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN + +Established 1845 + +Weekly, $3.00 a Year; $1.50 Six Months + +This unrivaled periodical is now in its sixtieth year, and, owing to +its ever-increasing popularity, it enjoys the largest circulation ever +attained by any scientific publication. 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Russell (Alexander Russell) Bond</title> + <style type="text/css"> + body {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%;} + p {margin-top:1ex; margin-bottom:0; text-align:justify;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size:x-small; text-align:right; text-indent:0; + position:absolute; right:2%; padding:1px 3px; font-style:normal; + font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration:none; + background-color:inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + .pncolor {color:silver;} + h1,h2 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal;} + h1 {font-size:1.6em; margin-top:4ex; margin-bottom:2ex;} + h1.pg {text-align:center; font-weight:bold; font-size:190%; margin-top:0ex; margin-bottom:0ex;} + h2 {font-size:1.4em; margin-top:4ex; margin-bottom:2ex;} + a {text-decoration:none;} + div.toc a {text-decoration:underline;} + div.loi a {text-decoration:underline;} + hr.pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none; border-top:thin dashed silver; clear:both;} + div.figcenter {text-align:center; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em;} + p.center {text-align:center; text-indent:0em;} + p.caption {font-size:smaller;} + div.titlepage {} + div.titlepage p {text-align:center;} + .fs22 {font-size:2.2em;} + .mb20 {margin-bottom:20px;} + .fs16 {font-size:1.6em;} + .mb40 {margin-bottom:40px;} + .fs12 {font-size:1.2em;} + .tpi {margin:50px auto;text-align:center;} + .c {text-align:center;} + .fs08 {font-size:0.8em;} + .drop {display:block;float:left;margin:5px 0 0 0;padding:0 3px 0;width:85px;height:88px;text-indent:-9000px;border:none;} + .dca {background:transparent url(images/A.png) 0 0 no-repeat;} + .tar {text-align:right;} + .sc {font-variant:small-caps;} + .mr10 {margin-right:10px;} + .ml10 {margin-left:10px;} + .fs14 {font-size:1.4em;} + .mb30 {margin-bottom:30px;} + hr.hr16 {border:none;border-bottom:1px solid black; width:16%; text-align:center;} + .sc {font-variant:small-caps;} + .mr20 {margin-right:20px;} + span.h2fs {font-size:smaller;} + .mt20 {margin-top:20px;} + .mb10 {margin-bottom:10px;} + .b {font-weight:bold;} + .floatl, .figleft {float: left; clear: left; text-align: center; border: 1px solid white; padding: 3px; margin: 0 4px 0 0;} + .image-right {padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; text-align: center; font-size: smaller; color: black; background: white; border: none;} + .image-caption {padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; text-align: center; font-size: smaller;} + .floatr, .figright {float: right; clear: right; text-align: center; border: 1px solid white; padding: 3px; margin: 0 0 0 4px;} + .image-left {padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-right: 1em; float: left; clear: left; margin-top: 1em; text-align: center; font-size: smaller; color: black; background: white; border: none;} + .cb {clear:both} + table.table1 {margin:10px auto;} + table.table1 td {width:30px;} + table.table1 td.col2 {padding-right:70px;} + table.table1 td.col4 {padding-right:70px;} + .fs13 {font-size:1.3em;} + .fs09 {font-size:0.9em;} + .u {text-decoration:underline;} + .fs20 {font-size:2.0em;} + hr.hr10 {border:none;border-bottom:1px solid black; width:10%; text-align:center;} + hr.hr80 {border:none;border-bottom:1px solid black; width:80%; text-align:center;} + + .center { text-align: center; } + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 85%;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Scientific American Boy, by A. Russell +(Alexander Russell) Bond</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Scientific American Boy</p> +<p> or, The Camp at Willow Clump Island</p> +<p>Author: A. Russell (Alexander Russell) Bond</p> +<p>Release Date: May 15, 2005 [eBook #15831]<br /> +Most recently updated: March 16, 2010</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN BOY***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3 class="center">E-text prepared by Don Kostuch<br /> + and revised by Roger Frank, Juliet Sutherland,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)<br /> + HTML version prepared by Roger Frank, Juliet Sutherland,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='cover'></a><img src='images/cover.jpg' alt='' /> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i1'></a><img src='images/illus001.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fun in Swimming. +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<div class='titlepage'> +<p class='fs22 mb20'><i>The</i> SCIENTIFIC<br />AMERICAN BOY</p> + +<p>OR</p> + +<p class='fs16 mb40'>The Camp at Willow Clump Island</p> + +<p class='fs12'>By<br />A. RUSSELL BOND</p> + +<div class='tpi'> +<img alt='emblem' src='images/illus-emb.png' /> +</div> + +<p>NEW YORK</p> +<p class='fs12'>MUNN & CO., <i>Publishers</i></p> +<p class='fs12'>1906</p> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<p class='c fs08'>COPYRIGHT, 1905, BY<br />MUNN & CO., NEW YORK</p> + +<p class='c fs08'>PRESS OF<br />THE KALKHOFF COMPANY<br />NEW YORK</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<p class='c'>PREFACE</p> + +<p><span class="drop dca">A</span>ll boys are nature lovers. Nothing +appeals to them more than a summer +vacation in the woods where they can +escape from the restraints of civilization +and live a life of freedom. Now, it may appear to be +a bit of presumption to attempt to advise the boy +camper how to spend his time. Surely the novelty of +outdoor life, the fascinating charm of his surroundings, +will provide him plenty of entertainment.</p> + +<p>But, after all, a camp generally affords but two +major amusements, hunting and fishing. These have +been fully covered by a vast number of books. However, +there is another side of camp life, particularly in +a boys’ camp, which has been very little dealt with, +namely, the exercise of one’s ingenuity in creating +out of the limited resources at hand such devices and +articles as will add to one’s personal comfort and +welfare. It is, therefore, the aim of this book to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_1'></a>1</span> +suggest certain diversions of this character for the boy +camper which, aside from affording him plenty of +physical exercise, will also develop his mental faculties, +and above all stimulate that natural genius which is +characteristic of every typical American boy. To this +end the story contains descriptions of a large collection +of articles which can be made by any boy of average +intelligence, not only in the camp but at home as +well.</p> + +<p>The use of a narrative to connect the various incidents +marks a departure in this class of book, and it is +believed that the matter will thus be made more +realistic and interesting. In all cases full directions +are given for making the various articles. While it is +not presumed that the directions will be slavishly +followed, for this would defeat the general aim of the +work, yet all the principal dimensions are given so +that they can be used, if desired.</p> + +<p>I beg to acknowledge the courtesy of Mr. Daniel C. +Beard and Mr. Henry D. Cochrane in supplying a +number of photographs. The directions for making +the lee boards (page 119) were obtained from data +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_2'></a>2</span> +furnished by the latter. Many of the details recorded +in the chapter on Tramping Outfits are to be accredited +to Mr. Edward Thorpe. In the preparation of this +book I have received valuable assistance from my +colleague, Mr. A. A. Hopkins.</p> + +<p class='tar mr10'>A. RUSSELL BOND.</p> + +<p class='ml10'><span class='sc'>New York</span>, <i>October</i>, 1905.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<p class='c fs14'>CONTENTS</p> +<hr class='mb30 hr16' /> + +<table summary='TOC'> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER I.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='right'><span class='fs08'>PAGE</span></td></tr> +<tr><td>“<span class='sc'>Bill</span>”</td><td align='right'><a href='#link_1'>17</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>The Old Trunk. Christmas Vacation. “Bill’s” Skate Sail. Willow Clump Island. Organizing the Society.</p></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER II.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='sc'>Skate Sails</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#link_2'>26</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>The Double Swedish Sail. The Single Swedish Sail. The Lanteen Sail. The Danish Sail. Bat’s Wings.</p></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER III.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='sc'>Snow Shoes, Skis and Swamp Shoes</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#link_3'>35</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>Chair Seat Snow Shoe. Barrel Stave Snow Shoe. Barrel Hoop Snow Shoe. The Sioux Snow Shoe. The Iroquois Snow Shoe. The Ainu Snow Shoe. The Norwegian Ski. The Swamp Shoe or Swiss Snow Shoe.</p></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER IV.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='sc'>Tent Making</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#link_4'>44</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>Farewell Meeting. Word from Uncle Ed. The Canvas Tent. Adjustable Ridge Pole. Tie Blocks. The Annex.</p></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER V.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='sc'>Preparing for the Expedition</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#link_5'>53</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>Tent Fly. Provisions and Supplies. Umbrella Rib Crossbow. Megaphone. The Scow.</p></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER VI.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='sc'>Off to the Island</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#link_6'>63</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>A Unique Alarm Clock. The Trip to the Island. Preliminary Exploration. A Rustic Table. The Small Filter. The Barrel Filter. The <i>Klepalo</i>.</p></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER VII.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='sc'>Surveying</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#link_7'>73</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>The Surveying Instrument. Spirit Levels. The Tripod. Surveyor’s Chain. Surveyor’s Rod. A Simple Method of Surveying. Mapping the Island.</p></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER VIII.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='sc'>Swimming</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#link_8'>84</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>Swimming on a Plank. Shooting the Rapids. Restoring the Drowned. How to Work over a Patient Alone.</p></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER IX.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='sc'>Bridge Building</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#link_9'>95</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>The Spar Bridge. The Rope Railway. The Suspension Bridge. The Pontoon Bridge. The King Rod Truss. Stiffening the Bridge. The King Post Bridge.</p></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER X.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='sc'>Canvas Canoes</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#link_10'>109</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>Uncle Ed’s Departure. A Visit from Mr. Schreiner. The Sailing Canoe. Stretching on the Canvas. The Rudder. The Deep Keel. Canoe Sails. Lee Boards. Indian Paddling Canoe.</p></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER XI.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='sc'>House Building</span> </td><td align='right'><a href='#link_11'>124</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>The Grass Hut. The Goblins’ Dancing Platform. Dutchy Takes a Dare. A Path Up the Fissure. Rope Ladders. The Derrick. The Tree House. Sliding Doors.</p></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER XII.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='sc'>Trouble with the Tramps</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#link_12'>138</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>The Scow is Stolen. A Council of War. Vengeance. A Double Surprise. Tramp-proof Boat Mooring.</p></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER XIII.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='sc'>Wigwagging and Heliographing</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#link_13'>144</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>Wigwag Signals. The Wigwag Alphabet. Abbreviations. Wigwagging at Night. The Heliograph. The Single Mirror Instrument. The Sight Rod. The Screen. Focusing the Instrument. Heliograph Signaling. The International Telegraph Code. The Double Mirror Instrument.</p></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER XIV.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='sc'>Ice Boats, Sledges and Toboggans</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#link_14'>158</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>Breaking Camp. The Ice Boat. The Sledge. The Toboggan. The Rennwolf. Ice Creepers.</p></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER XV.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='sc'>The Subterranean Club</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#link_15'>171</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>A Cave-in. Excavating for the Cave. Covering the Cave. The Big Bug Club. Midnight Banquets. The Club Pin. The Combination Lock.</p></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER XVI.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='sc'>Scooters</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#link_16'>183</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>A Sail in the Scow. Our Craft Strikes the Ice. The Scooter Scow. A Sprit Sail. Scooter Sailing. A Meeting of the Society. An Interview with Mr. Van Syckel. The Scooter Canoe.</p></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER XVII.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='sc'>An Arctic Expedition</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#link_17'>193</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>Willow Clump Island in Winter. Kindling a Camp Fire. The Outdoor Fireplace. A Stone-paved Fireplace. A Cold Night in the Hut. Mountain Climbing. A Poor Shelter. A Costly Camp Fire. A Friend in Time of Trouble.</p></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER XVIII.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='sc'>Tramping Outfits</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#link_18'>203</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>Sleeping Bags. Bill’s “Mummy Case.” The “A” Tent. A Camp Chair. A Camp Bed. The Camp Bed in a Shower. A Nightmare. Pack Harness. Riveting.</p></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER XIX.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='sc'>The Land Yacht</span> </td><td align='right'><a href='#link_19'>215</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>The Frame of the Yacht. A Simple Turnbuckle. Stepping the Mast. Mounting the Frame on Bicycle Wheels. The Tiller. A “Leg-of-Mutton” Sail. A Sail Through the Country.</p></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER XX.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='sc'>Easter Vacation</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#link_20'>224</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>Bill’s Cave. The Barrel Stave Hammock. The Barrel Armchair. The Summer Toboggan. Tailless Kites. A Five-foot Malay Kite. An Eight-foot Malay Kite. The Elastic Belly Band. Putting the Kites to Work. The Diamond Box Kite.</p></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER XXI.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='sc'>The Water Wheel</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#link_21'>240</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>The Water Wheel. Surveying for the Water Wheel. Towers for the Water Wheel. The Wheel. The Buckets. The Paddles. The Receiving Trough. Setting Up the Towers. Mounting the Water Wheel. Cooling the Filter Barrel. The Canvas Bucket. Mr. Halliday’s Water Wheel.</p></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER XXII.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='sc'>The Log Cabin</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#link_22'>254</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>Foundation of Log Cabin. A Logging Expedition. The Log Raft. The Sail-Rigged Raft. Building the Log Cabin. The Roof of the Log Cabin. Door and Window Frames. The Fireplace. The Proper Way to Build a Stone Wall. The Floor of the Cabin. The Door Hinges and Latch. The Window Sash. Bunks. Stopping up the Chinks.</p></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER XXIII.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='sc'>The Windmill</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#link_23'>273</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>Digging the Well. The Windmill Tower. The Crank Shaft. The Wind Wheel. A Simple Brake. The Pump. Pump Valves. Action of the Pump.</p></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER XXIV.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='sc'>The Gravity Railroad</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#link_24'>283</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>The Car. The Flanged Wheels. Car Axles. Mounting the Wheels. The Railway Track. The Carpenter’s Miter Box. Laying the Track. The First Railway Accident. Testing the Track.</p></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2' align='center'>CHAPTER XXV.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class='sc'>The Cantilever Bridge</span></td><td align='right'><a href='#link_25'>292</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan='2'><p class='ml10 fs08 mr20 mb20'>Frames for the Cantilever Bridge. Erecting the Towers. Setting up the Frames. Binding and Anchoring the Structure. The Center Panels of the Bridge. A Serious Interruption. Dispossessed. Farewell to Willow Clump Island. Reddy’s Cantilever Bridge.</p></td></tr> +</table> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i2'></a><img src='images/illus-013.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Map of Willow Clump Island and Vicinity. +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<h1>THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN BOY.</h1> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17'></a>17</span><a id='link_1'></a>CHAPTER I.<br /><span class='h2fs'>“BILL.”</span></h2> + +<p>“Bill,” he was it, the Scientific American Boy, I mean. +Of course, we were all American boys and pretty scientific +chaps too, if I do say it myself, but Bill, well he was the +whole show. What he didn’t know wasn’t worth knowing, +so we all thought, and even to this day I sometimes wonder +how he managed to contrive and execute so many remarkable +plans. At the same time he was not a conceited sort of a +chap and didn’t seem to realize that he was head and +shoulders above the rest of us in ingenuity. But, of course, +we didn’t all have an uncle like Bill did. Bill’s Uncle Ed +was one of those rare men who take a great interest in boys +and their affairs, a man who took time to answer every question +put to him, explaining everything completely and yet +so clearly that you caught on at once. Uncle Ed (we all +called him that) was a civil engineer of very high standing +in his profession, which had taken him pretty much all over +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18'></a>18</span> +the world, and his naturally inquisitive nature, coupled with a +wonderful memory, had made him a veritable walking encyclopedia. +With such an uncle it is no wonder that Bill +knew everything. Of course, there were some things that +puzzled even Bill. But all such difficulties, after a reasonable +amount of brain-work had failed to clear them, were submitted +to Uncle Ed. Uncle Ed was always prompt (that +was one thing we liked about him), and no matter where he +was or what he was doing he would drop everything to +answer a letter from the society.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Old Trunk.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i3'></a><img src='images/fig-001.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 1. The Old Trunk in the Attic. +</p> +</div> + +<p>But hold on, +I am getting +ahead of my +story. I was +rummaging +through the +attic the other +day, and came across an +old battered trunk, one +that I used when I went +to boarding-school down in south Jersey. That trunk was +certainly a curiosity shop. It contained a miscellaneous +assortment of glass tubes, brass rods, coils of wire, tools, fish +hooks–in fact, it was a typical collection of all those +“valuables” that a boy is liable to pick up. Down in one +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19'></a>19</span> +corner of the trunk was a black walnut box, marked, with +brass letters, “Property of the S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I.” +On my key-ring I still carried the key to that box, which had +not been opened for +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i4'></a><img src='images/fig-002.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 2. The Black Walnut Box. +</span> +</span> +years. I unlocked +the box and +brought to light +the “Records and +Chronicles of the +Society for the +Scientific Investigation, +Exploration and Exploitation +of Willow +Clump Island.” +For hours I pored over those pages, +carried back to the good old times we used to have as boys +along the banks of the Delaware River, until I was brought +sharply back to the present by the sound of the dinner bell. +It seemed that the matter contained in those “Chronicles” +was too good to be kept locked up in an old trunk. Few +boys’ clubs ever had such a president as Bill, or such a wonderful +bureau of information as Uncle Ed. For the benefit +of boys and boykind in general, I decided then and there to +publish, as fully as practicable, a record of what our +society did.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Christmas Vacation.</p> + +<p>This was how the society came to be formed. Bill, whom +I met at boarding-school, was an orphan, and that’s why he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20'></a>20</span> +was sent to boarding-school. His uncle had to go down to +Brazil to lay out a railroad, I believe, and so he packed Bill +off to our school, which was chosen in preference to some +others because one of the professors there had been a classmate +of Uncle Ed’s at college. Bill roomed with me, and +naturally we became great chums. When Christmas time +came, of course I invited him to spend the holidays with +me. My home was situated in the little village of Lamington, +on the Jersey side of the Delaware River. Here we +arrived late at night on the Saturday before Christmas. A +cold wind was blowing which gave promise of breaking the +spell of warm weather we had been having, and of giving +us a chance to try our skates for the first time. True to our +expectations, the next day was bitterly cold, and a visit to the +canal which ran along the river bank, just beyond our back +fence, showed that quite a thick skim of ice had formed on +the water. Monday morning, bright and early, found us +on the smooth, slippery surface of the canal. “Us” here +includes, in addition to Bill and myself, my two younger +brothers, Jack and Fred, and also Dutchy Van Syckel +and Reddy Schreiner, neighbors of ours. It was the custom +at the first of December every year to drain out most +of the water in the canal, in order to prevent possible injury +to the canal banks from the pressure of the ice. But there +was always a foot or two of water covering the bottom of +the canal, and this afforded a fine skating park of ample +width and unlimited length, while the high canal banks on +each side protected us from the bitter wind that was blowing. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21'></a>21</span> +Toward noon, however, the wind shifted and swept at a +terrific rate down the narrow lane between the canal banks. +We could scarcely make headway against the blow. It was +too much for Bill, who wasn’t as used to skating as we were. +He sat down in a sheltered nook and commenced to think. +When Bill sat down to think it always meant that something +was going to happen, as we soon learned.</p> + +<p>“Say, Jim,” said he to me, “have you got any canvas up +at the house?”</p> + +<p>“No,” I replied. “What do you want it for?”</p> + +<p>“I want to rig up a skate sail. If you have an old sheet, +that will do just as well.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I guess I can find you an old sheet. Do you think +you can make one?”</p> + +<p>“Sure thing,” answered +Bill, and off we went to the +house, where I received my +first lesson on the practical +genius of my chum.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>“Bill’s” Skate Sail.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i5'></a><img src='images/fig-003.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 3. Laying Out the Sail. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22'></a>22</span>The old sheet which Mother furnished us was laid out on +the floor and two corners were folded over to the center, as +shown in the drawing, making a triangle with base 7 feet +long and sides each about 4 feet 6 inches long. The surplus +end piece was then cut off, and a broad hem turned and +basted all around the edges of the triangle. Bill wanted +to work the sewing machine himself, but Mother was +afraid he would break something, so she sewed down +the hem for us. Then, under Bill’s supervision, +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i6'></a><img src='images/fig-004.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 4. The Tape Tie Strings. +</span> +</span> +she re-enforced the corners by +sewing on patches of cloth. Along +the diagonal a strip of heavy tape +was sewed, leaving loops at intervals, +which afterward were +cut and provided means for tying +the sail to the mast. Tie +strings of tape were +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i7'></a><img src='images/fig-005.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 5. “Bill’s” Sail Complete. +</span> +</span> +also sewed at the corners, as shown in the +illustration, and then a trip was made to +the garden in search of suitable +spars. A smooth bean pole of +about the right weight +served for the mast, +and another stick +with a crotch at +one end served as the +boom or cross-spar. The +spars were cut to proper length, +and the sail was then tied on, as +illustrated, with the crotch of the +cross-spar fitted against and tied to +the center of the mast. A light +rope, long enough to provide plenty +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23'></a>23</span> +of slack, was tied to the ends of the mast to assist in guiding +the sail when in use. In the meantime I had procured +another sheet from one of our neighbors, and Bill helped me +make a sail for myself. It was not until long after dark +that we finished our work.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Willow Clump Island.</p> + +<p>The next day we tried the sails and it didn’t take me very +long to learn how to steer the device. The wind had changed +again and this time blew up the canal. We took the line +of least resistance, and went skimming up the ice lane like +birds for several miles before we realized how far we were +getting away from home. As we rounded a bend in the +canal, much to my astonishment, I saw just before us the +bridge at Raven Hill, eight miles from our town. We +started to go back, but the wind was too strong for us, and +there wasn’t much room in which to do any tacking; nor +could we make any progress when the sails were folded. I +began to get extremely tired and rather exasperated at Bill +for not having thought of the return trip before he led me +such a hot pace up the canal. But Bill was getting tired, too.</p> + +<p>“Look here, Jim,” he said, “we haven’t covered a mile, +and I’m worn out.”</p> + +<p>“Why in thunder didn’t you think of this before we +started?” I returned.</p> + +<p>“How much money have you with you?” was the reply.</p> + +<p>“What’s that got to do with it?”</p> + +<p>“I’ll tell you in a minute. How much have you?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24'></a>24</span>A careful search of my dozen odd pockets netted the sum +of twenty-seven cents.</p> + +<p>“I have fifty-nine,” said Bill, “and that makes eighty-six +altogether, doesn’t it? Isn’t there a railroad depot near +here?”</p> + +<p>“There is one at Raven Hill, and the next is at Lumberville. +That is about eleven miles from home.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” said Bill, “at three cents each per mile that +would amount to sixty-six cents. Let’s sail on to Lumberville +and then take the train back.”</p> + +<p>On we sped to Lumberville, only to find that the next train +was not due until noon, and it was now just half past ten.</p> + +<p>Time never hung heavy on our hands. Out on the river +we espied an island. I had heard of this island–Willow +Clump Island, it was called–but had never been on it; +consequently I fell in with Bill’s suggestion that we make it +a visit. Owing to the rapids which separated the island +from the Jersey shore, we had to go up stream a quarter of +a mile, to where a smooth sheet of ice had formed, over a +quiet part of the river; thence we sailed down to the island +along the Pennsylvania side.</p> + +<p>“What a capital island for a camp,” cried Bill, after we +had explored it pretty thoroughly. “Have you ever been +out camping?”</p> + +<p>I had to confess I never had, and then Bill gave me a +glowing account of his experiences in the Adirondacks with +his uncle the year before, which so stirred up the romance +in me that I wanted to camp out at once.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25'></a>25</span>“Shucks!” said Bill, “We would freeze in this kind of +weather, and besides, we’ve got to make a tent first.”</p> + +<p>We then sat down and made elaborate plans for the +summer. Suddenly the distant sound of a locomotive +whistle interrupted our reveries.</p> + +<p>“Jiminy crickets!” I exclaimed. “That’s the train +coming through Spalding’s Cut. We’ve got to hustle if +we are to catch it.”</p> + +<p>We were off like the wind, and a merry chase brought us +to the Lumberville depot in time to flag the train. We +arrived at Lamington at half past twelve, a trifle late for +dinner, rather tired and hungry, but with a glowing and I +fear somewhat exaggerated account of our adventure for +the credulous ears of the rest of the boys.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Organizing the Society.</p> + +<p>The camping idea met with the hearty approval of all, +and it was decided to begin preparations at once for the +following summer. Dutchy, whose father was a member +of a geographical society, suggested that we form a society +for the exploration of Willow Clump Island. By general +acclamation Bill was chosen president of the society, +Dutchy was made vice-president, Reddy was elected +treasurer, and they made me secretary. It was Dutchy +who proposed the name “The Society for the Scientific Investigation, +Exploration and Exploitation of Willow Clump +Island.” It was decided to make an expedition of exploration +as soon as we could make skate sails for the whole society.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26'></a>26</span><a id='link_2'></a>CHAPTER II.<br /><span class='h2fs'>SKATE SAILS.</span></h2> + +<p>The duties of the secretary, as defined in the constitution +which Dutchy Van Syckel drew up, were to keep a record +of all the acts of the society, the minutes of every meeting, +and accurate detailed descriptions of all work accomplished. +Therefore, while the rest of the society was busy cutting up +old sheets, levied from the surrounding neighborhood, and +sewing and rigging the sails under Bill’s direction, I, with +pad and pencil in hand, took notes on all the operations.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Double Swedish Sail.</p> + +<p>Bill evolved some new types of sails which differed materially +from the type described in the first chapter. One +was a double sail–“the kind they use in Sweden,” he explained. +One of the +sheets which the foraging +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i8'></a><img src='images/fig-006.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 6. Dimensions of Double Swedish Sail.<br />N. B.–The mark (') means feet and (") means inches. +</span> +</span> +party brought in +was extra large; it +measured approximately +two yards and +a half square. This +was folded on itself, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27'></a>27</span> +making a parallelogram seven feet six inches long and three +feet nine inches wide. The sheets we had were all rather worn +and some were badly torn, so that we had to make our sails +of double thickness, sewing patches over +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i9'></a><img src='images/fig-007.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 7. Halyards Looped onto Pole. +</span> +</span> +the weak spots. A broad hem was turned +down at each end, and heavy tape was +sewed on, leaving loops as before, to attach +them to the +spars. This reduced the length +of our sail to seven feet three +inches. The end spars were spaced apart by a light pole about ten feet long, to which they were +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i10'></a><img src='images/fig-008.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 8. The Double Swedish Sail. +</span> +</span> +tied at the points of intersection. The spars were also braced +by halyards looped over the ends of the pole in the manner +indicated in the drawing (Fig. 7). It took a crew of two +boys to manipulate this sail. In use, the pole of the rig was +carried on the shoulders, and the sail was guided by means +of ropes attached to the lower corners of the vertical spars. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28'></a>28</span> +These ropes in nautical +language are +called “sheets.” +The boy at the rear +was the pilot and +did the steering, because +his position behind the sail gave him an unobstructed +view in all directions. When changing tack the sail was +lifted overhead to the other side of the crew.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i11'></a><img src='images/fig-009.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 9. Changing Tack. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Single Swedish Sail.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i12'></a><img src='images/fig-010.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 10. The Single Swedish Sail. +</p> +</div> + +<p>Another sail of +similar form, but +for use of one boy +only, is shown in +Fig. 10. This had +a height of six +and one-half +feet at the forward +end and three +feet at the rear; and +its length was five +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29'></a>29</span> +feet. This sail was very satisfactory in light winds, owing +to its great area. In use we found that it was very important +to keep the lower edge against the leg, as indicated by the +arrow. The rig was manipulated just like the double Swedish +sail, lifting it over the head when it was desired to +change tack.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Lanteen Sail.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i13'></a><img src='images/fig-011.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig 11. The Lanteen Sail. +</p> +</div> + +<p>The lanteen sail we +found to be a very good +rig. It was made in +the form of a triangle, +measuring +eight feet on one +side, seven and +one-half feet on +another side and +six and one-half +feet on the third. +The six and one-half +foot side +was secured to a +boom, and the seven and one-half +foot side to a yard. The yard and +boom were hinged together by a leather strap nailed on as +shown in Fig. 12, and to this hinge a rope was attached, which +served as a sheet. These spars were secured to a mast erected +perpendicularly to the boom and intersecting the yard a little +above its center. We had had some trouble with the first +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30'></a>30</span> +sails we made in keeping the base of the sail against the +body, and to overcome this difficulty Bill proposed tying the +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i14'></a><img src='images/fig-012.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 12. Hinge for Spars. +</span> +</span> +bottom of the mast to the leg. This was +a rather risky thing to do, as we learned +later, for in case of accident it +would be difficult to get clear of +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i15'></a><img src='images/fig-013.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 13. Leather Mast Step. +</span> +</span> +the sail. It +was Reddy +who finally +solved the +problem by rigging up a step for the mast. +It consisted of a leather tag tied to the leg, +and provided with a hole into which the +bottom of the mast was +fitted. To prevent the +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i16'></a><img src='images/fig-014.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 14. Wooden Mast Step. +</span> +</span> +mast from slipping too +far into the step the lower +portion of it was whittled +down, leaving a shoulder +which rested on the leather. Bill later devised +another step, which consisted of a +wooden block (Fig. 14) strapped to the leg +and formed with a shallow socket to receive +the end of the mast.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Danish Sail.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31'></a>31</span>But the most satisfactory sail we found to be the Danish +sail, though it was not until we had served quite a long +apprenticeship and +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i17'></a><img src='images/fig-015.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 15. The Danish Sail. +</span> +</span> +sustained many +pretty bad falls that +we mastered the +art of manipulating +these sails +properly. Our +ideas on this sail +were obtained +from a French illustrated +paper +which Dutchy +Van Syckel picked up in his father’s library. This sail was +formed with a topsail so arranged that it could be lowered +when the wind was too strong. The dimensions of the sail +as we made it are given in the drawing +(Fig. 15). The top of the sail +was lashed to a spar, which +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i18'></a><img src='images/fig-016.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 16. Topsail of the Danish Rig. +</span> +</span> +was connected by a short +stick to another spar tied to +the mainsail about eighteen +inches lower down. +The sail was strengthened +with an extra +strip of cloth along +the lower spar, +and the tie strings +were applied in +the usual way. The connecting stick, or topmast we may +call it, was hinged to the lower spar by means of a short piece +of leather strap, which was passed round the spar in the +form of a loop and its two ends nailed to the bottom of the +topmast. The topmast extended above the upper spar a +short distance, and to this we fastened the flag which our +society had adopted. A couple of strong cords were secured +to the center spar to provide for fastening the sail onto the +skater. Tied to the lower corners of the mainsail were two +sticks which were used for guiding the sail when in flight.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i19'></a><img src='images/fig-17-20.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 17. Before the Wind. Fig. 18. Topsail Lowered. Fig. 19. Skating against the Wind. Fig. 20. On the Port Tack. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33'></a>33</span>The different methods of sailing with this rig are shown in +Figs. 17-20. When sailing with the wind the skater +would stand very erect, bending backward in proportion as +the wind blew fresher. By inclining the sail in one direction +or the other, the skater could tack to port or starboard. +When moving against the wind by skating in the usual way, +the body was bent forward in such manner that the sail lay +horizontal, so that it would not offer a purchase for the wind.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Bat’s Wings.</p> + +<p>One more sail deserves mention. It was Bill’s idea, and it +came near to ending his career the first day he tried it. It +had no spars at all, but was merely a strip of cloth of somewhat +triangular shape. The upper side was tied to the +head, and the two corners to the wrists, while the lower +portion was tied to the ankles. This converted him into a +huge white-winged bat. Bill had to try it at once, even +though the rest of the sails were not finished, and a very +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34'></a>34</span> +comical spectacle he made as he flapped his wings in his +endeavors to tack. When the wind was too strong for him +he had merely to drop his arms and thus lower sail. At +length he became tired of holding his arms out at full length, +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i20'></a><img src='images/fig-021.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 21. +</span> +</span> +and I got him a stick +to put over his shoulders +and rest his arms +on. But that stick was +Bill’s undoing, for +coming around a sudden +bend in the canal +he caught the full +force of the wind, +which knocked him flat +on his back before he +could disentangle himself +from the stick and +lower sail. It took us +some time to bring him +back to consciousness, +and a very scared lot of boys we were for a while. However, +the lesson was a good one, for after that we were very +cautious in experimenting with sails that had to be tied on, +such as the Danish rig and the lanteen rig, before Reddy invented +the mast step.</p> + +<p>It was not until the day after Christmas that the sails were +all completed, but then there was scarcely any wind blowing +and we could not attempt the expedition to the island.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35'></a>35</span><a id='link_3'></a>CHAPTER III.<br /><span class='h2fs'>SNOW SHOES, SKIS AND SWAMP SHOES.</span></h2> + +<p>The next day, Sunday, it began to snow, and we realized +that our chance of skating up to Willow Clump Island was +spoiled. All the afternoon it snowed, and the next morning +we woke to find the ground covered to a depth of eight inches +and snow still falling. But who ever heard of a boy complaining +because there was snow on the ground? Here were +new difficulties to overcome, new problems to solve, and +new sports provided for our amusement. There was no +disappointment shown by any of the members of the S. S. +I. E. E. of W. C. I., as they met in the woodshed immediately +after breakfast to discuss proceedings for the day. +There seemed to be but one way of reaching the island, and +that was by means of snow shoes. Bill had only a vague +idea of how snow shoes were made.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Chair Seat Snow Shoe.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i21'></a><img src='images/fig-022.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 22. Chair Seat Snow Shoe +</p> +</div> + +<p>The first pair was made from a couple of thin wooden +chair seats which we found in the shed. They proved quite +serviceable, being very light and offering a fairly large bearing +surface. The chair seats were trimmed off at each side +to make the shoes less clumsy, and a loop of leather was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36'></a>36</span> +fastened near the center of each shoe, in +which the toe could be slipped. This shoe +possessed the disadvantage of being too +flat and of picking up too much snow +when used.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Barrel Stave Snow Shoe.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i22'></a><img src='images/fig-023.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 23. Barrel Stave Snow Shoe. +</p> +</div> + +<p>Another pair of shoes was made from +barrel staves. At first one stave was made +to serve for a shoe, but we found that two staves fastened +together with a pair of wooden cleats were much better. +Jack was the proud inventor of these shoes and insisted that +they were far more satisfactory +than the elaborate ones +which were later devised.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Barrel Hoop Snow Shoe.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i23'></a><img src='images/fig-024.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 24. Barrel Hoop Snow Shoe. +</p> +</div> + +<p>Now that Jack had shown his ingenuity, +Fred thought it was his turn to do something, +and after mysteriously disappearing for the +space of an hour we saw him suddenly come +waddling back to the shed on a pair of barrel +hoops covered with heavy canvas. He had +stretched the canvas so tightly across the +hoops that they were bent to an oval shape. +It was claimed for these shoes, and with good +reason, that they were not so slippery as the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37'></a>37</span> +barrel stave shoe, for they permitted the foot to sink slightly +into the snow.</p> + +<p>After dinner, Dutchy came back with a book of his +father’s, a sort of an encyclopedia in which several different +kinds of snow shoes were illustrated. Reddy, whose father +owned a sawmill, volunteered to provide us with strips of +hickory from which to make the frames.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Sioux Snow Shoe.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i24'></a><img src='images/fig-025.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 25. Sioux Shoe. +</p> +</div> + +<p>The Sioux snow shoe was the first type we +tackled. Two strips of hickory 4 feet long +and 3/4 inch square in section, were bent +over a pair of spreaders and securely +fastened together at each end. The +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i25'></a><img src='images/fig-026.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 26. Frame of the Sioux Shoe. +</span> +</span> +spreaders were about 12 +inches long and located +about 15 inches apart. +They were +notched at the +ends, as shown in +Fig. 26, to receive +the side strips, which were not fastened +together until after they had been nailed to the spreaders. +We found that the most satisfactory way of fastening together +the ends of the hickory strips was to bolt them together. +When the frame was completed, we began the +tedious process of weaving in the filling or web of the snow +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38'></a>38</span> +shoe. First we cut notches in the edges of the spreaders, +spacing these notches an inch apart. Then we procured +several balls of heavy twine at the corner store. Tying one +end of the cord to the right side stick about three inches +below the forward spreader, we stretched a strand down to +the notch at the left end of the lower spreader. The strand +was drawn taut, and after making several twists around it +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i26'></a><img src='images/fig-027.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig 27. Web of the Sioux Shoe. +</span> +</span> +the cord was tied to the left +side stick three inches above +the spreader. From +this point the cord +was stretched to the notch at +the right end of the upper +spreader, twisted several +times and brought back to the +starting point. The cord was +now wrapped around the side +stick for a space of about an +inch, and then carried down +to the second notch on the +lower spreader, whence it was +woven through the other two +strands and tied about the left side stick about four inches +from the spreader. Thus the weaving continued, passing +the cord alternately over and under any cross strands encountered. +In order to make the left side correspond with +the right, a separate cord was wound around it, filling up the +space between the strands of the web. The filling above +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39'></a>39</span> +and below the spreaders could not be so methodically done, +but we managed to weave the strands quite neatly with about +the same mesh as used at the +center. To facilitate the weaving +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i27'></a><img src='images/fig-028.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 28. Weaving Needle +</span> +</span> +we improvised a rough needle +of a piece of wire. The latter +was bent double to receive the cord which was wedged in between +the two arms of the needle.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Iroquois Shoe.</p> + +<p>But the best snow shoe we made was the Iroquois shoe. +The frame of this shoe was made of hickory strips of the +same width and thickness as used in the Sioux shoe, but +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i28'></a><img src='images/fig-029.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 29. Bending the Hickory Strips. +</span> +</span> +8 feet long. The strips were bent in a loop and the ends +were bolted together. How to bend the wood without breaking +it seemed a very difficult problem. Wood, we knew, +could be easily bent without +breaking if boiled or +steamed for a while; but +we had nothing large +enough in +which to boil a +strip of wood +8 feet long. +Bill hit upon +the plan of +wrapping the stick +with burlap and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40'></a>40</span> +then pouring boiling water on it until it became sufficiently +soft to bend easily. An old oats-sack was cut up into strips +and wound onto the hickory sticks for a distance of 18 +inches at each side of the center. We then repaired to the +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i29'></a><img src='images/fig-030.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 30. Frame of Iroquois Shoe. +</span> +</span> +kitchen to do the steaming. The hickory stick was held over +a large dish-pan filled with boiling water, and from this we +dipped out the water and +poured it slowly over the +burlap wrapping of the +stick. After a little of this +treatment the stick was sufficiently +steamed to permit +of bending to the required shape. The ends +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i30'></a><img src='images/fig-031.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 31. Iroquois Snow Shoe. +</span> +</span> +were then firmly secured by means of bolts +passed through bolt holes which had been +previously drilled. The frame was completed +by fitting the spreader sticks in place, +after which it was laid away to dry. When +the frame was perfectly dry we started +weaving the web. In this case, however, +instead of cord we used cane strips, which +we had bought from a chair caner. This +necessitated drilling holes in the side sticks +to receive the cane strips. The web consisted +of strands crossing each other diagonally, +as illustrated. Our second pair +of Iroquois snow shoes was made with a web of rawhide +which we bought from a hardware store at Millville.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Ainu Snow Shoe.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41'></a>41</span>One of the snowshoes described in the book was very much +like Fred’s barrel-hoop snow shoe in appearance. According +to the description, it was a type used by the Ainus, a peculiar +people living in the cold northern islands of Japan. As the +shoe seemed quite simple and rather unique, we thought we +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i31'></a><img src='images/fig-032.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 32. Ainu Snow Shoe. +</span> +</span> +would make one like it. Two hickory +strips each 4 feet long were bent to a +U-shape and lashed together, forming +an oval about 2 feet 6 inches long by 18 +inches wide. The frame was held to +oval shape by tying the sides together. +Then the filling was woven in, running +the strands diagonally, as shown in +Fig. 32.</p> + +<p>We had excellent weather for snow +shoes after that snowstorm. A thaw +followed by a cold spell caused a thick crust to form on the +snow which would nearly hold us up without the aid of our +snowshoes. We were rather awkward with those shoes for +a while, trying to keep them clear of each other, and we +found it particularly hard to turn sharply without causing one +shoe to run foul of the other. But with a little practice we +soon felt quite at home on them. In order to prevent cutting +the web with our heels, we found it necessary to wear +rubbers.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42'></a>42</span>Our vacation came to an end before we were prepared for +the expedition to Willow Clump Island. But before leaving +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i32'></a><img src='images/fig-033.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 33. The Norwegian Ski. +</span> +</span> +the subject on snow shoes, +two more shoes remain to +be described, namely the +Swiss snow +shoe and the +Norwegian +ski. The Swiss shoe was made during the summer and the +ski during the following winter.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Norwegian Ski.</p> + +<p>The Norwegian ski was made of close-grained wood, 1 +inch thick, 3-1/2 inches wide and 6 feet long. About 18 +inches from the forward end the wood was planed down to +a thickness of 1/4 of an inch. This end was placed in the +dish-pan of boiling water, and in a short time it was pliable +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i34'></a><img src='images/fig-035.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 35. The Ski Stick. +</span> +</span> +enough to permit of bending. It was secured +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i33'></a><img src='images/fig-034.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 34. Bending the Ski. +</span> +</span> +in the proper bent position by slipping the toe +end of the shoe between +the banisters +on the back porch +and nailing a cleat back of the heel end. When the ski was +perfectly dry the toe strap was nailed on just back of the +balancing point, and also another strap, to be secured about +the ankle. Then a cleat was nailed onto the ski to fit against +the heel of the shoe. In use we found it best to cut a groove +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43'></a>43</span> +in the bottom of the ski, so as to give us a better +grip on the snow in climbing up hills. With the +skis we had to use short poles or “ski sticks” to assist +in starting, stopping and steering when coasting. +The ski stick was a bean pole provided with a wooden +block near the lower end, to prevent it from being +forced too far through the snow.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Swiss Snow Shoe or Swamp Shoe.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i35'></a><img src='images/fig-036.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 36. The Swiss Snow Shoe. +</p> +</div> + +<p>The Swiss shoe was made +primarily to assist us in exploring +some boggy land a short +distance up the river from our +island. The original swamp +shoes were made from the +bottoms of two old baskets, and they +worked so admirably that it was decided +to equip the whole society with +them. Uncle Ed, when told about them, informed us that +that was the kind of snow shoe used in Switzerland. Of +course, we could not afford to destroy a pair of baskets for +each member of the club, and so we had to weave the shoes +from the willows which grew on the island.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44'></a>44</span><a id='link_4'></a>CHAPTER IV.<br /><span class='h2fs'>TENT MAKING.</span></h2> + +<p>We had a farewell meeting of the society the evening +before Bill and I had to return to boarding-school. At this +meeting plans were made for the Easter vacation. We also +considered the matter of getting parental permission for our +summer outing. So far we had been afraid to breathe a +word of our plans outside of the society, since Fred had said +something about it in the presence of Father and had been +peremptorily ordered to banish all such hair-brained, Wild +West notions from his head. We realized from that incident +that the consent of our parents would not be so very easily +obtained. But Bill came forward with a promising suggestion. +He would write to his Uncle Ed and see if he couldn’t +be persuaded to join the expedition. At first we demurred. +We didn’t want a “governor” around all the time. But +Bill assured us that his uncle was “no ordinary man”; that +he would not interfere with our plans, but would enter right +into them and give us many valuable pointers. Though not +by any means convinced, we told him to go ahead and invite +his uncle, as that seemed about the only means of winning +over our fathers and mothers. The society was then adjourned +until our Easter vacation began, each member +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45'></a>45</span> +promising to earn and save as much money as he could in the +meantime to buy the materials for a tent and provisions for +the summer outing.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Word From Uncle Ed. +</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i36'></a><img src='images/fig-037.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 37. Breadths sewed together for Roof and Side Walls of Tent. +</p> +</div> + +<p>Bill’s letter to Uncle Ed was answered as quickly as the +mail could travel to Brazil and back. Uncle Ed heartily approved +of our plans, and said that he would be delighted to +join the expedition. He could not be on hand before the +1st of July, but that would give us plenty of time to make all +necessary preparations. He told us not to worry about +gaining the consent of our parents. He would write to +them and see them all personally, if necessary to win their +approval.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Canvas Tent.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46'></a>46</span>When at last spring arrived and we returned to Lamington +on our Easter vacation, quite a sum of money had been +collected, nearly $15.00, if I remember rightly; at any rate +plenty to buy the materials for a good-sized tent and leave a +large surplus for provisions, +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i37'></a><img src='images/fig-038.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 38. The Sail Stitch. +</span> +</span> +etc. Bill figured out on paper +just how much canvas we +would need for a tent 7 feet +wide by 9-1/2 feet long, which +he estimated would be about +large enough to hold us. +It took 34 yards, 30 +inches wide. Then we +visited the village store to make our purchase. Canvas we +found a little too expensive for us, but a material called drill +seemed about right. It cost ten cents a yard, but since we +wanted such a quantity of it the price was reduced to a total +of $3.00. We repaired to the attic to lay out the material.</p> + +<p>First we cut out four lengths of 5 yards and 26 inches +each. The strips were basted together, lapping the edges +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i38'></a><img src='images/fig-039.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 39. Cutting out the Door Flaps. +</span> +</span> +1 inch and making a piece 17 feet 2 inches long by 9 feet 9 +inches wide. Mother sewed the breadths together on the +machine, using a double seam, as in sail making; that is, two +parallel rows of stitching were sewed in, one along each +overlapping edge, as shown in Fig. 38. A 1-inch hem was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47'></a>47</span> +then turned and sewed at the +ends of the goods, so that the +piece measured exactly 17 feet +long. It served for the roof +and side walls of the tent. +Our next operation was to cut +three strips 11 feet long, and +sew them together with a +double seam as before. This +piece was now slit along the +center line <i>m</i>, Fig. 39, making +two lengths 3 feet 8 +inches wide. The strips were +then cut along the diagonal lines <i>a a</i>, forming the +end walls or doors, so to speak, of the tent. In sewing +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i39'></a><img src='images/fig-040.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 40. Sewing on the Door Flaps. +</span> +</span> +on the door flaps we +started first at the +bottom of the side +<i>c</i>, sewing it to the +side edge of the +main piece, as shown +in Fig. 40, and running +the seam up for +a distance of exactly +3 feet 6 inches. +After all the door +strips had been +sewed along their <i>c</i> +edges the sewing was continued up the diagonal or <i>a</i> edges. +In cutting out the door pieces we had allowed 1 inch on each +side for hems and seams, so that the door pieces met without +lapping at the exact center of the main or body piece, that is, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48'></a>48</span> +at the peak of the tent.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i40'></a><img src='images/illus046.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +The Wall Tent Set Up in the Back Yard. +</p> +</div> + +<p>Our next step was to fasten the necessary ropes and loops. +Ten 8-foot lengths of light rope were procured. These +were fastened at the top of the side walls, that is, 3 feet 6 +inches from the ends of the main or body piece, one at each +corner and one on each seam. The cloth was +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i41'></a><img src='images/fig-041.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 41. Adjustable Ridge Pole. +</span> +</span> +strengthened at these points with +patches sewed on the inside. At +the bottom of the side walls we +sewed on loops of heavy tape. +These were spaced about 15 inches +apart. Along the <i>b</i> edges of the door pieces tie strings of +tape were fastened. A rope 15 feet long was attached to +the peak at the front and at the rear of the tent. The front +and rear posts of the tent were made from scantlings measuring +2 by 4 inches, which were procured from Mr. Schreiner’s +lumber yard. They were planed smooth and sawed off to a +length of 7 feet 6 inches. A slot was cut in the end of each +stick to a depth of 6 inches and measuring slightly over an +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i42'></a><img src='images/fig-042.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 42. The Tent Set Up. +</span> +</span> +inch in width. For the ridge pole a strip 1 inch thick, 2-1/2 +inches wide and 10 feet long was secured. This was fitted +into the slotted ends of these posts, where it was fastened +by wooden pegs slipped into holes drilled through the ends +of the posts and the ridge pole. A number of these peg +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49'></a>49</span> +holes were provided, so that if the canvas stretched the ridge +pole could be raised or lowered to prevent the walls from +dragging on the ground. We set up the tent in our back +yard to see if it was properly constructed. Twelve stakes +were required, ten for the sides and one for the ridge stays +at the front and rear. The side stakes were driven into the +ground at a distance of about 8 feet from the center of the +tent. First we tied the guy ropes to the stakes, but later we +found it much easier to secure them with tie blocks.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Tie Blocks. +</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i43'></a><img src='images/fig-043.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 43. The Wood Tie Block. +</p> +</div> + +<p>These were made of wood 1/2 inch thick, 1 inch wide and +each measured 3 inches long. A hole was drilled into the +block at each end and through these holes the rope was +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i44'></a><img src='images/fig-044.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 44. The Wire Tie. +</span> +</span> +threaded. A knot in the rope then held the end from slipping +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50'></a>50</span> +out. The loop between the two holes, or the bight, as +sailors would call it, was now slipped over the stake, and +the rope hauled tight by drawing up the tie block, as shown +in Fig. 43. A still later improvement consisted in making +ties of stout galvanized +iron wire, bent to the form +shown in Fig. 44. The +wooden ties were apt to +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i45'></a><img src='images/fig-045.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 45. Bottom of Tent Wall. +</span> +</span> +swell and split open when +exposed to the weather, while the wire ties could always be +relied upon.</p> + +<p>The walls of the tent were held down along the bottom +by railway spikes hooked through the tent loops and driven +into the ground. Wooden pegs with notches to catch the +loops would have served as well, but Dutchy happened to +find a number of the spikes along the track and in his usual +convincing manner argued that they were far better than +pegs because their weight would hold the cloth down even if +they were not firmly embedded in the ground.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Annex.</p> + +<p>We were surprised to find out how small the tent was +after it was set up. We could see at once that when we had +put in all the stores and provisions we would need, there +would not be room enough for six boys and a man to stretch +themselves out comfortably in it. Bill had evidently made +a miscalculation, but he suggested that we remedy the error +by building an annex for our kitchen utensils and supplies.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i46'></a><img src='images/fig-046.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 46. Cutting out the Annex. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51'></a>51</span>This gave us a two-room tent, which we found to be quite +an advantage. Twelve more yards of drill were bought and +cut into two strips, each 17 feet 2 inches long. The breadths +were then sewed together, and the ends turned up and +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i47'></a><img src='images/fig-047.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 47. The Annex Applied. +</span> +</span> +hemmed to make a piece 17 feet long and 4 feet 9 inches +wide. Tape loops were then sewed on as before, and ropes +were fastened on at the top of the side walls, that is, 3 feet +6 inches from the ends of the strips. We thought it would +be better to have a slanting ridge on the annex, so we cut out +a wedge-shaped piece from the center of the two strips, as +shown by dotted lines <i>B B</i> in Fig. 46. This wedge-shaped +piece measured 2 feet at the outer end of the annex, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52'></a>52</span> +tapered down to a point at the inner end. The canvas was +then sewed together along these edges. Tie strings were +sewed to the inner edge of the annex and corresponding ones +were attached to the main tent a little ways back from the +edge, so that the two could be tied together, with the annex +lapping well over on the roof and side walls. A notch was +cut out of the peak of the annex, so that it could be tied +around the rear post of the tent, and notches were cut at +the top of the side walls to permit passing the cloth around +the wall ropes. Instead of supporting the ridge of the annex +on a ridge pole, we used the rear guy line of the tent, propping +it up with a scantling about 5-1/2 feet long.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53'></a>53</span><a id='link_5'></a>CHAPTER V.<br /><span class='h2fs'>PREPARING FOR THE EXPEDITION.</span></h2> + +<p>School closed on the 21st of June that year, just ten days +before the expected arrival of Uncle Ed. The first thing we +did was to set up our tent in the back yard and camp out so +as to become acclimatized. It is good that we did this, for +the very first night a heavy summer shower came up which +nearly drenched us. The water beat right through the thin +canvas roof of our tent. Had we been able to afford the +best quality of canvas duck, such an occurrence would probably +have been avoided. But we solved the difficulty by using +a tent fly; that is, a strip of canvas stretched over the tent +and spaced a short distance from it to break the fall of the +rain drops.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i48'></a><img src='images/fig-048.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 48. The Wall Tent with the Fly fastened on. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Tent Fly.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i49'></a><img src='images/fig-049.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 49. The Fly Ridge Pole. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54'></a>54</span>Again we had to visit the village +storekeeper; this time we bought out +his whole remaining stock, sixteen +yards of drill. This was cut into +four-yard strips, which were sewed together as before and +the ends turned up and hemmed. Tie strings were sewed to +the ends of the strips so that the fly could be tied to the wall +ropes of the tent. At the ridge the fly was supported about +six inches above the tent rope by a second ridge pole held by +pegs in the top holes of the tent posts.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Provisions and Supplies.</p> + +<p>The ten days before Uncle Ed arrived were busy indeed. +We had to gather together the necessary provisions and supplies. +Our personal outfits were very simple. Each member +supplied himself with a change of underwear, a bathing suit, +a blanket and a toothbrush. A single comb and brush +served for the entire society, and was used on Sundays, the +only day we really dressed up. All the rest of the time we +lived in our bathing suits, except, of course, on cold rainy +days. Our kitchen outfit consisted of a large cooking pot, +two kettles, a frying pan, a coffee pot, a small oil stove, a +half-dozen each of plates, cups, saucers, knives and forks, a +dozen spoons, two tablespoons, and, in addition, several large +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55'></a>55</span> +plates and bowls for pantry use. We also took with us a +dish-pan and several dish-towels. For our larder we collected +the following: A bag of flour, ten pounds of sugar, +two pounds of salt, three pounds of coffee, four pounds of +oatmeal, four pounds of butter, two pounds of lard, six +pound of beans, six pounds of rice, three pounds of bacon, +six cans of condensed milk, a dozen eggs, box of pepper, and +several jars of canned peaches and pears, and also a half +dozen glasses of jelly.</p> + +<p>It was Dutchy who suggested that we have a chicken yard, +in connection with our camp, to supply us with fresh eggs. +It was a capital idea, and by the dint of some coaxing we +managed to secure the loan of a half dozen hens and a +rooster.</p> + +<p>Our miscellaneous list included a spade, pick and shovel, +an ax, a hatchet, two large pails, a barn lantern, a can of +kerosene, a dozen candles, a cocoa box filled with matches, a +pair of scissors, needles, buttons, pins and safety pins, a +spool of white and another of black cotton, fishing tackle, +a roll of heavy twine, a coil of rope, and a set of dominoes +and checkers. But most important of all was a chest of +tools belonging to Reddy. These were all collected when +Uncle Ed arrived. Dutchy also contributed a large compass, +which we found very useful later on, for surveying the island.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Crossbow.</p> + +<p>Reddy had a shotgun which he wanted to bring along, +but my father, and Dutchy’s as well, wouldn’t let us go camping +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56'></a>56</span> +if there was to be any gunpowder along, so we had to +leave it behind. Of course we didn’t miss it at all when we +got to the island, because there was so much else to do; +but we all agreed with Dutchy, that “it wouldn’t be no sort +of a scientific expedition without takin’ a gun along.” As a +substitute I suggested a bow and arrow. They all laughed +at such a “kiddish” idea; all but Bill, I mean.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i50'></a><img src='images/illus056a.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Drifting down the Schreiners’ Brook. +</p> +</div> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i51'></a><img src='images/illus056b.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Paddling in the Old Scow. +</p> +</div> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i52'></a><img src='images/fig-050.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 50. Binding the Bow. +</p> +</div> + +<p>“It ain’t such a bad notion,” said he, “only a crossbow +would be better. I’ve seen them made out of umbrella +ribs so they’d shoot like greased lightning.” Of course we +had to have one of these wonderful weapons. Down in the +ash heap we found two broken +umbrellas with 27-inch ribs. Bill +selected ten good ribs, from which +he wrenched off the spreaders with +a pair of pliers. The ribs were +then bound together by winding +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i53'></a><img src='images/fig-051.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 51. The Trigger. +</span> +</span> +stout twine around them. The winding was very evenly +and closely done, so that the cord completely covered the +ribs, making a solid rod of spring steel. But before winding +we had laid in between the ribs a piece of heavy twine, to +which the bowstrings could be tied after the bow was all +wound. The stock of our crossbow was cut out of a board +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i54'></a><img src='images/fig-052.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 52. The Trigger Set for Firing. +</span> +</span> +of soft wood 1 inch thick to as near the shape of a gun as +we could get it. A hole was drilled through the muzzle +end to receive the bow, and then the bowstring was tied fast. +Along the upper edge of the barrel a V-shaped channel was +cut. The channel was not very deep, only enough to receive +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57'></a>57</span> +a tenpenny nail with the head projecting half-way above the +sides. A notch was cut across the barrel, through this channel, +at the trigger end, and a trigger made of heavy iron wire, +bent to the shape shown in Fig. 51, +was hinged to the gun by a bolt +which passed clear +through the stock and +through both eyes of the +trigger. By using two nuts on the bolt, +and tightening one against the other, +they were prevented from working loose +and coming off. When we wanted to fire the gun the bowstring +was drawn back, and held by slipping it into the notch, +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i55'></a><img src='images/fig-053.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 53. The Umbrella Rib Crossbow. +</span> +</span> +and a nail was laid +in the channel with +its head against the +bowstring. Then, on +pulling the trigger, the +bowstring was lifted out of the notch, and sent the nail off +sailing. The long-grooved barrel insured a +very good aim.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Megaphone.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i56'></a><img src='images/fig-054.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 54. The Megaphone. +</p> +</div> + +<p>Another device we made in preparation +for the expedition was a megaphone. +A sheet of light cardboard 30 inches +square was procured. At the center of +one edge a pin was stuck into the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58'></a>58</span> +cardboard, then a piece of stout thread was looped over +the pin and the two ends were knotted together just +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i57'></a><img src='images/fig-055.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 55. Layout of the Megaphone. +</span> +</span> +5 inches from the +pin. Another +knot was also +made 29 inches +from the pin. +Now, with a pencil +hooked into +the loop, and resting +first against +the inner knot +and then against +the outer one, two +arcs were drawn +on the paper, one of 5-inch radius and the other of 29-inch +radius. A line was now drawn from the pin to the point +where the longer arc met the right hand edge of the paper, +and a dotted line was drawn from the pin to a point +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i58'></a><img src='images/fig-056.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 56. Brass Fastener. +</span> +</span> +1-1/2 inches from the edge at the +other end of the arc. From a point +1 inch to the left of the pin we +then drew a line to the left end of +the arc. With a scissors we cut the cardboard +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i59'></a><img src='images/fig-057.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 57. The Mouthpiece. +</span> +</span> +along the arcs and straight lines, all +but the dotted line, leaving a piece of the +shape shown in Fig. 55. This piece was +rolled into a cone with the right edge +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59'></a>59</span> +lapped over the left edge and lying against the dotted line. +In this position it was held by means of several brass fasteners +of the kind shown in Fig. 56.</p> + +<p>A mouthpiece was formed out of a block of wood in which +a large hole had been drilled. The block was then cut away +until the walls were quite thin. The hole was reamed +out at the top, as shown in Fig. 57, and the outer surface +was tapered so that the small end of the megaphone would +fit snugly on it.</p> + +<p>We planned to reach our camping grounds by way of the +canal, and had provided for that purpose a large scow, which +we expected to tow up to Lumberville and drag over to the +river.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Scow.</p> + +<p>Our scow was made as follows: Two 3/4-inch pine boards, +12 inches wide and 12 feet long, were selected from Reddy’s +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i60'></a><img src='images/fig-058.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 58. Side pieces of the Scow. +</span> +</span> +father’s lumber pile. These were used for the side pieces +of the boat, and we tapered +them off at the end to a width +of 3-1/2 inches. This was done +by making a straight cut from the end to a point three feet +back along the edge of the board and then rounding off the +edge with a draw-knife. When one board had been shaped, +it was used as a pattern for the other, which was thus cut to +exactly the same size. For the end pieces two strips, 4 +inches wide and 2 feet 10-1/2 inches long, were sawed out of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60'></a>60</span> +a 1-inch board. Then for the bottom we procured a number +of 3/4-inch boards, 12 feet long and 8 inches wide, which +we cut into 3-foot lengths. At Bill’s suggestion, before +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i61'></a><img src='images/fig-059.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 59. Frame of the Scow. +</span> +</span> +nailing the parts together, we secured some strips of flannel, +which were saturated +with paint, +and laid between the +seams so as to make +the boat perfectly +water-tight. The side and end boards were then nailed +together, with the strips of flannel between, the side boards +overlapping the end boards, as shown in Fig. 59. After +planing down the end +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i62'></a><img src='images/fig-060.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 60. Nailing on the Bottom. +</span> +</span> +boards until their +edges laid flush with +the edges of the side +pieces, the bottom +boards were nailed on, strips of cloth being inserted between +them, as well as along the edges of the side and end boards. +To brace the bottom a 3/4-inch board was placed at the +center, inside the boat, and bent down against the floor, to +which it was nailed with wire +nails. The nails were driven +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i63'></a><img src='images/fig-061.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 61. Sockets for Rowlocks. +</span> +</span> +into the board from the outer +side of the boat and were +clinched inside. Along the upper edges of the side boards +two strips 2 inches wide and 1 inch thick were nailed. Two +notches were cut in the inner side of each strip before it was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61'></a>61</span> +nailed on. The notches were 1/2 inch deep, 1-1/2 inches wide, +3 inches apart and about 5-1/2 feet from the stern end. When +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i64'></a><img src='images/fig-062.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 62. Thole Pin. +</span> +</span> +the strips were nailed in place these notches formed sockets +to receive the rowlocks. A strip was also nailed +across the stern of the boat and formed with two +central notches, to receive the rowlocks for a +steering oar. This strip, however, was 3 inches +wide, and projected 1 inch above the end board, +so as to lie flush with the deck boards, which were +later applied. Six thole pins, 1/2 inch thick, 4-1/2 +inches long and 2 inches +wide, were cut out of an +oak board. The lower +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i65'></a><img src='images/fig-063.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 63. Nailing on the Decks. +</span> +</span> +end of each pin was reduced +to a width of 1-1/2 +inches for a length of 2 +inches. The thole pins +were then fitted snugly in the notches. Two cleats, nailed +to the side boards inside, 7 inches below the upper edge, +served to support a seat board 1 inch thick and 2 feet 10-1/2 +inches long. The aft edge of the seat was about 10 inches +forward of the rowlocks. The boat was completed by nailing +on a couple of deck boards at each end. The oars were +made of 2-inch pine boards, 5 feet long and 5 inches wide. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62'></a>62</span> +They were blocked out at Mr. Schreiner’s sawmill and then +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i66'></a><img src='images/fig-064.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 64. The Oar. +</span> +</span> +shaped and smoothed down with a draw-knife and spoke-shaved. +They were 1-1/4 inches at the handle and 2 inches +immediately below, tapering down to a diameter of 1-1/4 +inches at the top of the blade. The blades were 18 inches +long, 5 inches wide, and planed down to a thickness of 1/4 +inch along the edges.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63'></a>63</span><a id='link_6'></a>CHAPTER VI.<br /><span class='h2fs'>OFF TO THE ISLAND.</span></h2> + +<p>The morning of July 2d dawned bright and clear, but +long before daybreak the members of the S. S. I. E. E. of +W. C. I. were astir. The jolly red sun peeping over the +eastern hills witnessed an unaccustomed sight. Six greatly +excited boys were running back and forth from the barn to +the canal, bearing all manner of mysterious bundles, which +were carefully deposited in a freshly painted scow. Yes, +all six of us were there.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A Unique Alarm Clock.</p> + +<p>We hadn’t expected to see Reddy Schreiner at such an +early hour, for he was always a sleepyhead, and no alarm +clock would ever wake him. But this was an exceptional day, +and, besides, Reddy was quite an original chap. He had +taken one of the borrowed roosters into his room the night +before, and when, early in the morning, Mr. Chanticleer had +mounted the footboard of the bed, flapped his wings and +given vent to his opinion of a boy who persisted in sleeping +at that late hour of the day, the noise was too much for even +Reddy’s drowsy sensibilities.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i67'></a><img src='images/fig-065.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 65. Off to the Island. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Trip to the Island.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i68'></a><img src='images/illus066a.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +The Ledge below the Goblins’ Platform. +</p> +</div> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i69'></a><img src='images/illus066b.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +The Camp at Willow Clump Island. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64'></a>64</span>Our scow was not large enough to carry all the things we +had to take with us, but as Mr. Schreiner was going to take +Uncle Ed up in his wagon, we left the rest of our luggage for +him to bring along. We boys walked the eleven miles up the +canal to Lumberville, towing the barge. It was a tiresome +task; but we divided the work into two-mile shifts, two boys +towing at a time and then each taking a mile ride as steersman +in the boat. It was about noon when we arrived at +Lumberville, and then we had to unload our boat before we +could haul it out of the canal and down to the river. The +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65'></a>65</span> +river on the Jersey side of the island was so shallow that we +waded across, pushing the boat ahead of us. The current +was too swift to permit of rowing, and it was rather hard for +us to keep our footing. But we managed to reach our destination +finally without any mishap. The island was thickly +wooded, except for a small clearing where we landed. The +first thing we did was to unpack our eatables, and Jack, the +cook, soon had an appetizing pan of bacon and eggs sputtering +on the kerosene stove.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i70'></a><img src='images/fig-066.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 66. Dragging the Scow over to the Island. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Preliminary Exploration.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66'></a>66</span>As no better position offered at the time we pitched our +tent in the clearing, pending a thorough search for a more +suitable place elsewhere. Around the tent we dug a trench +about a foot deep to prevent water from entering our quarters +when it rained. It was about time for Uncle Ed and +Mr. Schreiner to appear with the rest of our luggage, so we +did not have time to do much exploring, but sauntered southward +along the shore, always on the lookout for their arrival. +About a quarter of a mile from the tent we came across the +wreck of an old bridge, which had been washed down by +some freshet. This was a great find, and served us many +purposes, as will appear later.</p> + +<p>While we were examining the wreck we heard a distant +“halloa” from the mainland. There was Uncle Ed sitting +on a pile of goods on the railroad bank looking for all the +world like an Italian immigrant. We answered with a shout +and scrambled back to the clearing. Then we ran splashing +through the water, pushing the boat before us. It didn’t +take us long to load up and carry him back to the island.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A Rustic Table.</p> + +<p>Uncle Ed entered into our fun at once. He was as enthusiastic +as a boy over the surroundings, and when we told +him of the old bridge he started right off to investigate, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67'></a>67</span> +taking the ax with him. Soon he +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i71'></a><img src='images/fig-067.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 67. The Rustic Table. +</span> +</span> +had pried off a number of the +planks, which we used +for a flooring to our +tent. Then he built +us a table out of four +forked sticks, driven +into the ground, and +supporting two +cross sticks, on +which a pair of +planks were laid.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Small Filter.</p> + +<p>“Well, now, boys,” said Uncle Ed, wiping the perspiration +from his forehead, “I am as thirsty as a whale. Where +do you get your drinking water? Is there a spring on the +island?”</p> + +<p>We told him that we used the river water.</p> + +<p>“What, river water! That won’t do at all,” he cried. +“You’ll all have the typhoid fever. We must build a filter. +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i72'></a><img src='images/fig-068.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 68. The Small Filter. +</span> +</span> +I brought some charcoal with me for this very purpose.”</p> + +<p>Taking one of our pails he broke a hole in the bottom of +it and stuffed a sponge in the hole. A layer of small stones +was then placed in the pail, over this a layer of broken charcoal +with the dust carefully blown out, then a layer of clean +sand, and finally a layer of gravel. Each layer was about two +inches thick. The pail was suspended from a branch in a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68'></a>68</span> +cool place and proved an excellent filter, the water trickling +out through the sponge being perfectly pure and sweet, no +matter how dirty it had been when +poured in; but the capacity +of the filter was too small, +and Uncle Ed said he would +make us a larger one on the +morrow if no spring was discovered +in the meantime.</p> + +<p>The sun was getting low in the +west, and we therefore postponed +the exploration of our island until +the following day. We had been +up since four o’clock that morning +and had done some pretty hard +work; so, immediately after +supper, we turned in and, +lulled by the murmuring of +the river, were soon fast +asleep.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Barrel Filter.</p> + +<p>Immediately after breakfast the next day we started out in +two parties to search the island. The only discovery of any +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i73'></a><img src='images/fig-069.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 69. The Barrel Filter. +</span> +</span> +moment was that made by Dutchy’s party, which found a +small island separated from ours by a narrow channel, +through which the water ran like a mill-race. No spring was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69'></a>69</span> +discovered, so Uncle Ed had to construct his large filter. +Bill and I went over to Lumberville in search of a couple of +cider barrels and a pailful of charcoal. The barrels were +placed one on top of the other after cutting a large hole in the +top of the lower barrel, and a smaller one in the bottom of the +upper one. The latter opening +was covered by an inverted +saucer. Over this we spread a +3-inch layer of coarse sand, then +a 2-inch layer of charcoal, a 4-inch +layer of clear, sharp sand, +and a 2-inch top layer of gravel. +The lower barrel was provided +with a faucet, through which we +could draw off the filtered water +as desired. In order to keep the +water cool we placed the filters +in a shady place near the river, +and piled up earth around the +lower barrel.</p> + +<p>“Now, boys,” said Uncle Ed, +“form in line there, and we will +go through a fire drill.”</p> + +<p>He arranged us about five feet +apart in a line extending from +the filter to the river. We had six pails, and these Dutchy +filled one at a time, passing them up the line to Reddy, who +emptied them into the upper barrel and then threw them back +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70'></a>70</span> +to Dutchy to be refilled. Working in this way it did not take +long to fill up the filter, and the burden of keeping the barrels +full, instead of falling on one person, was shared alike by all.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i74'></a><img src='images/fig-070.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 70. Filling the Barrel. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The <i>Klepalo</i>.</p> + +<p>Our camp outfit was further augmented by a dinner call. +We discovered the necessity of such a call on our very first +day of camping. Dutchy was so excited by his discoveries +of the morning that he started out alone in the afternoon to +make a further search. The rest of us were lazy after the +noon meal, and were lolling around taking it easy during the +heat of the day, and discussing plans for the future. But +Dutchy’s energetic nature would not permit him to keep +quiet. He took the scow and waded with it against the +strong current to the deeper and quieter water above the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71'></a>71</span> +island. Then he rowed a long way up stream. He was gone +all the afternoon. Supper time came and still he didn’t appear. +The sun was high, and I presume he didn’t realize +how late it was getting. Finally, just at sunset, he came +drifting down with the current, tired and hungry, and ready +for a large meal. But we had finished our supper an hour +before, and poor Dutchy had to be content with a few cold +remnants, because the cook had declared he wouldn’t prepare +an extra meal for a fellow who didn’t have sense enough +to know when it was meal time.</p> + +<p>Then it was that Uncle Ed bethought himself of the +<i>klepalo</i>.</p> + +<p>“You ought to have some sort of a dinner call,” he declared, +“so that any one within a mile of camp will know +when dinner is ready.”</p> + +<p>“Did you ever hear of a <i>klepalo</i>? No? Well, I was +down in Macedonia a couple of years ago inspecting a railroad, +and I stopped off for the night at a small Bulgarian +village. The next day happened to be a <i>Prasdnik</i>, or +saint’s day, and the first thing in the morning I was awakened +by a peculiar clacking sound which I couldn’t make out. Calling +my interpreter I found out from him that it was a <i>klepalo</i> +for calling the people to church. The people there are too +poor to afford a bell, and so in place of that they use a beam +of oak hung from a rope tied about the center, and this beam +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i75'></a><img src='images/illus-075.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +The <i>Klepalo</i>. +</span> +</span> +is struck with a hammer, first on one side, and then the other. +Sometimes an iron <i>klepalo</i> is used as well, and then they +strike first the beam and then the iron bar, so as to vary the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72'></a>72</span> +monotony of the call. I found that the wooden <i>klepalo</i> could +be heard for a distance of about one and a half miles over +land, and the iron one for over two miles. Now we can easily +make a wooden <i>klepalo</i> for use in this camp, and then if +Dutchy, or any of the rest of us, keep within a mile and a +half of camp there won’t be any trouble with the cook.”</p> + +<p>So we built a <i>klepalo</i>, getting from Lumberville a stick of +seasoned oak, 1-1/2 inches thick, 6 inches wide and 4 feet long. +A hole was drilled into the stick at the center, and by a rope +passed through this hole the beam was suspended from a +branch overhanging the camp. Jack, the cook, regularly +used this crude device to call the hungry horde to meals.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73'></a>73</span><a id='link_7'></a>CHAPTER VII.<br /><span class='h2fs'>SURVEYING.</span></h2> + +<p>One of the first things we did after getting fairly settled +in our new quarters was to make a complete survey of Willow +Clump Island and its immediate surroundings. Our surveying +instruments were made as follows:</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Surveying Instrument.</p> + +<p>Out of a 1-inch board we cut a base 15 inches long and +4 inches wide. In the center we sawed out a circular opening +of about 3 inches diameter and covered this at the bottom by +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i76'></a><img src='images/fig-071.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 71. Baseboard of the Surveying Instrument. +</span> +</span> +a circular piece 1 inch +thick and 5 inches in +diameter, thus forming +a socket in which our +compass fitted snugly. +A hole 1 inch in diameter +was drilled through the center of this circular piece +to receive the pivot pin of a tripod. Across each end of the +baseboard we secured a block 4 inches long, 2 inches wide +and 1 inch thick. A 1-inch sight hole was drilled through +each block at its center. A ring of cardboard, on which +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74'></a>74</span> +Uncle Ed marked with radial lines the 360 degrees of the +circle, was placed over the compass socket, with the zero and +180 degree marks pointing toward the sight blocks. The +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i77'></a><img src='images/fig-072.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 72. Sighting Blocks on the Baseboard. +</span> +</span> +outer faces of the end blocks were now wet with mucilage +and a hair was stretched vertically across the center of each +sight hole. The hairs were then adjusted by +sighting through the holes and moving the +nearer hair sidewise until it was exactly in line +with both the zero and the 180 degree +marks on the cardboard. +Then a hair +was stretched horizontally +across the +center of each sight +hole. Great care +was taken to place +the hairs at exactly the same height above the baseboard. +To protect the hairs after they were adjusted, they were covered +with a piece of glass, which was secured in place by +tacks driven into the wood with their heads projecting over +the edges of the glass.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Spirit Levels.</p> + +<p>From one of his pockets Uncle Ed produced two small +bottles, the kind used for holding homeopathic pills. These +he filled nearly to the top with water, corked them and +wedged them into grooves cut lengthwise in the baseboard +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75'></a>75</span> +at opposite sides of the cardboard ring. These grooves +were filled with putty, and to make sure that the bottles were +level with the baseboard the latter was floated on a bit of +quiet water and the bottles were pressed down at one end or +the other until the bubble within rested at the exact center.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Tripod.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i78'></a><img src='images/fig-073.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 73. The Tripod Head. +</p> +</div> + +<p>The tripod head was +formed of a wooden disk 5 +inches in diameter, with a +wooden pin projecting +from its center +adapted to engage +the hole in the circular +piece above +referred to. To the +bottom of the tripod head were nailed three blocks +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i79'></a><img src='images/fig-074.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 74. The Tripod Leg. +</span> +</span> +2 inches long and 1 inch square in cross-section. The +tripod legs were made of light strips of wood, 3/8 +inch by 1 inch by 5 feet long, which we secured from +one of the mills at Lumberville. Each leg was +formed of two of these strips, nailed securely together +to within 20 inches of the top. At the upper +ends the strips were spread to receive the blocks on +the tripod head. In this position they were held by +headless wire nails driven into the ends of the blocks +and fitting into holes drilled in the strips. For a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76'></a>76</span> +plumb line we +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i80'></a><img src='images/fig-075.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 75. The Surveying Instrument Complete. +</span> +</span> +tacked a cord to the +center of the tripod +head, and attached +a good-sized sinker to its +lower end. In connection with +this plumb line we occasionally +used a protractor consisting of +a semicircle of cardboard 5 +inches in diameter, on which +the degrees of the circle +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i81'></a><img src='images/fig-076.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 76. The Protractor. +</span> +</span> +were marked off with radiating +lines, as illustrated in +Fig. 76. By holding the +straight edge of this protractor +against the base of +the tripod, and noting the number of degrees between the +90 degree mark and the plumb line, we could tell at a glance +at what angle from the horizontal the instrument was tipped.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Surveyor’s Chain.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i82'></a><img src='images/fig-077.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 77. The Surveyor’s Chain. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77'></a>77</span>We made a surveyor’s chain of wire links, each 12 +inches long, instead of 7.92 inches, which is the length of a +standard surveyor’s link. The wire we used was No. 16 +galvanized iron, which was rather stiff and difficult to bend. +In order to make all the links of exactly the same size and +shape we used a form, around which they were bent. The +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i83'></a><img src='images/fig-078.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 78. Forming the Links. +</span> +</span> +form consisted of a 1-inch board in which two 1/2 inch holes +were drilled, just 11-1/2 inches apart, measured from their +centers. An oak pin, 1/2 inch in diameter, was driven into +each hole and projected about an inch above the board. Two +blocks of oak were secured to the baseboard, just before each +pin, as shown in Fig. 78. This form gave great satisfaction. +A groove was cut in the side of one of the pins to receive the +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i84'></a><img src='images/fig-079.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 79. A Double-Ringed Link. +</span> +</span> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78'></a>78</span> +ring of a completed link, while the wire was passed through +this ring and bent around the peg to form the ring of the +new link. After each link was formed it was carefully measured, +and, if too long, was shortened by flattening the rings +endwise, or, if too short, was lengthened by pinching together +the sides of the rings. There were fifty links in our +chain, and every tenth one was formed with a double ring +at the end, so as to distinguish it from the rest (see Fig. 79).</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Surveyor’s Rod.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i85'></a><img src='images/fig-080.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 80. Cutting Out a Disk. +</p> +</div> + +<p>We completed our outfit by making +a surveyor’s rod out of a straight +stick of wood about 6 feet long. A +target or sighting disk was mounted +on the stick. This disk was 6 inches +in diameter, and was sawed out of a +6-inch square board by making +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i86'></a><img src='images/fig-081.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 81. The Sighting Disk +</span> +</span> +straight cuts across the corners and then smoothing off the +edge to a perfect circle with a draw-knife. The thickness of +the disk was only 1/2 inch. At the back of the disk we fastened +a block of wood with a slot cut in it to receive the rod, +as shown in Fig. 81. To hold the disk at different heights +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79'></a>79</span> +on the rod a small bolt was used. The nut on this bolt was +slipped into a hole on the block at the bottom of the slot and +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i87'></a><img src='images/fig-082.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 82 Nut Fastened in Block. +</span> +</span> +held in place by driving in nails about it, as illustrated in +Fig. 82. The bolt was then passed through +the hole and threaded through the nut, with +its inner end bearing against the rod. The +disk could thus be held at any desired position +by tightening up the bolt. A piece of +white paper was now pasted over the disk. +The paper was marked off into quarters, +and opposite quarters were +painted black so that it would +be easy to sight, from a distance, the exact center +of the target.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A Simple Method of Surveying.</p> + +<p>Of course, none of us had studied trigonometry, +but Uncle Ed devised a very simple method by +which we could determine distances quite accurately without +much figuring.</p> + +<p>“If you will tell me the length of one side of a triangle and +the angles it makes with the other two sides,” said Uncle Ed, +“I’ll tell you the length of the other two sides and the size +of the third angle. This is how I will do it:</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i88'></a><img src='images/fig-083.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 83. Diagram of Our First Lesson in Surveying. +</p> +</div> + +<p>“Say the line is 6 inches long and one angle is 35 degrees, +while the other is 117 degrees. Let us draw a 6-inch straight +line. This we will call our base line. Now we will place the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80'></a>80</span> +base edge of our protractor on the base line with its center at +the right hand end of the line. At the 37 degree mark we +will make a dot on the paper so, and draw a line from the +right hand end of the base line through this dot. Now we +will do the same thing at the opposite end, making a dot at +107 degrees from the line, and draw +a line from the left hand end of +the base line through this dot.</p> + +<p>“If we extend these lines until they intersect, +we will have the required +triangle, and can measure the two sides, which will be +found to be about 12 inches and 8 inches long, and the third +angle will measure just 26 degrees. It doesn’t make any +difference on what scale we draw the triangle, whether it be +miles, yards, feet, inches or fractions of an inch, the proportions +will be the same. If the base line had been 6 half-inches, +or 3 inches long, and the same angles were used, the +other two lines would measure 12 half-inches, or six inches, +and 8 half-inches, or 4 inches. If the base line were 6 quarter-inches +long, the sides would be 3 inches and 2 inches long.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81'></a>81</span>“Now, for example, I am going to measure the distance +to that tree over there. Get out your chain and measure off +a straight line 10 feet long. Now, I’ll set the surveying +instrument with the plumb-bob right over the end of this +line, and sight through the two sight holes until I bring the +two vertical hairs in line with each other and the tree. Look +at the compass needle. It points to the 173 degree mark on +the cardboard ring. Now, Bill, you hold the rod at the other +end of our base line while I swing this instrument around +and sight it. There, the needle points to 92 degrees, and +subtracting this from 173 the difference, 81 degrees, is the +angle at the right end of our base line. We’ll do the same +thing at the other end of our line. See, the compass needle +points to 189 degrees, and now sighting to the pole at the +other end of the line we find that the needle points to 268. +The difference, 79 degrees, is therefore the size of the angle +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i89'></a><img src='images/fig-084.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 84. Determining the Distance to the Tree. +</span> +</span> +at the left end of our base line. Now we will draw this out +on paper, as we did our first triangle, using quarter-inches to +represent feet. Our base line was 10 feet long, and we will +therefore draw a line 10 quarter-inches, or 2-1/2 inches long, +on our drawing board. On this line we will construct the +triangle, using the angles 81 and 79 degrees. There, that’s +how our triangle looks, and the right hand side measures +7-1/4 inches, while the left hand side measures 7-5/16 inches. +That is, 29 quarter-inches for one side and 29-1/4 quarter-inches +for the other. As each quarter-inch represents a foot, +you will find that the tree is about 29 feet from the right +end of our base line and 29 feet 3 inches from the left hand +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82'></a>82</span> +end. Of course, our instrument is not perfect, neither is our +drawing; but if you measure it off with the chain you will +see that I am not very far from correct.”</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Mapping the Island.</p> + +<p>Most of our surveying was done by actual measurement, +the surveying instrument being used only to determine the +exact direction of the measurement. However, there were +some measurements which we could not make directly with +the chain. For example, we wished to know just how far it +was from our tent to the Jersey shore of the river. We +measured off a base line along our shore 400 feet long and +sighted to a point directly across the river from our tent. +The angle in front of our tent was 90 degrees, and at the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83'></a>83</span> +other end of the base line was 73 degrees. When we drew +out our triangle on the scale of 100 feet to the inch we found +that the shorter side directly in front of the tent was almost +exactly 13 inches long. This meant that the river at this +point was 1,300 feet wide, nearly a quarter of a mile. On +the other side of the island we found, in the same way, that +the river at its narrowest point was about 500 feet wide. +This portion of the river we named Lake Placid, as the water +was very still and quite deep. This was due to a sort of +natural dam formed at the lower end of our island. The +small island that Dutchy found was kite-shaped, with a tail +of boulders which extended almost all the way across to a +rocky point on the Pennsylvania shore. The channel between +“Kite Island,” as we called it, and Willow Clump +Island was not more than fifteen feet wide in some places, +and through this the water swept with a swift current down +past a narrow neck of land to join the main current. This +narrow stretch of land we named the Tiger’s Tail, owing to +its peculiar shape. It was in the hook at the end of this tail +that we discovered the old bridge wreck above referred to. +From the tip of the Tiger’s Tail to Point Lookout, at the extreme +upper end of Willow Clump Island, it was a little under +a half-mile. The shore all along Lake Placid was very +steep, except near Point Lookout. At one place there was +a shallow bay which we called the lagoon.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84'></a>84</span><a id='link_8'></a>CHAPTER VIII.<br /><span class='h2fs'>SWIMMING.</span></h2> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i90'></a><img src='images/fig-085.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 85. The Diving Tree. +</p> +</div> + +<p>Lake Placid was a favorite swimming place for us. We +used to plunge in from the branches of a tree which overhung +the water a little ways above the lagoon and made a +natural springboard. We could all swim like ducks, except +Dutchy, who couldn’t do anything but paddle. However, +Uncle Ed was an expert, and he took Dutchy in hand and +soon made a pretty good swimmer out of him. He also +taught us some fancy strokes. Of course I took no record +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85'></a>85</span> +of these lessons. You would hardly expect me to sit on the +bank with a book in hand jotting down notes while the rest +were splashing around in the cool water having the best of +fun in the world, and even if I had, I wouldn’t republish the +notes here, because whoever heard of a boy learning to swim +while reading a book on the subject? A beginner had better +leave books alone and plunge right into the water. He will +soon learn to keep himself afloat and can then practise any +fancy strokes that he sees others try. Then, again, don’t try +to learn in shallow water, because you will never do it. Of +course it doesn’t pay to jump into water that is over your +head unless there is a good swimmer near by to help you out. +But you will never learn to swim until you have become +accustomed to putting your head under water. You can +not swim with a dry face. The first time we went swimming, +we couldn’t persuade Dutchy to try it. The water was deep +right up to the very bank and he had never been in over his +head. Instead he sat up in the diving tree swinging his +feet and trying to hide the fact that he was having a dull +time.</p> + +<p>“Say, we’ve got to douse that fellow,” said Reddy.</p> + +<p>“You’re right; he needs a wash,” said Jim. “Let’s +sneak up behind him and chuck him in.”</p> + +<p>They landed a little ways up the stream behind a large +bush and then crept down stealthily on their victim. But +Dutchy had his suspicions aroused and saw them coming. +He scrambled out of the tree in a jiffy and tore off into the +woods as fast as his legs could carry him.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Swimming on a Plank.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i91'></a><img src='images/fig-086.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 86. Swimming on a Plank. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86'></a>86</span>We didn’t expect to see him again that afternoon, for the +pace he was leading should have carried him miles in no time; +but while he couldn’t swim, Dutchy had his own ideas of fun +on the water. It was about twenty minutes later that we +saw him coming down-stream lying full length on one of +the 2-inch planks taken from the bridge wreck. He was +paddling himself along with arms and legs hung over the +sides of the plank. We all gave him a cheer, and then +started out to have some fun with him. We tried to pull +him off his raft, but he stuck on like a leech. It was only +when we made his craft turn turtle that Dutchy got his head +under water. But it wasn’t a moment before he scrambled +back on top again, gasping and sputtering to get the water +out of his nose and mouth.</p> + +<p>Uncle Ed all this time had been sunning himself on the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87'></a>87</span> +bank, when suddenly he uttered a shout of warning. We +were right at the mouth of the mill-race. For the moment +we forgot about Dutchy, and swam out for shore. Before +we realized it Dutchy was caught in the current, and was +being swept full tilt down the stream. My but wasn’t he +scared. I can see him yet clinging for dear life to the plank, +his face the color of ashes and his eyes bulging out in terror. +First he tried to make for the bank, but the water was so +swift that when the front end of the board struck land the +rear end swung around in a circle, carrying him on again, +but backward this time, before we could reach him. Two +or three more times the plank struck the bank and turned +him around, while we raced along the high bank, scrambling +down to catch him every time he headed for shore, but each +time just missing him. Then he swung out past the Tiger’s +Tail into the open river just above the rapids. Fortunately +he was going along headforemost this time, and Uncle Ed, +who had just arrived, panting and breathless, from running, +shouted to him to keep his head and steer for a narrow +opening between two jutting boulders. I don’t know +whether Dutchy did any steering or not, but the raft shot +straight through the opening, and was lost in a cloud of +spray. In a moment he reappeared below the rapids, +paddling like mad for a neck of land on the Pennsylvania +side of the river.</p> + +<p>Dutchy would never own up that he was afraid. He +never told a lie under other circumstances, but when it came +to a question of courage he had the habit of stretching facts +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88'></a>88</span> +to the very limit. Even in this case, he said that he started +out with the idea of shooting the rapids, and if we hadn’t +flustered him so, he would not have bumped into the bank +and turned about so many times. Dutchy was a very +glib talker. He nearly persuaded us that it was all done +intentionally, and his thrilling account of the wild dash +between the rocks and through the shower of spray stirred +us up so that we all had to try the trick too.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Shooting the Rapids.</p> + +<p>The next day, while Uncle Ed was taking a nap, we stole +off to the upper end of Lake Placid, each one towing a plank. +We needn’t have been so afraid of Uncle Ed, for we found +out later that he intended to try a plank ride through the +rapids himself next time he went in swimming. Down Lake +Placid we paddled in single column to the mill-race. In a +moment the current had caught us and we were off. I shall +never forget the thrilling ride down the swirling mill-race, +the sudden pause as we shot out into the open river, the +plunge between the boulders and the dive through the spray. +It was all over too soon. Something like coasting–whiz, +whiz-z-z, and a half-mile walk. Were it not for the trouble +of hauling the planks back by the roundabout course along +the Pennsy shore we would have thought shooting the rapids +a capital game.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Restoring the Drowned.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89'></a>89</span>It was on the second day after Dutchy’s exploit of the +rapids that Bill came so near drowning. He probably +would have drowned if Uncle Ed hadn’t been on hand to +work over him. Bill was a fine swimmer, but even the best +of swimmers will sometimes get a cramp, so it is never safe +for any one to go into the water without some one at hand +to help him out in case of accident. In the present case Bill +was doing some fancy strokes by himself over near the +Pennsy shore, while the rest of us were watching Uncle Ed +give Dutchy a lesson in swimming. All of a sudden Bill +threw up his hands and sank. I happened to glance up as +he did it. We thought he was fooling at first, but soon made +out that he was in genuine trouble. Uncle Ed dropped +Dutchy to my tender care, and raced over with a powerful +stroke to the spot where he had last seen his nephew. He +failed to find him on the first dive, but the second time was +successful and he carried the lifeless body to the Pennsylvania +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i92'></a><img src='images/fig-087.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 87. Pressing the Water out of the Stomach. +</span> +</span> +shore. In the meantime I had +landed Dutchy and with the rest +of the boys had crossed the lake. +Uncle Ed first laid Bill on +his back and hastily wiped +dry the mouth and nostrils. +Then he pried his jaws +apart, holding them open +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90'></a>90</span> +with a piece of wood wedged in between the teeth. After +which he turned him on his face over a log which was placed +under his stomach. By stomach I do not mean the bowels, +but the real stomach, which lies just under the ribs in front. +Then he pressed with a good weight on the back directly +over the log for nearly a minute, causing the water to flow +out of the mouth. Dutchy had by this time rowed across in +the scow, in which fortunately there happened to be some of +Uncle Ed’s clothing. This he took and rolled into a bundle, +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i93'></a><img src='images/fig-088.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 88. Expanding the Chest. +</span> +</span> +then Bill was laid on his back over the roll of clothing, +which was arranged to raise the pit of his stomach above the +rest of his body. Uncle Ed now wrapped a handkerchief +around his forefinger, and with it wiped out Bill’s mouth +and throat. Reddy, who was the least excited of the lot, +was told to draw Bill’s tongue forward so as to prevent it +from falling back and choking the windpipe. This he did +with the dry part of the handkerchief, drawing the end of the +tongue out at the corner of the mouth, and holding it there +while Uncle Ed and I started the pumping action, which +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91'></a>91</span> +produced artificial respiration. I was directed to grasp Bill’s +arms just below the elbows, and swing them vertically in +an arc until the hands met the ground again above the head. +This expanded the chest. Uncle Ed at the same time stood +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i94'></a><img src='images/fig-089.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 89. Squeezing out the Air from the Lungs. +</span> +</span> +over the body with his elbows on his knees and hands extended, +as illustrated in Fig. 88. Then I swung the arms +up and back to the sides of the body, but just before the +hands touched the ground Uncle Ed seized the body in both +hands just below the ribs, and as soon as I touched the arms +to the ground he +swung forward with +all his weight on his +hands, squeezing +the waist +and pushing +upward so as +to force out +the air in the chest. Then he slowly counted, one, two, +three, four, all the time steadily increasing the pressure, +until at the signal four, with a final push, he shoved himself +to the first position, shown in Fig. 88. At the same +signal I drew the arms up again over the head, and held +them there while Uncle Ed again counted four; then I returned +the arms to the sides, and Uncle Ed repeated the +squeezing process. These movements were continued for +about three minutes, and then Bill gave a short, faint gasp. +We kept on with the artificial respiration, assisting the gasps, +which gradually grew stronger, until they had deepened into +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92'></a>92</span> +steady breathing. Then we stripped off the wet bathing suit, +and wrapping Bill in Uncle Ed’s clothing, laid him in the +bottom of the boat. While Dutchy hurried the boat across, +Uncle Ed rubbed the patient’s arms and legs. The rest of +us swam over and ran for blankets from the tent. Bill was +wrapped in one of the blankets and the other was used as a +stretcher, on which we carried him to the tent. Then one of +us was sent post-haste across to Lumberville for some +whiskey, which was diluted in hot water and given the patient +a teaspoonful at a dose, every fifteen minutes at first, and then +at less frequent intervals. Uncle Ed kept Bill in bed all +the next day for fear of congestion of the lungs. He told +us that unless the patient kept perfectly quiet for a couple +of days, he was liable to be seized with a sudden attack of +hard breathing that might choke him to death in a short +time. To stop such an attack he told us that the best plan +was to apply a mustard plaster to the chest, and if the patient +commenced to gasp, to start pumping the arms and squeezing +the waist so as to help him breathe. After Bill had come +around and was himself again Uncle Ed gave us a thorough +drill in methods of restoring the drowned. He laid down on +the grass and made us practise on him the various directions +which he gave us.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>How to Work Over a Patient Alone.</p> + +<p>“If you boys hadn’t been so excited,” he said, “I would +have made you rub Bill’s body and limbs while we were +pumping the air into him, but I knew you would get in the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93'></a>93</span> +way, and be more of a bother than a help. You must learn +to be calm in any accident; excitement doesn’t pay. Keep +steadily and slowly at your pumping, for you might have to +do it for four hours before the patient comes to.” He taught +us just how to swing the arms and squeeze the ribs to best advantage, +and how to hold the tongue without getting in the +way of the arms as they were pumped back and forth. There +was also a special way of rubbing the arms and legs. The +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i95'></a><img src='images/fig-090.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 90. Working alone over a Patient. +</span> +</span> +limbs were always rubbed upward, +or toward the body, with the bare +hands, or a dry cloth if there was +one at hand, +but this all had +to be done +without interfering +with the +pumping action. +“If the patient doesn’t come around in five minutes,” +he said, “turn him on his face again over the roll of clothing, +or any other suitable substitute, and press out the water from +the stomach, rolling him first to one side and then to the +other; be sure to get all the water out.” When we had +learned our lesson well, Uncle Ed took Dutchy for his +patient, and proceeded to show us how a man could work +over him alone. First he went through the operation of +squeezing the water out of him, and drying his nose and +mouth, much to the patient’s discomfort; then he drew +Dutchy’s tongue out of the corner of his mouth, holding it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94'></a>94</span> +there by closing the jaws on it, and holding the jaws together +by passing a handkerchief over his chin and lapping it over +his head. After that he began to pump, seizing the patient’s +arms and swinging them up over the head and back, as before. +Just as the arms were dropped back to the sides of +the body, he squeezed them in against the ribs, at the same +time drawing upward toward the head and counting four +each time, as he had done before. But the lesson was +abruptly interrupted by Dutchy, whose imagination was +worked up to such a pitch that I actually believe he thought +he had been drowning. Anyway, he squirmed out of Uncle +Ed’s grasp, and wouldn’t play patient any longer. For +several days after that we couldn’t persuade him to venture +near deep water.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95'></a>95</span><a id='link_9'></a>CHAPTER IX.<br /><span class='h2fs'>BRIDGE BUILDING.</span></h2> + +<p>Willow Clump Island was, for the most part, a trackless +wilderness, and as soon as we had made our map we laid +out roads to the different important points. Our main highway +ran from Point Lookout to Tiger’s Tail. This road +was made rather winding, to add to its picturesqueness, and +from it a number of shorter roads branched off.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Spar Bridge.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i96'></a><img src='images/fig-091-2.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Figs. 91 and 92. Frames for the Spar Bridge. +</p> +</div> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i97'></a><img src='images/fig-093.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig 93. The Spar Bridge. +</p> +</div> + +<p>We +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96'></a>96</span> +ran a bridge across the mill-race at its narrowest point. +This bridge was made of trees which we had cut down in +making our road. It was quite a piece of engineering, built +under Uncle Ed’s guidance. Two frames were made of the +shape shown in Figs. 91 and 92. The side sticks were +15 feet long and spaced about 10 feet apart at the base by +crosspieces. At the upper end one frame was made 6 feet +wide and the other 5 feet wide. The side and cross spars +were mortised together and secured by lashing a rope around +them. To make the frames more rigid we braced them with +diagonal braces nailed on. When completed we set the +frames up on opposite sides of the stream and with ropes +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97'></a>97</span> +carefully lowered their upper ends until they interlocked, the +side spars of each frame resting on the cross spars of the +other. In the angles formed by the crossing side spars +a center spar was laid, and a number of floor beams or spars +were stretched to this from the opposite shores. On these a +flooring was spread made of saplings, cut and trimmed to +the right size. A rustic railing on each side of the bridge +completed the structure.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Rope Railway.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i98'></a><img src='images/fig-094.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 94. The Swing Seat. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98'></a>98</span>The mill-race was crossed further +down by a rope line on which we rigged +a traveling carriage. A light manila +rope was used, anchored to a tree +at each side about fifteen feet from +the ground. A pulley block +with a wheel or sheave 4 inches +in diameter was mounted to +travel on the rope. Suspended +from this block by means of fall +and tackle was a swing seat. This, +as shown in Fig. 94, was merely a +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i99'></a><img src='images/fig-095.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 95. Tying the Ropes to the Seat. +</span> +</span> +board fastened with four rope strands +to the ring of the tackle block. A +single rope was used, with the ends +tied firmly together. The loop thus +formed was passed through the ring +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99'></a>99</span> +of the tackle block and the opposite ends were twisted over +the ends of the seat board in the manner illustrated in Fig. +95. The tackle blocks were quite small, having 2-inch +sheaves, and they, together with the large pulley or “traveling +block,” as we called it, cost us about $2.50. Two light +ropes were fastened to the large traveling block, each rope +long enough to reach across the stream. The ropes extended +to opposite anchorages, where each was passed over +a branch of the tree and belayed on a cleat within easy reach. +A fellow could draw himself up clear of the ground by pulling +on the free end of the fall, as a painter does; then tying +the swing fast in this position, he would pull himself across +the stream by means of the rope stretched to the opposite +anchorage. The swing could be drawn back by the next +one who wanted to cross. We also used this aerial line for +transporting loads from one island to the other.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i100'></a><img src='images/fig-096.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 96. The Rope Railway. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Suspension Bridge.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i101'></a><img src='images/fig-097.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig 97. Barrel-stave Flooring. +</p> +</div> + +<p>Our aerial railway didn’t last +long. We soon tired of it, and +instead utilized the materials for +a rope suspension bridge. We procured from Lumberville +half a dozen old barrels and used the staves as a flooring for +the bridge. The staves were linked together by a pair of +ropes at each end woven over and under, as indicated in the +drawing Fig. 97. Notches were cut in the staves to hold +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i102'></a><img src='images/fig-098.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 98. The Suspension Bridge. +</span> +</span> +the ropes from slipping off. The flexible flooring thus constructed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100'></a>100</span> +was stretched across the river and secured to stakes +driven firmly in the ground. A pair of parallel ropes were +extended across the stream about three feet above the flooring, +with which they were connected at intervals of five feet. +The bridge was 25 feet long, +and while rather shaky, owing +to the fact that there were +no braces to prevent it from +swaying sidewise, still it +was very strong and did excellent +service.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Pontoon Bridge.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101'></a>101</span>At the head of the mill-race, where the channel was fifty +feet wide, we built a pontoon bridge. We were fortunate +in securing six good cider barrels at low cost, also a quantity +of “slabs” from one of the sawmills of Lumberville. +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i103'></a><img src='images/fig-099.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 99. The Pontoon Bridge. +</span> +</span> +“Slab” is the lumberman’s name for the outside piece of a +log which is sawn off in squaring up the sides. We made a +raft of these materials and floated them down the river to +Lake Placid. The bridge was made by anchoring the barrels +in the channel about eight feet apart, and laying on them the +floor beams, which supported a flooring of slabs. The floor +beams were narrow planks 1 inch by 4 inches, taken from +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102'></a>102</span> +the bridge wreck, and they were placed on edge to prevent +sagging. Of course we had no anchors for securing the +barrels, but used instead large stones weighing about 100 +pounds each, around which the anchor lines were fastened. +We found it rather difficult to sink these improvised anchors +at just the right places, for we were working at the very +mouth of the mill-race, and were in constant danger of having +our scow sucked down into the swirling channel. Once we +were actually drawn into the mill-race and tore madly down +the rushing stream. By Bill’s careful steering we managed +to avoid striking the shore, and just as we were off the +Tiger’s Tail Reddy succeeded in swinging a rope around an +overhanging limb and bringing us to a sudden stop. A +moment later we might have been dashed against the rocks +in the rapids below and our boat smashed. Shooting rapids +in a scow is a very different matter from riding through them +on a plank.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The King Rod Truss.</p> + +<p>Our bridge building operations were not entirely confined +to the island. Two of them were built on the Schreiner +grounds at Lamington. Reddy Schreiner’s home was situated +a little distance above the town where Cedar Brook +came tumbling down a gorge in the hills and spread out into +the Schreiners’ ice pond. Thence it pursued its course very +quietly through the low and somewhat swampy ground in +the Schreiners’ back yard. Over this brook Reddy was very +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103'></a>103</span> +anxious to build a bridge. Accordingly, before returning to +school in the fall Bill made out a careful set of plans for +the structure, and after we had gone the rest of the society, +under Reddy’s guidance, erected the bridge.</p> + +<p>The structure was a cross between a suspension bridge and +a spar bridge. The banks of the stream were so low that, +instead of resting the floor of the bridge on top of the inclined +frames, as we had done over the mill-race, it was +suspended from the spars by means of wires. The crossing +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i104'></a><img src='images/fig-100.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 100. The King Rod Bridge. +</span> +</span> +ends of the spars were nailed together and their lower ends +were firmly planted about four feet apart in the banks of the +brook. A stick nailed to the apex of each pair of spars +served temporarily to brace them apart. The center cross +beam of the bridge was now suspended from the spars by +means of heavy galvanized iron wire (No. 14, I should say). +The beam was hung high enough to allow for stretch of the +wire, making the roadway incline upward from both sides +to the center. Aside from carrying the floor of the bridge, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104'></a>104</span> +this beam was used to brace the inclined spars when the +temporary crosspiece was removed. The ends of the beam +projected about thirty inches beyond the bridge at each +side, and they supported braces which extended diagonally +upward to the crossing ends of the spars. When this was +done the temporary crosspiece above referred to was removed. +As the span between the center cross beam and the +banks was a little too long to provide a steady floor, a couple +of intermediate cross beams were suspended from the inclined +spars. The floor beams were then laid in place and +covered with a flooring of slabs.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Stiffening the Bridge.</p> + +<p>The bridge was a pretty good one, except for a slight unsteadiness +between the center and either end. When Uncle +Ed saw it he showed us at once where the trouble lay. Our +intermediate cross beams were hung from the center of the +spars, and consequently made them bend, because the strain +came across their length, while at the center of the bridge +there was no chance for the spars to bend, because the strain +was exerted along their length, that is, it tended merely to +push the ends of the spars deeper into the banks. To remedy +the trouble he proposed propping up the center of each spar +with a brace running from the center crosspiece. The dotted +lines in Fig. 100 show how these braces were applied. They +made the floor perfectly solid throughout, and gave the +bridge a much better appearance. Uncle Ed told us that the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105'></a>105</span> +structure might be called a “king rod truss,” except that +in place of rods we had used wires.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i105'></a><img src='images/illus108a.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +The King Rod Bridge. +</p> +</div> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i106'></a><img src='images/illus108b.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +The Bridge over Cedar Brook Gorge. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The King Post Bridge.</p> + +<p>The other bridge on the Schreiner property was built in +the following summer, just before we started on our second +expedition to Willow Clump Island. It spanned the brook +at the gorge, and was therefore a more difficult engineering +feat. Mr. Schreiner himself asked us to build it, and we +felt greatly honored by the request. A search was made in +the Van Syckel library for a suitable type. At last we found +one that seemed properly suited to the requirements. It was +called a “king post truss,” and was very similar to the king +rod bridge. While the design of the bridge was simple, yet +it required some ingenuity to put it together. In setting up +the other bridge the scow had been anchored in the center +of the stream and used as a working platform, from which it +had been an easy matter to put the various parts together. +In this case our scow was obviously of no use, so we laid a +couple of long logs across the chasm, and a few slats were +nailed across them to provide a temporary bridge or working +platform. The platform sagged considerably at the center, +because the span was fully eighteen feet; but the logs were +large, and we knew they were strong enough to support our +weight. However, as an extra precaution, we tied the ends +to stakes driven in the ground, so that they could not possibly +slip off the banks.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106'></a>106</span>First we set about constructing the king posts, which were +made as shown in Fig. 101. Two stout posts 7 feet long +were connected at the top by a tie stick, which spaced them +4 feet apart. To make a secure fastening they were notched +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i107'></a><img src='images/fig-101.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 101. The King Post Frame. +</span> +</span> +together and strengthened with diagonal braces. Each king +post was notched on opposite sides, at about thirty inches +from the top. A temporary +tie piece was also nailed +across the lower ends of the +king posts. The frame +thus formed was set up at +the center of the span and +temporarily held by nailing +the lower tie piece to the +working platform. Four +stout spars were now cut, +each about fifteen feet long. +Taking a pair at a time, we +planted their lower ends +firmly in the opposite banks +and sawed off their upper +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i108'></a><img src='images/fig-102.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 102. The King Posts Set in Position. +</span> +</span> +ends until they could just be hammered into the notches in +the king post. This required careful fitting, but by making +the spars a little too long to start with, and then shaving +them down with a draw-knife, we managed to make fairly +good joints. A couple of long wire nails in each spar made +the structure perfectly secure. The king posts were now +sawed off just above the temporary tie piece, and the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107'></a>107</span> +permanent cross beam was fastened to these ends with straps +of heavy wire wound tightly about them. The working platform +sagged so much that we were able to lay this cross +beam above it. From the ends of the cross beam diagonal +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108'></a>108</span> +braces extended to the king posts (Fig. 103). Our working +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i109'></a><img src='images/fig-103.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 103. The Permanent Cross Beam Made Fast. +</span> +</span> +platform was now removed and replaced with the permanent +floor beams, which were firmly nailed to the center cross +beam and to the inclined spars at the shore ends. The floor +beams were quite heavy and needed no support between the +king posts and shore. A rustic floor was made of small logs +sawed in two at Mr. Schreiner’s sawmill. Light poles were +nailed to the flooring along each edge, giving a finish to the +bridge. We also provided a rustic railing for the bridge of +light poles nailed to the king posts and the diagonal spars.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109'></a>109</span><a id='link_10'></a>CHAPTER X.<br /><span class='h2fs'>CANVAS CANOES.</span></h2> + +<p>Like all inhabitants of islands, we early turned our attention +to navigation. Our scow was serviceable for transporting +materials back and forth across the strips of shallow +water between our quarters and the Jersey shore. We never +attempted to row across, because progress would have been +entirely too slow, and we would have drifted down to the +rapids long ere we could reach the opposite side. But on Lake +Placid matters were different. Although there was no settlement +near us on the Pennsylvania shore, to occasion our +crossing the water for provisions and the like, yet the quiet +stretch was admirably suited to boating for pleasure, and +mighty little pleasure could we get out of our heavy scow.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Uncle Ed’s Departure.</p> + +<p>Owing to a sudden business call Uncle Ed left us after he +had been with us nearly three weeks. But, before going, he +explained carefully to Bill just how to construct a canvas +canoe. Jack, the cook, who was anxious to lay in a second +supply of provisions, accompanied Uncle Ed as far as Millville, +the next town below Lamington. Here Uncle Ed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110'></a>110</span> +bought five yards of canvas, 42 inches wide, several cans of +paint and a quantity of brass and copper nails and tacks. +These supplies, together with the food provisions that Jack +had collected, were brought to us late in the afternoon by +Mr. Schreiner. Mr. Schreiner also brought the necessary +boards and strips of wood for the framework of our canoe.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A Visit from Mr. Schreiner.</p> + +<p>We invited Mr. Schreiner to spend the night with us, and +this he did after fording with some difficulty the swift-running +river. In the morning we showed him our quarters, our +filter, the roads we had built, the spar bridge across to Kite +Island, our surveying instrument and the chart we had made +of the vicinity. He was greatly pleased with our work, and +it was then that he gave us an order for the bridge over the +gorge. From that day on he became our staunchest ally, so +that when my father and Mr. Van Syckel complained that +we were loafing away a lot of time which could be more +profitably spent in study or work, Mr. Schreiner stood up +for us and declared that our experiences on the island were +doing us far more good, both physically and mentally, than +any other work that they could conceive of; that before condemning +us they should pay us a visit and see how we were +employing our time.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Sailing Canoe.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i110'></a><img src='images/illus118.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Exploring the River in the Indian Canoe. +</p> +</div> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i111'></a><img src='images/fig-104.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 104. Stern Post of the Canoe. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111'></a>111</span>Immediately after Mr. Schreiner’s departure we started +work on the canoe. A strip of spruce 1 inch thick, 3 inches +wide and 12 feet long served as the keelson. At the stern a +post 1-1/2 inches thick, 3 inches wide and 13 inches high was +secured to the keelson +with brass +screws. This was +braced as indicated +in Fig. 104. At the +bow a stem piece +was attached to the +keelson. This stem was cut to a somewhat semicircular form, +as shown in Fig. 105. The outer edge was tapered with a +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i112'></a><img src='images/fig-105.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 105. Stern of the Canoe. +</span> +</span> +draw-knife to a thickness of 1/4 inch and a brace was nailed +to the inner edge. Our next work was to cut out three +forms, one of the shape shown in Fig. 106 and two like +that shown in Fig. 107. The first form was set up on the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112'></a>112</span> +keelson midway between the stem and stern, and the other +two were spaced about four feet each side of the center +form. The center form was used only for shaping the +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i113'></a><img src='images/fig-106.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 106. Center Form. +</span> +</span> +frame of the boat, and was not intended to be permanently +affixed to the canoe. Therefore, we fastened it to the keelson +very lightly, so that it could be readily removed. The other +two forms, however, were made permanent parts of the +frame, serving as bulkheads. The gunwales were now secured +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i114'></a><img src='images/fig-107.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 107. Bulkheads. +</span> +</span> +in position. These were of spruce 3/4 inch thick and 2 +inches wide. The ends were beveled off so as to neatly fit the +stem piece and the stern post, to which they were fastened +by brass screws. Then we applied the longitudinal strips, or +rib bands, which were of 1/4-inch thick spruce 1 inch wide. +Ten of these bands were used, equally spaced apart on the +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i115'></a><img src='images/fig-108.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 108. Center Braces. +</span> +</span> +center form, to which they were lightly tacked; but they were +nailed securely to the bulkheads and the stem piece and stern +post. The cross ribs were made of barrel hoops which we +had soaked in water for a day or so to render them pliable +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i116'></a><img src='images/fig-109.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 109. Top View<br />of the Canoe Frame. +</span> +</span> +enough to be bent into place. These hoops were split to a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113'></a>113</span> +width of 1/2 inch, and secured +first to the keelson, then to the +longitudinal strips and finally to +the gunwales. Copper tacks +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i117'></a><img src='images/fig-110.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 110. Side View<br />of the Canoe Frame. +</span> +</span> +were used for nailing the ribs in +place, and these were long enough to be passed through the +rib bands and clinched on the outside. Forty cross ribs were +nailed on, and at the +center of the canoe +they were spaced about +three inches apart. The +center form was then +removed and cut along +the dotted lines shown +in Fig. 106. The +semicircular pieces +thus obtained were +now strengthened with +strips on their inner +edges, and wedged in +between the keelson +and the gunwales, to +which they were +nailed, as shown in +Fig. 108. A pair of +cleats nailed to the +cross ribs served as +supports for the seat +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114'></a>114</span> +of the canoe. The frame of the boat was completed by +nailing in place two deck beams of 1/2-inch square pine and +four corner pieces between the gunwales and the bulkheads, +so as to make an elliptical well hole or deck opening. Before +laying on the canvas covering the edges of the gunwales, +keelson, deck beams, stem and stern posts were smoothed +down with sandpaper.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i118'></a><img src='images/fig-111.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 111. Lacing the Canvas on the Frame. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Stretching on the Canvas.</p> + +<p>The frame was laid in the center of the canvas and the +latter drawn around it. Then with a large needle and strong +twine we sewed both edges of the cloth together with long +stitches, lacing the canvas over the frame as a shoe is laced +over a foot. This done, the boat was turned deck downward +and the canvas was tacked to the keelson. In each case, +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i119'></a><img src='images/fig-112.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 112. Tacking the Canvas to the Keel. +</span> +</span> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115'></a>115</span> +before driving in a tack a daub of white lead was applied, to +water-proof the spot. At the stem and stern a gore (narrow +triangular piece) was cut out of the canvas so as to make it +lie smooth on the frame, and white lead was painted in between +the overlapping edges. The canoe was then turned +deck upward and the lacing tightened, while we carefully +worked out all wrinkles in the cloth. After tacking the +canvas along the gunwales on the outside, it was trimmed off, +leaving sufficient margin to be brought over the gunwales +and tacked inside. Two triangular pieces were cut out for +the decks, and these were lapped over the outer canvas and +tacked to the gunwales. A narrow molding along the edge +of the boat served to cover the tack heads and added a certain +finish to the canoe. A keel plate 2 inches wide and 1 +inch thick was attached to the outside of the boat, and then, +after wetting the canvas, it was given a coat of white lead +and oil. When this was perfectly dry it was sandpapered +and the second coat applied.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Rudder.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i120'></a><img src='images/fig-113.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 113. The Rudder. +</p> +</div> + +<p>The canoe was now complete +except for the rudder, +which was cut from a 1/2-inch +board to about the shape +shown in Fig. 114. Strips 1-1/2 inches wide and +1/2 inch thick were nailed to each side of the +blade, forming a post, to the top of which a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116'></a>116</span> +crosspiece or tiller was fastened. A cleat nailed to the pillar +at each side of the rudder post served to greatly strengthen +the joint. The rudder was hinged to the canoe by a rod, +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i121'></a><img src='images/fig-114.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 114. The Rudder Hinge. +</span> +</span> +which passed through four brass screw +eyes, two threaded into the rudder and +a corresponding pair screwed into the +stern. For convenience in steering we +ran our tiller rope clear around the +boat, through screw eyes in the gunwales +and a pulley at the stem, so that the steersman could +guide his craft from any point in the canoe.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Deep Keel.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i122'></a><img src='images/fig-115.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 115. Bottom of Canoe, Showing Deep Keel. +</p> +</div> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i123'></a><img src='images/fig-116.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 116. End View, Showing Deep Keel. +</p> +</div> + +<p>We planned to use our +canoe as a sailboat, and +had to provide a deep keel, +which, for convenience, was +made detachable. This keel +was 6 inches wide, 1/2 inch +thick and 6 feet long, and +was fastened at the center +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117'></a>117</span> +of the canoe. Screw eyes about twelve inches apart were +threaded alternately into opposite sides of the keel plate. +Corresponding hooks were attached to the keel in position to +hook into the screw eyes, and thus hold the keel firmly in +place.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Canoe Sails.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i124'></a><img src='images/fig-117.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 117. The Mast Step. +</p> +</div> + +<p>Our boat was fitted with two masts, a +mainmast and a mizzen or dandy mast. +The former was 6 feet long and the latter +4 feet long, and each measured 1-1/2 +inches in diameter at the base, tapering +to about 1 inch diameter at the +upper end. They were held in brass +bands, or clamps, bent around them +and secured to the bulkheads, as shown +in Fig. 117. The sails were of the +lanteen type. +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i125'></a><img src='images/fig-118.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 118. The Mainsail. +</span> +</span> +The mainsail measured 8-1/2 feet along +the boom, 9-1/2 feet along the yard +and 10 feet at the leach. The +dimensions of the mizzen sail +were: along the boom, 5 feet; +along the yard, 5-1/2 +feet; and at the leach, +6 feet. The boom was +attached to a strap of +leather on the mast, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118'></a>118</span> +and was thus given freedom to swing around in any desired +position. The yard was similarly attached, and was raised +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i126'></a><img src='images/fig-119.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 119. The Mizzen Sail. +</span> +</span> +by a cord, which passed through pulleys +at the top and at the base of the mast +and extended to a cleat within easy +reach of the occupant of the +boat. A double paddle was +fashioned from a board 1 +inch thick, 6 inches wide +and 6 feet long. The +blades were shaved down to +a thickness of 3/8 of an inch +at the edges.</p> + +<p>It will be observed that we used no iron in the construction +of this boat. Uncle Ed has warned us not to, because +iron rusts out so easily and is apt to damage both the canvas +and the wood with which it is in contact.</p> + +<p>A canoe is rather a tipsy thing to sail in, as we soon learned, +and it was lucky that we could all swim, else our vacation +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i127'></a><img src='images/fig-120.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 120. The Double Paddle. +</span> +</span> +might have ended very tragically; for the very first time Bill +and I tried the boat an unexpected gust of wind struck us +and over we went. We were very poor sailors at first, but +it didn’t take us long to catch on.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Lee Boards.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119'></a>119</span>One thing that bothered us greatly in sailing was the keel +of our canoe. It was forever getting twisted, particularly +when we tried to make a landing. There were only a few +places along the island where the water was deep enough to +permit our coming right up to shore without striking the +keel. The fastening was not very strong, and every once and +awhile it would be wrenched loose. The matter was made +the subject of a special letter to Uncle Ed, and in due time +his answer was received. As usual, he offered a first-class +solution of the difficulty. “Don’t use a keel,” he wrote; +“lee boards are much better.” Then he went on to explain +what was meant by lee boards: “The leeward side of a +boat is the opposite of the windward side; that is, that side +of the boat which is sheltered from the wind. Lee boards, +then, are boards which are hung over the lee side of a boat +to prevent it from drifting to leeward, +and they serve to take the +place of a keel or centerboard.”</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i128'></a><img src='images/fig-121.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 121. A Lee Board. +</p> +</div> + +<p>Following Uncle Ed’s direction +we fastened a strip of wood across +the canoe about six feet from the +bow, nailing it firmly to the gunwales. +This provided a support to +which the lee boards were secured. +The lee boards were paddle-shaped +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120'></a>120</span> +affairs of the form and dimensions shown in Fig. 121. Each +paddle near the top was hinged to the end of a board three +inches wide and a foot long. The paddle was held at right +angles to the board by means of a +hook. Each board was fastened +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i129'></a><img src='images/fig-122.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 122. Section of the Canoe, Showing Lee Board. +</span> +</span> +with door hinges to a baseboard +which extended the width of the boat +and was attached to the crosspiece +of the canoe by means of a couple of +bolts. The bolt heads were countersunk, +so that the hinged boards could +lie flat over them. To the top of each lee board two ropes +were attached, one passing forward around a pulley and +thence back to a cleat within easy reach of the occupant of +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i130'></a><img src='images/fig-123.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 123. The Lee Boards in Use on Canoe. +</span> +</span> +the canoe, and the other passing directly back to this cleat. +By pulling the former rope the lee board was lifted out of +the water, while the latter rope was used to swing the board +into working position. When tacking to port (left), the +board on the left side of the canoe was lowered and the +other was raised, as shown in Fig. 123, and when tacking to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121'></a>121</span> +the starboard (right) the board on the right side was lowered, +while the left one was raised.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i131'></a><img src='images/illus128.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +The Indian Canoe Fitted with Lanteen Sail and Lee Boards. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Indian Paddling Canoe.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i132'></a><img src='images/fig-124.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 124. Center Form. +</p> +</div> + +<p>Our sailing canoe proved such a good one that we decided +to build a second. This was to be much lighter, for paddling +only, and of the true Indian shape, with wide, bulging +sides and raised stem and stern. The dimension of the +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i133'></a><img src='images/fig-125.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 125. Intermediate Form. +</span> +</span> +forms used are given in Figs. 124 and 125. These forms, +it will be observed, were notched to receive the keelson and +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i134'></a><img src='images/fig-126.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 126. The Stem Piece. +</span> +</span> +gunwales. The keelson was formed of 1-inch spruce 3 +inches wide and 10 feet long. The stem and stern, which +were both of the same shape, were cut from a +12-inch board to the form shown in Fig. 126, +and were firmly secured to the keelson. +This made the boat 12 feet +long. The forms were then +set in place on the keelson, +one at the center and the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122'></a>122</span> +others three feet each side. The gunwales were formed +of 3/4-inch by 2-1/2-inch spruce, and the twelve rib bands used +were of the size used in our first boat. As none of these +forms was to remain in the boat, nails were driven very +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i135'></a><img src='images/fig-127.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 127. Skeleton Frame of Canoe. +</span> +</span> +lightly into them, with heads projecting so that they could +easily be withdrawn when it was time to remove the forms. +The cross ribs were passed under the keelson inside of the +rib bands and outside of the gunwales, as shown in Fig. 128. +After they were set in place and firmly secured with copper +tacks, a band was nailed to the keelson to form the keel. +To produce the raised stem and stern, four +wedge-shaped pieces were nailed to +the tops of the gunwales, as +indicated in Fig. 129. The +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i136'></a><img src='images/fig-128.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 128. Section at Center of Canoe. +</span> +</span> +forms were then removed +and were replaced with +cross sticks braced between +the gunwales. The center +cross stick was provided +with two corner pieces, as +shown in Fig. 130, adapted to fit under the gunwales and +against the rib bands. The canvas was then applied in the +manner described before, but was tacked to the upper edge +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123'></a>123</span> +of the gunwale instead of the outer side, and the tacks were +covered by a half-round molding which extended around the +entire boat. After the lacing was cut the edge of the canvas +was secured to the +under edges of +the gunwales. +The canoe was +then completed +by fastening on a +1-inch square keel +and treating the +boat with two coats of paint. The paddle was a duplicate of +the one described in connection with the sailing canoe.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i137'></a><img src='images/fig-129.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 129. Wedge Pieces at the Ends. +</p> +</div> + +<p>I remember that we eventually equipped our paddling +canoe with a sail and a pair of lee boards, though no record of +this fact appears in the chronicles of the society.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i138'></a><img src='images/fig-130.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 130. The Cross Braces. +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124'></a>124</span><a id='link_11'></a>CHAPTER XI.<br /><span class='h2fs'>HOUSE BUILDING.</span></h2> + +<p>One afternoon Fred, who had waded over to Lumberville +after some provisions, came splashing back holding aloft +a large square envelope. It was from Uncle Ed and contained +a photograph of a group of Wichita Indians building +a large grass lodge. In a brief explanatory letter Uncle Ed +suggested that we build a similar hut on our Island.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Grass Hut.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i139'></a><img src='images/fig-131.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 131. Making the Frame of the Straw Hut. +</p> +</div> + +<p>The grass lodge appealed +to us as very +picturesque, and we +set to work immediately +on its construction. +We made our +hut much smaller, +however, only 12 +feet in diameter, +and 8 or 9 feet +high. First we procured +two dozen +light poles between +10 and 12 feet long. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125'></a>125</span> +These we set up about 18 inches apart in a circle like a stockade, +the sticks being buried in the ground to a depth of 12 +inches. At one side a space of 3 feet was allowed for a +doorway. Inside the stockade we erected a working platform +of planks supported on barrels, and standing on this +we took two opposite poles, bent them inward and lashed +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i140'></a><img src='images/fig-132.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 132. Doorway of the Hut. +</span> +</span> +their upper ends together. Then a second +pair of opposite poles were similarly +bent inward and tied, and so we +proceeded until the entire stockade +had been converted into +a dome-shaped cage. Around +these poles we laid lighter +sticks, or bands, tying them +at the points of intersection. +At the doorway two posts +were set firmly in the ground, +projecting upward to a height +of 4 feet. A lintel nailed across the top of the posts completed +the door frame. Sticks were nailed to the lintel and +to the side posts, extending to the main frame of the hut, to +which they were tied. We were now ready to thatch our +hut. Reddy and Dutchy went over to Lumberville for +several bales of straw. We tied the straw in bunches and +applied it to the frame, copying, as best we could, the +process illustrated in the photograph.</p> + +<p>But for its location the hut would have proved a very +serviceable habitation. In order to have a good, dry dwelling +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126'></a>126</span> +without laying down a board flooring, we had selected +for its site the sandy shore at Point Lookout. This part of +the island was not sheltered with trees, and the hot sun beat +down on our hut so strongly that we found the quarters +very uncomfortable indeed. It was this fact that led to +the construction of a tree hut–a building that would be +perfectly dry and yet shaded and cool. Bill had read of +such houses in the Philippines and felt confident that we +could build one. We couldn’t decide at first where to locate +our hut until Dutchy moved that we build it in the gnarled +oak tree overlooking the “Goblins’ Dancing Platform.” +Immediately the motion was seconded and unanimously +carried.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Goblins’ Dancing Platform.</p> + +<p>Just above the town of Lumberville there was a cliff +which rose sheer 200 feet above the level of the river. So +perpendicular was the cliff that a stone dropped from the +overhanging ledge at the top would fall straight down to +the railroad track below without touching a twig in its +course. Back of this broad ledge there was a very peculiar +formation. A column of stone rose abruptly 40 feet higher +and was topped with a large slab about 12 feet in diameter. +This was known all over that region as the Goblins’ Dancing +Platform. The only possible way of gaining the summit +of the column was by climbing a scraggly oak tree which +grew on the high ground back of the pillar, crawling out on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127'></a>127</span> +an overhanging limb, and then dropping down to the platform +below. It was in this oak that we decided to build our +house. It was a very inaccessible spot, and to reach it we +had to make a wide detour around the back of the hill, and +through the fields of a cranky farmer, who more than once +threatened to fill us with bird shot for trespassing on his +property. How were we to carry all our building materials +up to this great height? One would think that the difficulties +would be enough to discourage us, but not so with the +S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I. Nothing daunted us.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Dutchy Takes a Dare.</p> + +<p>Our first task was to try some other approach to the top of +the cliff. At one side of the overhanging ledge there was +a fissure in the rocks which ran from the base of the pillar +to the foot of the cliff. Down this zigzag crevice Dutchy +had scrambled, one afternoon, on a dare. We were rather +frightened when he started, because it was a very hazardous +undertaking, and we watched him anxiously, peering over the +edge of the precipice. By bracing his back against one of +the walls of the rock, and digging his feet into the niches and +chinks of the opposite wall, he safely made his way to a +shelf about half-way down, where he paused to rest. From +that point on the fissure widened out, and a steep, almost +vertical incline, sparsely covered with vegetation, led to the +railroad track below. I think he must have become rather +frightened at his position, because he hesitated long before +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128'></a>128</span> +he resumed his downward course, and when he finally did +make the attempt his foot slipped upon the moss-covered +rocks and down he fell, scratching and clawing at every shrub +within reach. Believing him to be killed, we rushed down +the hill and around to the foot of the cliff. It probably +took us about fifteen or twenty minutes, though it seemed +ages before we came upon our venturesome comrade coolly +trying to pin together a rent of inconvenient location and +dimensions in his trousers.</p> + +<p>“Say, Dutchy, are you killed?” cried Bill, breathlessly.</p> + +<p>“Killed, nothing,” he replied, with scorn. “I suppose +you fellows think I had a fall. Well, I didn’t.”</p> + +<p>“You didn’t, eh? We saw you slip.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, go on. I came down that way on purpose. There +was no use in picking my way down like a ’fraid cat, when I +could just as well take a smooth and easy toboggan slide +on the bushes all the way down.”</p> + +<p>Smooth and easy toboggan slide! Well, you should have +seen the hillside. The course was well defined by the torn +and uprooted shrubs and the pile of branches and vines at +Dutchy’s feet. Whether the hare-brained Dutchy really +imagined he could glide easily down on the shrubbery, his +frantic movements on the way certainly belied his story, +and when, the next day, we proposed that he repeat the trick, +somehow he didn’t seem to be very enthusiastic on the +subject.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i141'></a><img src='images/illus138.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Wichita Indians Building a Straw Hut. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A Path Up the Fissure.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i142'></a><img src='images/fig-133.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 133. The Jacob’s Ladder. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129'></a>129</span>It was up this fissure +that we decided +to haul materials for +our tree hut. Our +first task was to build +steps and ladders in +the steepest parts. We +had no tool for cutting +out niches in the rock, +but wherever natural +depressions were +formed we wedged in +sticks of wood between +the side walls to serve +as ladder rungs. If +no such niches appeared for +considerable height, we +would stretch a rope ladder to +the next fixed rung. In most +places the natural formation +of the rock was such as to +afford sufficient footing.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Rope Ladders.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i143'></a><img src='images/fig-134.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 134. Rope Ladder. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130'></a>130</span>The rope ladders were made of two parallel +side straps, tightly stretched between the fixed +sticks, and then at intervals of fifteen inches we +inserted the ends of the ladder rung between +the strands of the rope. Below and above each +rung the rope was bound with cord. The +rungs were notched at the ends to prevent them from +slipping out.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i144'></a><img src='images/fig-135.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 135. A Ladder Rung. +</p> +</div> + +<p>After providing a means for +scaling the cliff (we called it the +Jacob’s Ladder), we were still +confronted with the problem how to cart our building materials +to the top. It was a very hard task and you couldn’t +have hired us to do it under any other +circumstances. First, Bill planned out on +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i145'></a><img src='images/fig-136.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 136. The Derrick. +</span> +</span> +paper just how the house was to be +built, and we cut all the pieces to the +right size so as not to carry up +any superfluous matter. When +all was ready the boards and +sticks were loaded on the scow, +and ferried over to the cliff. +Then we carried them on our +backs, three or four at a time, +up the slanting hillside to the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131'></a>131</span> +first ledge. From there up, owing to the steepness of the +ascent, we had to employ different tactics.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Derrick.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i146'></a><img src='images/fig-137.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 137. The Derrick in Use. +</p> +</div> + +<p>A derrick was +constructed of two +sticks 10 feet long, which were +bolted together at the top, and +secured about five feet apart at +the bottom by a cross piece, as +shown in Fig. 136. The derrick was +then taken apart and with some difficulty +hauled piecemeal up to the next ledge above. Here it +was put together again. The fall and tackle used in our +aerial railway was attached to the apex of the derrick, and +the latter was then erected with the legs set into depressions +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132'></a>132</span> +in the ledge and the upper ends slanting outward but kept +from falling over the edge by a rope tied to one of the fixed +rungs set in the fissure. With this derrick we hoisted up +the boards in a few hauls. The job was a very ticklish one, +but Bill used the greatest care to prevent accident. The +derrick, rope and tackle were carefully tested before used, +and as soon as the load was attached to the lower pulley +block the two who did the loading were instructed to crawl +back into the fissure so as to be out of danger in case anything +gave way. At one time a stick which had been carelessly +tied did fall, and it might have badly hurt some one +had we not observed this precaution. When we had raised +the material to the second ledge we transferred operations +to the top ledge, and when the materials had been hauled up +to this point we finally rigged up our fall and tackle in the +old oak tree itself.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Tree House.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i147'></a><img src='images/fig-138.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 138. Main Girder of the Tree House. +</p> +</div> + +<p>The tree had two large +limbs which extended out at +a wide angle from the main +trunk. Across these two limbs, +at about seven feet out, we laid +our first girder, nailing it securely in place. Then to the +main trunk we nailed the second girder on a level with the +first. Diagonal braces were extended from the trunk to +support the ends of this girder, and a tie piece was nailed to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133'></a>133</span> +the braces, as shown in Fig. 138, to prevent them from +spreading. The girders were rough sticks about 4 inches in +diameter and 10 feet long. We cut flat faces on them at +the points where they were nailed to the tree, and then, to +make them doubly secured, we nailed cleats, or blocks of +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i148'></a><img src='images/fig-139.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig 139. Top View of the Platform. +</span> +</span> +wood, to the tree under them. The floor beams were then +laid across and nailed to the girders. They were cut to a +length of 10 feet so as to project beyond the outer girder +to provide for a piazza overhanging the Goblins’ Platform. +Six floor beams were used, spaced 20 inches apart. All +branches projecting up between the beams were then cut +away and a flooring of slabs was laid on. To the main +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134'></a>134</span> +trunk six feet above the flooring, a stick or (to use the technical +term), “wall plate,” was nailed on, and its ends were +supported by upright posts resting on the platform. Thirty +inches from the outer end of the platform two more posts +were erected eight feet high and secured by sticks nailed +across from the other posts, and also by a second wall plate +connecting their upper ends. Four more posts were erected, +one between each pair of the corner posts, and then we were +ready to enclose the framing.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i149'></a><img src='images/fig-140.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 140. The Frame of the House. +</p> +</div> + +<p>The sidewalls were first clapboarded, because we were +afraid the roof would not hold us until the framing had been +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135'></a>135</span> +strengthened by nailing on the siding. Slab boards were +used for this purpose. Beginning at the bottom, the boards +were laid on, each lapping over the one below, as shown in +Fig. 141, so as to shed water. In each side we +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i150'></a><img src='images/fig-141.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 141. Nailing on the Clapboards. +</span> +</span> +cut a window opening and nailed on a +window casing of the type shown +in Fig. 142, which will +be described in a +moment. As soon as the +clapboards were applied, +we nailed on the rafters +and then applied the +roofing. The same principle +was here +used for shedding +water. The +lowest board was +first laid on, and then the others were successively applied, +each lapping over the one below.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i151'></a><img src='images/fig-142.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 142. The Window Casing. +</p> +</div> + +<p>The window casings we used +each consisted of a frame about 15 +inches square, but with the upper +and lower pieces extending 12 +inches beyond one of the side +pieces. On these extended pieces +a slideway was formed for the +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i152'></a><img src='images/fig-143.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 143. The Window Sash. +</span> +</span> +window sash by nailing on two strips of wood about 3/4 inch +square and over them a pair of wider strips projecting inward, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136'></a>136</span> +so as to overlap the edges of the sash. The window +sash consisted of a frame 13-1/2 inches square, made of 3/4-inch +square strips over which canvas was tightly stretched +and tacked. A spool was nailed on at one side for a handle. +These windows were closed only in +rainy weather, to keep the water out.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Sliding Doors.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i153'></a><img src='images/fig-144.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 144. Section of<br />the Door and Frame. +</p> +</div> + +<p>We had two doors; one at the back +of the house, from +which a ladder extended +down to the ground, and another +opening out onto the veranda, from +which we dropped a ladder down to the +Goblins’ Dancing Platform. In order +to save space we used sliding instead of +swinging doors. The back door frame +was 5-1/2 feet high and the front door +frame 6 feet high. The doors were +mounted on the outside of the building. +The side posts of each frame were 2-1/2 +feet apart, and the lintel and sill +extended 3 feet beyond the side +post at one side. The upper face +of the lintel was planed down perfectly +smooth, and its edges were +tapered off to make a track for the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137'></a>137</span> +rollers on the door. The rollers consisted of two spools, +which turned on tenpenny nails driven into the top of the +door. At the lower end two more spools were mounted, +turning on nails driven in the bottom edge of the door. The +rims of the spools extended slightly beyond the outer face of +the door and rolled against the sill. To keep the water +from leaking in at the top a slanting board was fastened +above it, as shown in Fig. 144. The back door was similarly +constructed. Our tree house was completed by a running +balustrade around the veranda.</p> + +<p>It strangely happened that just after our tree house had +been built we received a photograph from Uncle Ed of a +Filipino tree house made of bamboo.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i154'></a><img src='images/illus148.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +A Filipino Bamboo Tree House. +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138'></a>138</span><a id='link_12'></a>CHAPTER XII.<br /><span class='h2fs'>TROUBLE WITH THE TRAMPS.</span></h2> + +<p>We were a proud lot when the house was finally completed. +From the veranda we had an excellent view up and down +the river. We could see our camp on the island and keep +watch of our goods. Late one afternoon Dutchy and I +were lolling about on the Goblins’ Platform, idly watching +a hawk soaring above us. The rest of the boys had returned +to the island in canoes an hour before and left the heavy +scow for us to row back. It was drawing near supper time +and we had about decided to start for home, when I chanced +to see a scow up the river. It looked exactly like ours, and +in it were two men, evidently drunk, from the way they +carried on. A glance showed me that our scow was not at its +moorings. How were we to reach the camp? One of the +men had evidently seen us and was pointing us out to his +companion. We rushed down the Jacob’s Ladder, but by +the time we reached the river bank they were in midstream +and heading rapidly northward. Our shouts merely brought +forth derisive laughter. We were certainly in a predicament. +First we ran back up the cliff, and tried from there +to gain the attention of the rest of the fellows. They evidently +saw us but couldn’t make out what we wanted. Then +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139'></a>139</span> +we ran down to a point opposite the island and called to +them. But the wind was against us and we couldn’t make +them hear, so we had to plunge in and wade across.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A Council of War.</p> + +<p>Immediately we summoned a war council. Dutchy and +Jack were chosen by lot to guard the camp, while the rest +of us started in pursuit in canoes. By the time we got under +way the sun had dropped back of the Pennsylvania hills +and the shadows were climbing slowly up the Jacob’s Ladder. +Swiftly we paddled up-stream, keeping close to the western +shore, where the water was very quiet. We didn’t expect +to go far, because there were rapids less than three miles +up, and we were sure that no tramps would ever be ambitious +enough to row a heavy scow against the swift current at that +point. As we rounded a sharp bend in the river, we noticed +a camp fire a few hundred feet further up, around which five +or six men were lounging, and there, just below them, was +our scow. What were four boys to do against six grown +men? We were each armed with a club, and could have +made a pretty good fight if necessary, but after a whispered +consultation we decided it would be best to wait until dark, +when we could creep up quietly and steal away unnoticed +with our boat.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Vengeance.</p> + +<p>It seemed as if darkness never would come. It was +scarcely dusk when our patience gave out and we paddled up +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140'></a>140</span> +stealthily, hugging the shore. Bill gained the scow unnoticed, +but just as he was about to push off he discerned the +body of a man within. It was one of the tramps lying there +in a drunken stupor. What was to be done? Every moment +was precious. A yell from the fireside decided him. With a +mighty push he launched the boat out into the current, while +we threw him a line and towed the boat out to midstream. +With a volley of curses the men sprang up and pelted us with +stones. But they were poor shots, and we escaped without +serious injury. Our prisoner, in the meantime, was snoring +heavily in the scow undisturbed. We took him down-stream +and then unceremoniously picked him up and dumped him +overboard within a few feet of the shore. It was a rude +awakening, and nearly frightened the wits out of the man. +But it brought him to his senses, and in a moment we were +dodging more stones, sent with such good aim that we had +to lie flat in the bottoms of the boats until the current carried +us out of reach.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A Double Surprise.</p> + +<p>It was now quite dark, and we had some difficulty in +groping our way back to camp. There was no moon and +the stars were obscured by clouds. Our only course was to +follow the shore line until we got around the bend, and then +we steered for the beacon fire, which, by prearrangement, +had been kindled on Point Lookout. But the spirit of +mischief was in us. We thought we would have some fun +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141'></a>141</span> +with Dutchy. We could see him silhouetted against the +blaze. Jim and I hung back in the canoes, while Reddy and +Bill went on with the scow, splashing their oars and shouting +and singing in disguised voices, like drunken men. Dutchy +was evidently very much agitated. His “Hello, there! +Boat ahoy!” was greeted with derisive yells.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i155'></a><img src='images/fig-145.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 145. A Joke on Dutchy. +</p> +</div> + +<p>“Say, we’ll lick the life out of you, the same as we did +them other kids,” shouted Reddy.</p> + +<p>This was too much for Dutchy. He ran for all he was +worth, yelling for Jack to come quick.</p> + +<p>We had a merry laugh over the situation when suddenly +the tables were turned. Something whizzed past Bill’s +ear; I was stung on the arm with a heavy nail; a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142'></a>142</span> +large stone hit the scow; Reddy had his hat knocked off, and +Fred upset his canoe trying to duck out of reach of the invisible +missiles before we could make our assailants understand +that we were friends and not the tramps. The joke +was on us after all. We hadn’t counted on Dutchy’s accurate +aim or Jack’s skill with the crossbow.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Tramp-proof Boat Mooring.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i156'></a><img src='images/fig-146.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 146. A Tramp-proof Mooring. +</p> +</div> + +<p>Around the camp fire that night we discussed our adventures +and made plans to prevent their recurrence. It was +evident, for one thing, that we would have to moor our +boats off shore in such a way that they would be out of reach +of meddlesome persons, +and yet could be drawn +in toward shore by any one who knew how. This was the way +we did it. A pair of galvanized iron ring bolts were procured +on Jack’s next trip to Lamington for provisions, also a +light rope about forty feet long. The ring bolts were screwed +into a pair of stout anchor stakes about two feet from their +lower ends. The rope was passed through the rings and the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143'></a>143</span> +ends were joined by tying them to a galvanized iron link. +Then it was soaked for a while to shrink it before it was set +in place. After the rope had shrunk sufficiently, the two +stakes were driven into the bed of the river, one close to the +bank and the other far enough out to hold the rope belt clear +of the bottom. Both stakes were sawed off under water, just +above the ring bolts, so that they were hidden from sight. +When we wanted to moor our boats we secured their anchor +ropes or “painters” to the link. A large stepping stone +marked the spot were the inner stake was driven, and standing +on this stone we were able to reach down and haul in on +the lower strap of the belt to draw the boat out a safe distance +from shore, and then when we wanted to use our boat again +we would haul in the upper strap to draw the boat in +toward shore.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144'></a>144</span><a id='link_13'></a>CHAPTER XIII.<br /><span class='h2fs'>WIGWAGGING AND HELIOGRAPHING.</span></h2> + +<p>Our tramp adventure was really quite a blessing to us, for +it taught us the necessity of a good signaling system between +the Goblins’ Platform and the island and led to our learning +how to wigwag, and later to the construction of a heliograph. +Uncle Ed, when he read of our experience, sent us the U. S. +Army “Manual of Signaling.” Fred, the tailor of our camp, +made us two white flags with red centers. Each flag was +two feet square and was fastened to a light staff about five +feet long. Then we got out the manual and practised sending +signals, at first within shouting distance, until we got to +be quite expert.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Wigwag Signals.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i157'></a><img src='images/fig-147-150.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 147-150. Ready, First Movement, Second Movement, Third Movement. +</p> +</div> + +<p>There were only three different movements that could be +made with flags, but in the book different combinations of +these movements were given to represent each letter of the +alphabet and the numbers from 1 to 0. All these +movements were begun and ended by holding the flagstaff +upright, directly in front of the body, as shown in Fig. 147. +The first movement was to swing the flag down to the right +and back (Fig. 148), the second to the left and back (Fig. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145'></a>145</span> +149), and the third forward and back (Fig. 150). The following +table gives the different combinations used for various +letters:</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 cb'>The Wigwag Alphabet.</p> + +<table summary='wigwag alphabet' class='table1'> +<tr><td align='left'>A</td><td align='right' class='col2'>22</td><td align='left'>J</td><td align='right' class='col4'>1122</td><td align='left'>S</td><td align='right'>212</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>B</td><td align='right' class='col2'>2112</td><td align='left'>K</td><td align='right' class='col4'>2121</td><td align='left'>T</td><td align='right'>2</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>C</td><td align='right' class='col2'>121</td><td align='left'>L</td><td align='right' class='col4'>221</td><td align='left'>U</td><td align='right'>112</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>D</td><td align='right' class='col2'>222</td><td align='left'>M</td><td align='right' class='col4'>1221</td><td align='left'>V</td><td align='right'>1222</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>E</td><td align='right' class='col2'>12</td><td align='left'>N</td><td align='right' class='col4'>11</td><td align='left'>W</td><td align='right'>1121</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>F</td><td align='right' class='col2'>2221</td><td align='left'>O</td><td align='right' class='col4'>21</td><td align='left'>X</td><td align='right'>2122</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>G</td><td align='right' class='col2'>2211</td><td align='left'>P</td><td align='right' class='col4'>1212</td><td align='left'>Y</td><td align='right'>111</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>H</td><td align='right' class='col2'>122</td><td align='left'>Q</td><td align='right' class='col4'>1211</td><td align='left'>Z</td><td align='right'>2222</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>I</td><td align='right' class='col2'>1</td><td align='left'>R</td><td align='right' class='col4'>211</td><td align='left'>tion</td><td align='right'>1112</td></tr> +</table> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 cb'>Numerals.</p> + +<table summary='wigwag numerals' class='table1'> +<tr><td align='left'>1</td><td align='right' class='col2'>1111</td><td align='left'>4</td><td align='right' class='col4'>2221</td><td align='left'>8</td><td align='right'>2111</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2</td><td align='right' class='col2'>2222</td><td align='left'>5</td><td align='right' class='col4'>1122</td><td align='left'>7</td><td align='right'>1221</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3</td><td align='right' class='col2'>1112</td><td align='left'>6</td><td align='right' class='col4'>2211</td><td align='left'>0</td><td align='right'>2112</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='right' class='col2'> </td><td align='left'>7</td><td align='right' class='col4'>1222</td><td align='left'> </td><td align='right'> </td></tr> +</table> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146'></a>146</span>The numbers 1, 2 and 3 indicate respectively the first, second +and third movements. For instance, A was represented +by the combination 22, +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i158'></a><img src='images/fig-151.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 151. The Signal for Letter “B.” +</span> +</span> +which means that the flag +must be swept to the left +and back twice. B is represented +by the combination +2112, that is, a sweep to the +left, two sweeps to the right and a +final sweep to the left, as shown in +Fig. 151. The end of a word was +represented by a sweep forward and +back; the end of a sentence by two +sweeps forward and back, and the end of a message by three +sweeps forward and back. It will be noticed that the same +combinations are used for 2 and Z, 3 and <i>tion</i>, 4 and F, 5 and +J, 6 and G, 7 and V, 9 and M, and 0 and B. The following +abbreviations were given in the Manual:</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 cb'>Abbreviations.</p> + +<table summary='abbreviations' class='table1'> +<tr><td align='left'>a</td><td align='right' class='col2'>after</td><td align='left'>n</td><td align='right' class='col4'>not</td><td align='left'>ur</td><td align='right'>your</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>b</td><td align='right' class='col2'>before</td><td align='left'>r</td><td align='right' class='col4'>are</td><td align='left'>w</td><td align='right'>word</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>c</td><td align='right' class='col2'>can</td><td align='left'>t</td><td align='right' class='col4'>the</td><td align='left'>wi</td><td align='right'>with</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>h</td><td align='right' class='col2'>have</td><td align='left'>u</td><td align='right' class='col4'>you</td><td align='left'>y</td><td align='right'>yes</td></tr> +</table> + +<p>These abbreviations saved a lot of time, for when we +wanted to signal the word <i>after</i> instead of spelling it out–22-2221-2-12-211-3–we +used the signal for A–22–followed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147'></a>147</span> +by 3 to signify that it was the end of the word. Before +was represented by 2112-3, <i>your</i> by 111-211-3, etc. It took +quite a little practice to learn the different combinations. +Fred and Reddy soon became experts, and could flash the +signals back and forth at a great rate.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Wigwagging at Night.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i159'></a><img src='images/fig-152.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 152.<br />Wigwagging at<br />Night. +</p> +</div> + +<p>At night we used a torch in place of a +flag. The torch consisted of a roll of +dried birch bark tied with wire to the +end of a staff. It was found necessary +to place another torch on the ground directly +in front of the signaler so as to fix +a central point and enable one to determine +whether the moving torch was +swung to the left or right. A later improvement +was to use three lanterns, +one in each hand and one attached to the +waist to fix the central position. It was +quite an advantage to have a lantern in +each hand, for it saved changing over from one to the other +when a second movement followed a first or a first movement +a second.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Heliograph.</p> + +<p>The book that Uncle Ed sent us had in it a description of +a heliograph, that is, an instrument for sending signals with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148'></a>148</span> +flashes of sunlight. Although our wigwagging system was +good enough for our requirements, yet we thought it would +be more scientific to use the sun instrument, and besides, the +latter could be used for signaling many miles.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Single Mirror Instrument.</p> + +<p>The first thing we did was to procure a small mirror about +4 inches square, mounted in a wooden frame. Then we got +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i160'></a><img src='images/fig-153.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 153. Trunnion for Mirror. +</span> +</span> +a pair of small square head bolts about 1/4 of an inch in +diameter and 1 inch long, also two strips of brass 1/2 inch +wide and 3 inches long. In the center of each brass strip we +drilled a hole just large enough to admit the shank of one +of the bolts, and then the strips were fastened with screws +tight against opposite edges of the mirror +frame, with the heads pressed against the +frame and the shanks sticking out at each +side, as shown in Fig. 153. These projecting +shanks served as “trunnions” +(that is, pivots) for the mirror to turn on +when it was mounted in place. After the +trunnions had been set in place we made a +peep hole in the center of the mirror by cutting +out a piece of the wooden back of the +frame and scratching away the silver from +the back of the glass. Only a very small hole was required, +about 1/8 inch in diameter. Great care was taken to have +the unsilvered spot exactly on a line with the trunnions and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149'></a>149</span> +just half-way between them. This done, we took two sticks +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i161'></a><img src='images/fig-154.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 154. The Single Mirror Instrument. +</span> +</span> +of 3/8-inch wood, 1 inch wide and 3-1/2 inches long. In +the upper end of each stick a slot was cut 1/2 inch deep and +1/4 inch wide. Into these slots the trunnions +of the mirror were +placed, and then the +nuts were screwed +tightly on, clamping +the sticks against +the sides of the +mirror. The sticks +were now connected +by nailing a 1/2-inch strip +at the bottom, and braced +by a couple of corner pieces. +This formed a swiveled frame +for the mirror, which was clamped +to the base of the instrument by +means of a bolt 1-1/2 inches long. +The bolt passed through the bottom board of the frame, +squarely under the peep hole of the mirror and through the +baseboard of the instrument near one end. The baseboard +was 2 inches wide, 10 inches long and 3/4 inch thick.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Sight Rod.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150'></a>150</span>At the end opposite to where the mirror frame was +swiveled we mounted a sight rod, which was merely a round +stick of wood 1/2 inch in diameter and about 8 inches long. +We cut the stick from one of the rounds +of an old broken chair. The upper end +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i162'></a><img src='images/fig-155.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 155. The Sight Rod. +</span> +</span> +of the rod was whittled to a point and one +side was flattened as shown in Fig. 155. +Out of a piece of heavy white cardboard +we cut a round disk about 1/4 inch in +diameter, with a shank 1 inch long sticking +out at one side. This was fastened with a +single tack to the flattened end of the rod +in such a position that the point lay exactly against the center +of the disk. The disk could then be turned up or down, to +cover or uncover the point of the rod, as desired. The rod +was fitted snugly into a hole in the +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i163'></a><img src='images/fig-156.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 156. Nut Set in Baseboard. +</span> +</span> +baseboard, and could be raised +or lowered to any extent desired, +but we had to provide some sort +of an arrangement for making it +stay where it was put. A small +hole was drilled from the edge of the baseboard through to +the hole in which the rod was fitted. A square socket was +chiseled out around the small hole to receive a nut. The nut +was firmly wedged in and held in place by driving in nails +along the edges. A bolt or machine screw was threaded +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151'></a>151</span> +through the nut, so that its inner end pressed against the +sighting rod. By tightening this screw the rod could be secured +at any height desired.</p> + +<p>The instrument was mounted on a tripod similar to the +one used for our surveying instrument. To this it was attached +by means of a bolt, which passed through the center +of the baseboard and the tripod head.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Screen.</p> + +<p>The screen, or shutter, of the heliograph was mounted on +a separate tripod, so as to prevent shaking the mirror when +it was operated. It was made something like a window +shutter. We cut out two slats, each 2-1/2 inches wide and 6 +inches long. They were made of hardwood 3/8 inch thick. +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i164'></a><img src='images/fig-157.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 157. Section through Shutter. +</span> +</span> +The upper and lower edges were tapered +down to a thickness of 3/16 inch. Light +nails were driven into the slats at the ends, +and the nail heads were then filed off so +that the projecting ends formed trunnions +for the slats to turn on. The slats were +linked to a connecting rod with double +point tacks. A small double point tack +was driven into the upper edge of each +slat about 1/2 inch from the right +hand end. Then through each of +these tacks we hooked a second double +point tack and drove it into the rod. +The tacks on the rod were placed just 2 inches apart. A +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152'></a>152</span> +substantial frame was then made of 3/4-inch stuff 1-1/2 inches +wide. The frame was square, with an opening that measured +6 inches each way, into which the slats were fitted. Before +nailing the frame together we drilled holes in the side pieces +for the trunnions of the slats to turn in. These holes were +just 1-3/4 inches apart. After the slats had been set in place, +the frame was fastened together and then nailed to a baseboard, +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i165'></a><img src='images/fig-158.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 158. General View of Screen. +</span> +</span> +which was fastened +by a bolt to the +tripod. The shutter +was operated by a key +something like a +telegraph key. It +was made of a narrow +stick of wood +hinged at one end to +the lower strip of +the shutter frame, +and a spool sawed +in two was fastened +to the other +end to serve as a +handle for the +key. A string +connected the key with the connecting rod. The slats were +kept closed by a spring, which was fastened at one end to the +connecting rod and at the other to the top of the frame. At +first we used a rubber band for this purpose, but it soon +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153'></a>153</span> +wore out, so we then made a spiral spring out of stiff spring +brass wire by wrapping it around a pencil. When the key +was pressed down the slats would be turned open, as shown +in Fig. 159; but as soon as the key was released the spring +would pull them back again.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Focusing the Instrument.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i166'></a><img src='images/fig-159.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 159. The Heliograph in Operation. +</p> +</div> + +<p>We were now ready to commence operations with our +instruments. The heliograph was set up on the ledge at the +top of the cliff. First the disk was turned down, uncovering +the point of the sighting rod. Then Bill sighted through the +unsilvered spot in the mirror and shifted the rod up and +down until the tip end came squarely in line with the door of +our straw hut, where Jack was seated, notebook in hand, +to take down our message. Reddy stood by him with his +wigwag flag to answer back. When the instrument was +properly sighted the shutter was set up directly in front of +it and the sighting disk turned up to cover the point of the +sighting rod. Then came the rather troublesome task of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154'></a>154</span> +focusing the mirror. The mirror reflected a square panel of +light, in the center of which there was a small shadow spot +made by the unsilvered peep hole. The object was to get +this shadow to fall on the center of the sighting disk. We +knew that then the mirror would reflect the sunlight squarely +on the straw hut. We found it quite easy to direct this +shadow spot to the disk by holding a sheet of paper in front +of the mirror six or eight inches away, and following up the +spot on the paper until it reached the disk.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Heliograph Signaling.</p> + +<p>When at last we succeeded in properly focusing the mirror +Bill pressed the key down three times, sending three quick +flashes to Jack as a signal that he was ready to begin. Reddy +wigwagged back O. K., and then the first heliographic +message was sent from the ledge to +the island. It was a rather mixed-up +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i167'></a><img src='images/fig-160.png ' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 160. Top View, showing position of Mirror and Shutter. +</span> +</span> +message, and +kept Jim and +Reddy wigwagging +back and +forth very +strenuously to +straighten matters +out. It was my duty to keep the mirror focused. As the +sun moved across the sky the shadow spot would move off the +disk, and I had to keep shifting the mirror to bring the spot +back where it belonged. We used the International Telegraph +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155'></a>155</span> +Code, which we had been studying every evening for a week, +but it was many weeks before we learned how to use it +correctly, even slowly. The International Telegraph Code +is as follows:</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_illus168'></a><img src='images/illus-168.png' alt='' /> +</div> + +<p>The three short flashes Bill sent represented the letter S, +which stood for the word “signal.” A was formed by a +short flash followed by a long flash; B by a long flash followed +by three short ones, and so on. The key was held +down three times as long for the long flash as for the short +one. We found the best way of learning to send the signals +properly was to count 1 for each short flash, and for each +pause between parts of the letter, and 3 for each dash and +for each pause between letters. Between words we counted +6. Thus, for the letter A the key would be down when we +counted 1, up when we counted 2, down while we counted +3, 4, 5, and up while we counted 6, 7, 8, for the pause after +each letter. It was rather a confusing code, I admit, but in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156'></a>156</span> +time we mastered it, all but Reddy and Fred, who never +would learn, but instead used the wigwag code, letting a +short flash stand for 1, a long flash for 2 and a double long +flash for 3.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Double Mirror Instrument.</p> + +<p>Our heliographing instrument did excellent service sending +flashes from the cliff to the island, but we couldn’t make +it work very well sending messages from the island to the +cliff, because we had to face almost due north, and then the +sun was nearly always at our backs and couldn’t shine squarely +on the mirror. This led to our building a double mirrored +heliograph the following summer. To begin with, we built +an instrument which was the exact duplicate of our first +heliograph; then, in addition, to fit in the socket of the sighting +rod, we rigged up a second mirror, which was mounted +in exactly the same way as the first. The second mirror was +called the station mirror, and differed from the other, or sun +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i168'></a><img src='images/fig-161.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 161. The Double Mirror Instrument. +</span> +</span> +mirror, in having a +small patch of white +paper pasted at the +center instead of a +peep hole. When +using this instrument, +we set it up so that the station +mirror faced the ledge, then +by sighting through the hole +in the sun mirror at the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157'></a>157</span> +reflection in the station mirror we could see just what was +in focus. The station mirror had to be moved until the patch +at its center hid the ledge from view. After that the sun +mirror was shifted until the shadow spot fell on the white +patch of the station mirror. When once the station mirror +was focused, it could be clamped tightly in place by screwing +up the trunnion and swivel nuts. But the sun mirror had to +be constantly shifted to keep the shadow on the patch. Another +way of focusing the mirrors was to stand behind the +instrument with the head close to the station mirror, shift the +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i169'></a><img src='images/fig-162.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 162. Top View, showing position of the<br />Two Mirrors and the Screen. +</span> +</span> +sun mirror until the entire station +mirror was reflected in it, with +the white patch +squarely over the +unsilvered spot; +then still looking +at the sun mirror, +the station mirror +was shifted until +the reflection of the distant station was brought squarely in +line with the unsilvered spot on the mirror. The station +mirror was now firmly bolted and the sun mirror adjusted +until the shadow spot fell on the paper patch.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158'></a>158</span><a id='link_14'></a>CHAPTER XIV.<br /><span class='h2fs'>ICE BOATS, SLEDGES AND TOBOGGANS.</span></h2> + +<p>As our vacation was drawing to a close, we began to make +plans for the Christmas holidays. Our previous Christmas +vacation had been so completely taken up with preparations +for the trip to Willow Clump Island that we had had no +time for the trip itself. We resolved this time to have +everything ready beforehand, so that we could spend the entire +two weeks in solid pleasure. Our skate sails and snow +shoes were stored in the attic, ready for use. If we were to +make a trip in the snow we would need a sledge, and then, +too, we wanted to make an ice boat. It would hardly pay +to build these on the island and then cart them home, so it +was decided to break up camp a couple of weeks before +school commenced.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Breaking Camp.</p> + +<p>Consequently, on the first day of September we gathered +up our belongings, corraled our chickens, packed our goods, +and the next day started for home. Mr. Schreiner, in response +to a letter from the secretary, came down with a +large wagon in which the majority of the things were packed. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159'></a>159</span> +The rest of our luggage was stowed in the scow and the +canoes, and these were towed down the canal, as before. +We reached home late in the afternoon, tired and hungry. +It was a treat to sit at the table again and eat some of +Mother’s appetizing dishes. And say, wasn’t that pie great, +though! My, how ravenous we were! And then a soft, +comfortable bed with spotless white sheets and pillow cases. +How soundly we did sleep that night! You can just bet +we were all glad enough to get back to civilization, though, +of course, no one could have dragged out the confession +from a single one of us.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Ice Boat.</p> + +<p>School commenced on the 20th of September that year, +so we hadn’t much time to spare. Work was begun immediately +on the ice boat. Our first ice boat was rather a +crude one. A 2 by 4 inch scantling 14 feet long was +used for the backbone of the boat. The scantling was +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i170'></a><img src='images/fig-163.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 163. The Backbone. +</span> +</span> +placed on edge, and to lighten it and improve its appearance +it was tapered fore and aft from a point 4 feet from the bow +end. The thickness of the ends of the backbone was but 2 +inches, as shown in Fig. 163. To the under edge of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160'></a>160</span> +backbone, 5 feet from the forward end, a crosspiece was +nailed. This crosspiece was a 1-inch board 6 inches wide +and 9 feet long. Braces were then +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i171'></a><img src='images/fig-164.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 164. Frame of the Ice Boat. +</span> +</span> +run from the ends of the crosspiece +to the forward +and rear ends of +the backbone, and +at the rear end +several boards nailed +across the braces served as a +seat for the boat.</p> + +<p>Our next task was to rig up the runners. For these we +used skates, which were so arranged that we could remove +them whenever we wanted to. Three blocks of wood were +used for the runner shoes. Two of +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i172'></a><img src='images/fig-165.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 165. Runner Shoe. +</span> +</span> +them were cut from a 2 by 4 scantling +and measured a foot in length. The +third block was only 1 inch thick, but +was otherwise of the same dimensions. The skates were +laid face downward on the blocks with the clamping levers +open; then we marked the places where the clamping jaws +touched the wood and drilled holes at these points. The +forward end of each block was also tapered off to fit flat +against the face of the skate. Then by inserting the jaws +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i173'></a><img src='images/fig-166.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 166. The Rudder Shoe. +</span> +</span> +in the holes and closing +the levers, the +skate was clamped to +the block, just as it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161'></a>161</span> +would be to a shoe. The two 2-inch blocks were bolted to +the ends of the crosspiece, but the third block needed further +attention, as it was to be used for the rudder or steering +runner.</p> + +<p>The rudder post was shaped from a block of hardwood +3 inches square and 10 inches long. Two inches from the +lower end saw cuts were made in +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i174'></a><img src='images/fig-167.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 167. The Tiller. +</span> +</span> +the side of the block to a depth of +3/4 inch. Then with a chisel the +sides were split off, forming a large +pin with a square shank 8 inches long. Next the corners of +the shank were cut off, rounding it to a diameter of 1-1/2 +inches. The runner block was fastened securely to the head of +the rudder post with screws. A 1-1/2-inch hole was now drilled +into the backbone at the stern end to receive the rudder post. +A tiller was next cut out of a 1-inch board to the shape +shown in Fig. 167. A slot was +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i175'></a><img src='images/fig-168.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 168. Drilling the Mast Step. +</span> +</span> +cut in the end of the tiller, and the +latter fitted snugly over the top of the +post, where it was held in place by +screws threaded in through the sides.</p> + +<p>The mast of our boat was a pole +8 feet long, tapering from a diameter +2 inches at the base to 1-1/2 inches at the top. A step for the +mast was cut from a 2 by 4 block 8 inches long. A 2-inch +hole was drilled into the face of this block. We had no drill +large enough to bore this hole, but accomplished the same +result by drilling eight 1/2-inch holes inside of a 2-inch circle +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162'></a>162</span> +(Fig. 168), and then used a chisel to cut off the projecting +pieces. The mast step was firmly bolted to the backbone +at its thickest part, that is, just four feet +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i176'></a><img src='images/fig-169.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 169. The Mainsail. +</span> +</span> +from the forward end. The mast +was braced with stay ropes +stretched from the top to the +forward end of the backbone +and to the ends of the crosspiece. +A 9-foot pole, +tapering from 1-1/2 inches +to 1 inch in diameter, +was used for the +boom of the +mainsail, and for +the gaff we used +a 6-foot pole of +the same diameter.</p> + +<p>The dimensions of the mainsail are given in Fig. 169. +For mast hoops we used curtain rings. Five were attached +to the sail along the luff, and one was fastened with a piece +of leather to the end of the gaff. We used a different scheme +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i177'></a><img src='images/fig-170.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 170. Jaws of the Boom. +</span> +</span> +for holding the boom to the +mast. The forward end of +the boom was flattened at the +sides and a couple of cheek +blocks were bolted on, forming +jaws of the shape indicated in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163'></a>163</span> +Fig. 170. The jaws were whittled out to fit nicely around +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i178'></a><img src='images/fig-171.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 171. A Cleat. +</span> +</span> +the mast, and were kept from slipping off by a piece of rope +passed around the mast and threaded through the ends of +the cheek blocks. Half a dozen small pulley blocks were +now procured, of the type used on awnings. A rope called +the throat halyard was strung from the throat or forward end +of the gaff through a pulley block near the top of the mast, +and led down to the backbone, where it was “belayed,” or +wrapped around a cleat. The cleat, which was whittled out +of a stick of wood, was made in the +form indicated in Fig. 171. A short +length of rope was strung through a +pulley block and tied with some slack +to the upper end and to the center of +the gaff. This rope is called a +“bridle,” and to the pulley block on +this “bridle” a rope was attached called the “peak halyard.” +The peak halyard was passed through a pulley +block at the top of the mast, and belayed on a cleat at the +side of the backbone. For the main sheet (that is, the rope +used for guiding the mainsail) two pulley blocks were +fastened to the backbone, one just in front of the seat and +the other a few feet further forward, and two more were +lashed to the boom, midway between these blocks. The +sheet was fastened near the aft end of the backbone and then +strung through the blocks in the order illustrated, the free +end of the sheet being brought back to the seat, where a cleat +was provided, to which it could be secured when desired.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i179'></a><img src='images/fig-172.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 172. The Jib-sail. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164'></a>164</span>The jib-sail was now cut out to the dimensions given in +Fig. 172. The foot of the sail was lashed to a jib-boom +3 feet 4 inches long. The jib-boom was attached +to the backbone at its fore end by means of a +couple of screw eyes. The eye of one of +these was pried open, linked through the +other and then closed again. One of +the screw eyes was now screwed into +the head of the jib-boom and the other +was threaded into the end of the backbone. +The upper corner or “head” +of the jib was tied to a jib-halyard, which passed through a +block at the top of the mast, and was secured on a cleat on the +backbone. On the jib we used two sheets. They were attached +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i180'></a><img src='images/fig-173.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 173. The Ice Boat Completed. +</span> +</span> +to the end of the jib-boom and passed on opposite +sides of the mast through +blocks on the crosspiece to +the stern of the boat, +where separate cleats +were provided for +them.</p> + +<p>This completed +our +ice boat, +and a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165'></a>165</span> +very pretty little boat she was. It was with great reluctance +that we furled the sails, unstepped the mast, and stowed +away the parts in our attic until old Jack Frost should wake +up and furnish us with a field of smooth ice.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Sledge.</p> + +<p>Our sledge was patterned after a picture of one used by +Peary in one of his Arctic expeditions. First we got four +strips of hickory 1 inch thick, 1-1/2 inches wide and 8 feet +long for the runners and side rails. Beginning 18 inches +from the ends, each stick was tapered gradually to a thickness +of 1/2 an inch. Then we made eight spreaders or +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i181'></a><img src='images/fig-174.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 174. A Spacing Block. +</span> +</span> +spacing blocks, each 1-1/2 inches +thick, 2-1/2 inches wide and 11 +inches long. In each end a notch +1/2 inch deep was cut to receive the +runners and side rails. In the edge +of each block, midway of its length, +a slot 1 inch deep was cut to receive the cross sticks of the +sledge. First we nailed the runners and rails to the blocks, +fastening them with screws, spacing the blocks 16 inches +from the ends, and 20 inches apart from center to center. +Then we bent the ends of the rails and runners together, +fastening them with bolts, as in Fig. 175. Four crosspieces, +or floor beams, were cut out of a 1-inch board, each 2 inches +wide and 30 inches long. These were fitted into the slots +in the space blocks and secured with screws. A cross stick +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166'></a>166</span> +was also fastened between the rails and runners at the forward +end. On the floor beams we nailed a flooring of +1/2-inch slats, 2 inches wide and 6 feet long. At the rear +end these slats projected 8 inches beyond the last space block +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i182'></a><img src='images/fig-175.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 175. The Runners and Rails Spaced Apart. +</span> +</span> +and over them a cross slat was nailed. A stick of hickory +4-1/2 feet long was soaked in hot water, as described on page +39, and was bent to an U-shape. The ends were then fitted +over the first cross stick, and under the first floor supports, +and securely nailed in place. Another stick of hickory 6 +feet long was similarly bent, and the ends slipped over the +rear cross slats and fitted against the rear space blocks, in +which position the stick was securely nailed.</p> + +<p>It was our intention to shoe the runners +with strips of brass, but these were not +procurable in our village, and we had no time to go down to +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i183'></a><img src='images/fig-176.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 176. The Sledge. +</span> +</span> +Millville. However, the village blacksmith came to our +rescue and shod our sledge with sleigh runner iron.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167'></a>167</span>We had planned to make two more devices for our winter +sports–a toboggan and a peculiar looking contrivance called +a “rennwolf,” a picture of which Dutchy happened to unearth +in one of his father’s books. Unfortunately Bill and +I had to return to school before either of these was completed. +However, the work was entrusted to Reddy, who +was quite handy with tools, and Jack, who was made secretary +<i>pro tempore</i>, took notes on the work.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Toboggan.</p> + +<p>The toboggan was made of light flexible hickory boards, +1/4 of an inch thick, 6 inches wide and 8 feet long. Three +of these boards were used, and they were fastened together +with cross sticks or battens, about 3 inches wide and 1/2 an +inch thick. There were six of these battens spaced about +15 inches apart, and secured to the floor boards with flathead +screws introduced from the under side and countersunk so +that the heads would not project below the bottom of the +toboggan. At the forward end we screwed on a head piece +of oak, 3/4 of an inch thick, 1-1/2 inches wide and 20 inches +long. The head piece was fastened to the under side of the +boards, so that when they were curved up into a hood it +would lie on top. The ends of the head piece, which projected +1 inch each side of the boards, were notched to hold +the rope, which was tied fast after the boards had been +steamed. The boards were steamed by wrapping them in +burlap for a distance of 2 feet from the forward end, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168'></a>168</span> +pouring boiling water over them, as was done with the +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i184'></a><img src='images/fig-177.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 177. Tying Down the Head Piece of the Toboggan. +</span> +</span> +snow shoes (page 39). Before bending the boards we had +fixed screw eyes in the ends of each batten, except the forward +one; a rope had been strung +through these screw eyes and the +ends were now tied to the head piece and drawn tight so as +to bend the boards into a graceful curve. In this way the +ropes were of service not only for curving the front end into +a hood, but also for side rails, to hold on by when shooting +swiftly around curves.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i185'></a><img src='images/fig-178.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 178. The Toboggan. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Rennwolf.</p> + +<p>The runners of the rennwolf were made of hickory strips, +1 inch thick, 2 inches wide and 8 +feet long. At their forward ends +these strips were tapered down to a thickness of 1/2 an +inch and curved upward. About 30 inches from the rear +end of each runner an upright post was nailed. The post +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169'></a>169</span> +was 3 feet long and was braced by a diagonal +brace 24 inches long, as shown in +Fig. 179. A tie bar was nailed to the +post about 6 or 8 inches from the bottom and connected with +the forward curved end of the runner.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i186'></a><img src='images/fig-179.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 179. Dimensions of Rennwolf. +</p> +</div> + +<p>The two runners were now placed parallel to each other +about 18 inches apart, and connected by four cross bars, one +at the forward end, and three on the upright posts, in about +the positions illustrated. The upper cross bar was extended +6 inches beyond the posts at each side, and served as a handle +for guiding the queer craft. An 18-inch square board was +used for the seat of the rennwolf. It rested on the second +cross-bar of the post about 12 inches from the runners, and +the forward end was supported on legs nailed to the tie bars. +On each runner back of the posts a loop of leather was nailed, +large enough to receive the toe of one shoe.</p> + +<p>When using this odd sled one foot would rest on the runner +with the toe in the strap, and by kicking out against the +snow or ice with the other foot the rennwolf would be made +to spin along at a rapid rate. Of course, when coasting both +feet would rest on the runners and the sled was steered by +an occasional side push at the right or left. Owing to the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170'></a>170</span> +great length of the runners the rennwolf would easily ride +over uneven surfaces and thin spots in the ice.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i187'></a><img src='images/fig-180.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 180. The Rennwolf in Use. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Ice Creepers.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i188'></a><img src='images/fig-181.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 181. The Ice Creeper. +</p> +</div> + +<p>In order to provide a better hold for the propelling foot, +we fastened around the toe a strap of leather, through which +a number of long tacks projected. Their sharp points +would stick into the ice, and prevent the foot from slipping. +The seat of the rennwolf was convenient for carrying a coat +or any light luggage, and it was often used to give a friend +a very exhilarating ride.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171'></a>171</span><a id='link_15'></a>CHAPTER XV.<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE SUBTERRANEAN CLUB.</span></h2> + +<p>I am afraid we were not very glad to get back to school +that fall. It seemed very hard to give up the sport we had +been having, and our heads were brimful of new schemes +which we could hardly wait to put into practice. But we +soon learned that there are many things that could be done +during recreation hours at school. We had intended building +a cave on our island that summer, but our vacation came +to an end before we got around to it. There seemed no +reason why we shouldn’t dig one in the woods at the back +of the schoolhouse.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A Cave-in.</p> + +<p>Bill had read somewhere that if you dig a cave under a +tree the roots of the tree will support the ground on top and +make a natural and substantial roof. It sounded very +reasonable, we thought; in fact, we never questioned the truth +of the statement, because we had somehow gotten the notion +that books were never wrong, and that whatever was set up +in type must surely be so. But events proved that the man +who wrote that book had never attempted to build a cave +in the manner he described, at least not in the loose, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172'></a>172</span> +sandy soil of south Jersey. A large spreading cedar was +selected as the tree which should support the roof of our +cave. It was situated on a mound at the edge of the woods. +First a passageway, or ditch, was dug at the bottom, and +then we begun tunneling in the side of the mound under the +roots of the tree. For a while the ground above held, and +our tunnel had reached a length of about four feet, when +suddenly, without the slightest warning, the sandy soil gave +way and we were engulfed. Bill, who was furthest within +the cave, was almost entirely covered, while I was buried to +the shoulders. A crowd of boys came to our assistance and +dug us out. Poor Bill was almost smothered before they +scooped the sand away from around his mouth and nose. +The boys made slow work of it, having to dig with their +hands and a couple of shingles, because the two spades we +had were buried with us at the bottom of the cave.</p> + +<p>Of course, this little episode gave us a scare, but it was +only temporary. We swore every one to secrecy, so that +Mr. Clark, the principal, wouldn’t hear of the mishap and +suppress any further cave building. It was obvious that the +only roof we could depend on for our cave would be a +wooden roof. If we had been at Willow Clump Island we +would have gotten any amount of slabs from the lumber +mills across the river.</p> + +<p>One of our schoolmates, a day scholar, came to the rescue. +His name was Chester Hill, a little bit of a chap, about the +shortest for his age that I have ever seen. His name was +so at variance to his size that we called him “Hillock,” for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173'></a>173</span> +short. Now Hillock lived on a farm about eight miles from +school, and used to drive in every day on a farm wagon. +He had helped us dig the cave under the cedar tree, and +when he learned that we would need some lumber to build a +safe cave, he told us that he had an uncle who owned a +lumber mill on the Morris River, from whom he was sure +we could get all the slabs we wanted. Of course, we were +delighted, and laid our plans for an elaborate cave house. +Hillock promised to be on hand on the following Saturday +afternoon with his load of lumber.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Excavating for the Cave.</p> + +<p>We immediately set out to make the necessary excavation. +The side of a bushy knoll was chosen as a suitable site. First +we carefully transplanted the bushes that grew in the square +we had marked out for the cave, and cutting the sod into +squares, piled it all neatly to one side. Then we shoveled +away the top-soil and heaped it up for future use. After +that we dug away the sandy subsoil. The cave proper we +planned to make about 8 feet by 10 feet, with a passageway 2 +feet wide and 6 feet long, leading in from a large bush at the +base of the knoll. Our excavation was therefore somewhat +T-shaped (see Fig. 182). At the deepest part we had to +dig down about 10 feet.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i189'></a><img src='images/fig-182.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 182. Excavation for the Cave. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174'></a>174</span>The digging was all done by Saturday, when Hillock +pulled up with a big load of slabs. Slabs are a very unsatisfactory +kind of wood for most purposes. Being the outside +cut, they are usually very irregular and weak in spots. In +many places they are almost clear bark. Of course, had our +pocketbooks permitted, we would have used stout scantlings +for the corner posts of our cave house and substantial boards +for the walls, roof and flooring, but we had to be content +with materials at hand. Eight of the best slabs were selected +for our corner posts; four of them we cut to the length of +8 feet and the others to a length of 6 feet. The long slabs +were set up at the rear of the cave, two at each corner, one +flat against the rear wall, with its edge buried in the corner, +and the other against the side wall, with its edge tight against +the rear slab, as in Fig. 183. The same was done at the +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i190'></a><img src='images/fig-183.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 183. Framework of the Cave. +</span> +</span> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175'></a>175</span> +forward corners +with the shorter +slabs. A couple +of slabs were now +set up on each +side of the +passageway, and +a corresponding +pair against the +rear wall. The +upper and lower ends of the uprights were then connected +with slabs, called stringpieces.</p> + +<p>The sides were now boarded up with upright slabs nailed +to the stringpieces. An opening 3 feet 6 inches high was left +in the forward wall for a passageway. Several slabs were +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i191'></a><img src='images/fig-184.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 184. The Siding and Flooring. +</span> +</span> +now placed on the edge across the bottom of the cave, to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176'></a>176</span> +serve as floor beams, upon which a flooring of slabs was +laid. Next the rafters were set in place, one on each upright +slab. Slots were cut in the ends of the uprights to receive +the rafters, which were slabs placed on edge. As the forward +uprights were 2 feet shorter than the rear ones, the +rafters were given a good slant, so that the roof would +properly shed any water that might soak in through the +ground above.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i192'></a><img src='images/fig-185.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 185. Notching in the Rafters. +</p> +</div> + +<p>The roof was laid +on the same way that +we had made the roof +of our tree house; that +is, a slab was first +nailed at the forward +end of the rafters with +its edge projecting far +enough to make a good eave; then the second slab was nailed +on, with its edge overlapping the first, and a third with its +edge overlapping the second, and so on with the rest. At +the rear end of the roof a hole was cut, into which we fitted +a piece of stovepipe. We didn’t plan to have a fire in the +house, but set the stovepipe in place to provide the necessary +ventilation. As the pipe had an elbow in it, there was no +danger of rain or dirt falling through it. The upper end of +the stovepipe was concealed among some rocks at the top +of the knoll.</p> + +<p>A suitable flooring was now laid in the passageway, and +the sides were boarded up to a height of 2 feet from the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177'></a>177</span> +floor at the entrance to a height of 3 feet 6 inches at the +inner end. A roof of slabs was nailed on, and then we were +ready to cover our slab house with dirt.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Covering the Cave.</p> + +<p>We avoided piling on the dirt very deep, because there +was danger of breaking in the roof with a heavy load. A +thin layer of sand covered with the top-soil brought up the +level to about that of the rest of the knoll. Then the sod +was laid back in place and well watered, and the few bushes +planted back in their original positions. Our sodding should +have been done in the spring for best results. The frost soon +killed the grass, and the bushes withered away. But a few +cents’ worth of grass seed was sowed in, and in time gave +the knoll a very natural appearance. A bush at the bottom +concealed the entrance of the cave, so that no one who was +not in the secret would have suspected that beneath that +innocent looking knoll were gathered the members of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178'></a>178</span> +“Big Bug Club.”</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Big Bug Club.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i193'></a><img src='images/fig-186.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 186. A Section through the Completed Cave. +</p> +</div> + +<p>Of course, we had to organize a secret society, to occupy +our subterranean dwelling. In that I fear we overstepped +the rules of the school. Of course, Mr. Clark knew of our +cave, in fact he visited us there once, lowering his dignity +sufficiently to squeeze into the narrow passageway, and +playing Bill a game of chess at our club table. He seemed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179'></a>179</span> +quite pleased with our work, and complimented us very +highly on the masterful way in which we had built the underground +house. We told him that we had organized a club +of the older fellows to play indoor games and have occasional +spreads, but we did not tell him that most of our spreads +were held at the dead of night, when there was no moon and +the stars were hidden by clouds. At 10 o’clock each night +the bell rang for us to turn out our lights, and after that the +six members would each, in turn, keep a half-hour watch, that +is, first one would sit up and try to keep awake for half an +hour, after which he would waken the next fellow, who at +the end of a half hour would rouse the third, and so on, until +1 o’clock, when the sixth watcher would wake up the entire +club. Then we would all creep out the back window in the +hall, onto the roof of the rear annex of the schoolhouse, and +thence climb down a rope ladder to the ground.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Midnight Banquets.</p> + +<p>I suppose we could have just as easily have tiptoed downstairs +and out the back door, but it would have spoiled the +romance of it all. The absolute stillness and the pitch-black +darkness of the night were awe-inspiring. The roll of a +pebble or the crack of a twig under foot would set us all +atingle as we stole out to our cave house. Sometimes the +night was so black that we could hardly find the entrance of +the cave. Once inside, in the light of a few candles, the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180'></a>180</span> +nervous tension was relieved, and we reveled in a banquet +of cold victuals and dainties, purchased out of the monthly +club dues. Our meetings in the cave lasted scarcely half an +hour. In fact, the meeting, and even the banquet, were mere +incidentals. The main enjoyment consisted in stealing out +to the cave and back again, always at the risk of getting +caught. Usually when we got to bed again we would be too +excited to fall asleep right away, and when we did finally +drop off our sleep was so sound that several times the breakfast +bell caught one or more of us still napping.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Club Pin.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i194'></a><img src='images/fig-187.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 187. The Club Pin. +</p> +</div> + +<p>The only other charm our secret club +afforded was the wearing of a mysterious +club pin. It was a silver beetle, with the +letter G engraved on the head and the letter +B on the body, while down the center of the +back was the letter I (see Fig. 187). In +public we called ourselves the G. I. B.’s, but +it was only the initiated members who knew that these letters +were to be read backward, and, with the beetle on which they +were engraved, signified the “Big Bugs.” Of course, we +had some secret signs and signals, a secret hand grasp, a +peculiar whistle as a warning to run, another meaning “lie +still,” and a third signifying “all is well.”</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Combination Lock.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181'></a>181</span>We found it necessary to close the entrance of our cave +with a door fastened with a padlock, so as to keep meddlers +out. The entire school had watched us build the cave house, +and, of course, knew just where our entrance lay. Then, in +addition to the outer door, we put in another one, half-way +down the dark passageway. On this Bill rigged up a simple +combination lock which would baffle any one who managed +to pick the padlock. This inner door opened outward. It +was hinged to the floor of the passageway, and swung up +against a frame set in the passageway. At the top was a +board whose lower edge lay flush with the edge of the door +when it was closed. For the combination lock we used a +couple of spools, each with one head cut off and the central +hole plugged up with a stick of wood. In the floor and the +top board of the frame, holes were drilled just large enough +for the shanks of the spools to fit snugly in them. Next we +made a trip to a hardware store for a file and a couple of +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i195'></a><img src='images/fig-188.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 188 The Notched Washers. +</span> +</span> +large copper washers, about 1-1/4 inches in diameter. The +washers were fastened to the inner ends of the spools after +they had been pushed through the hole. The washer on +the door came just to the edge of the door, while the other +extended below the door frame and lapped under the door +washer. Then in the edge of the washer on the frame a +notch was filed, while in the other washer two notches were +filed, so as to leave a tooth which fitted snugly into the notch +of the first washer (see Figs. 188, 189). The door was +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i196'></a><img src='images/fig-189.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 189. Washers Fastened on Spools. +</span> +</span> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182'></a>182</span> +locked by turning both the washers until the notch and tooth +came in line with each other, then pushing the tooth through +the notch, and turning the washers so that the frame washer +hooked over the door washer. Then the door could be +opened only when the tooth and notch were brought in line.</p> + +<p>On the head of each spool +we pasted a disk of white +cardboard, the edge of which +was graduated, as in Fig. 190. +Then we had a secret combination, +say 11-19, which +meant that when the spools +were turned so that the number +11 on the door spool came +in line with the number 19 on the frame spool the tooth and +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i197'></a><img src='images/fig-190.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 190. The Combination Lock. +</span> +</span> +notch would be in line, and the door could then be opened. +Of course, this combination was known to the members of +the club only, and any one outside who tried to open the +door might have tried for some time without bringing the +tooth and notch into line with each other. Occasionally +we changed the combination by loosening the screws which +held the washers, and turning them +so that the notch and tooth came +opposite different numbers on the +dials. This was done so that if +any one should chance to learn our +combination he could not make use +of it very long.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183'></a>183</span><a id='link_16'></a>CHAPTER XVI.<br /><span class='h2fs'>SCOOTERS.</span></h2> + +<p>“Hello, Dutchy! What in thunder have you got there?”</p> + +<p>It was Bill who spoke. We were on our way home for +the winter holidays, and had been held up at Millville by +Reddy Schreiner, who had informed us that Dutchy was +down by the river with the boat to give us a sail up to +Lamington.</p> + +<p>A vision of a fleet ice boat skimming up the river at express +train speed swam before our eyes. But the next moment, +as we turned the corner into River Street, we were +surprised by the sight of our old scow just off the pier at +anchor, and in open water. It was rigged up with a jib +and mainsail, which were flapping idly in the wind. It had +also been altered by decking over the top, with the exception +of a small cockpit, evidently for the purpose of keeping out +the water when she heeled over under the wind. We were +disappointed and quite annoyed at not finding the ice boat +on hand; furthermore, our annoyance was considerably +heightened by Dutchy’s broad grin of evident delight at our +discomfiture. “The river wasn’t all frozen over,” he explained, +“and we couldn’t bring the ice boat down, so we +rigged up the scow and she came down splendidly.”</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A Sail in the Scow.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184'></a>184</span>There was nothing to do but to jump in, though I, for one, +would have taken the train in preference had there been +one inside of two hours. Dutchy, however, seemed to be in +a surprisingly good humor, and kept up a lively chatter about +things that the club had made in our absence. The skis, +which have already been described on page 42, had been +built under Reddy’s guidance, and they had already used +them on Willard’s Hill, coasting down like a streak and +shooting way up into the air off a hump at the bottom. Then +there was the toboggan slide down Randall’s Hill, and way +across the river on the ice.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Our Craft Strikes the Ice.</p> + +<p>Dutchy talked so incessantly that we hadn’t noticed the +field of ice which we were nearing. Just at this point Bill +turned around with an exclamation.</p> + +<p>“Here, Dutchy, you crazy fellow, where are you going to? +Hard to port, man–hard aport–or you will crash into +the ice!”</p> + +<p>But Dutchy only grinned nervously.</p> + +<p>“I tell you, you will smash the boat!” Bill cried again, +making a dive for the steering oar; but just then the boat +struck the ice, and both Bill and I were thrown backward +into the bottom of the boat. But the boat didn’t smash.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i198'></a><img src='images/illus198.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +A Sail on the Scooter Scow. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185'></a>185</span>There was a momentary grinding and crunching noise, and, +much to my surprise, I found that the old scow had lifted +itself clean out of the water, and was skating right along on +the ice. Then Dutchy could control himself no longer. He +laughed, and laughed, as if he never would stop. He laughed +until the steering oar dropped from his hands, and the old +scow, with the head free, swung around and plunged off +the ice ledge with a heavy splash into the open water again. +Then Reddy, who was almost equally convulsed, came to +his senses. “Now you’ve done it, Dutchy; you’re a fine +skipper, you are! How do you expect to get us back to shore +again?” The steering oar was left behind us on the ice, and +there we were drifting on the open water, with no rudder and +no oar to bring us back.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Scooter Scow.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i199'></a><img src='images/fig-191.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 191. Scow with Runners nailed on. +</p> +</div> + +<p>The only thing +we could do was to +wait until the wind +or current carried us +to the ice or land. +In the meantime Dutchy, who had suddenly sobered down +when we took our water plunge, explained how he had rigged +up the scow to travel both on ice and on water. He called +the rig a sled boat, but the name by which such a rig is now +known is a “scooter.” It was Dutchy’s idea primarily, but +Reddy had engineered the work. Along the bottom of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186'></a>186</span> +scow two strips of hickory had been nailed to serve as runners. +The hickory strips had been bent up at the forward end, as +shown in Fig. 191. Each runner was shod with a strip of +brass, fastened on with flathead screws, which were countersunk, +so that the heads should not project below the brass. +This virtually made a sledge out of the old scow, and didn’t +spoil it for use on the water.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A Sprit Sail.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i200'></a><img src='images/fig-192.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 192. Mainsail of Scooter Scow. +</p> +</div> + +<p>A sprit sail and +jib were rigged up. +The dimensions of +these sails, which +were taken from a +book in Mr. Van +Syckel’s library, +are given in the +illustrations. A +sheet of heavy +muslin was made +to measure 7 feet +square, as indicated by dotted lines in the drawing; then the +corners were cut off along the full lines shown in the illustration. +The edges were now hemmed all around, and the lower +edge of the sail was lashed to a boom, 7 feet 6 inches long. +To the luff were attached a number of mast rings, which were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187'></a>187</span> +slipped over a stout mast projecting about 5 feet 6 inches +above the deck of the boat. The peak of the sail was held +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i201'></a><img src='images/fig-193.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 193. The Snotter. +</span> +</span> +up by a spar called a sprit. The sprit was sharpened at each +end, and the point at the upper end was inserted in a loop of +heavy cord fastened to the peak of the sail, +while the lower point of the sprit rested in +the loop of a rope on the +mast, called a “snotter.” The +snotter was a short piece of rope +with a loop at each end. It was +wrapped around the mast, as shown +in the drawing, with one loop holding +it in place, like a slip knot, and the other +supporting the end of the sprit. A single +halyard was used to raise this sail. It was +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i202'></a><img src='images/fig-194.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 194. Jib-sail of Scooter Scow. +</span> +</span> +attached to the boat and passed over a block +in the mast. When raising the sail it was first +partly hoisted, then the sprit was hooked in +the loop and the snotter, after which the +throat halyard was drawn taut. Then the snotter +was pulled up the mast as far as it would go, flattening +out the sail. The jib-sail was made +out of the large corner piece left when cutting +the mainsail. The dimensions of +the jib-sail are given in Fig. 194. +It was such a small sail that no +boom was used with it. In place of +a rudder the steering oar had to be +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188'></a>188</span> +used. This was made of a rake handle with a large trowel +blade fastened to the end of it. The sharp blade cut into the +ice, and so steered the scow when it was running as an ice +boat, and in the water the blade offered sufficient resistance +to act as a rudder.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Scooter Sailing.</p> + +<p>But to return to our sail home to Lamington, we were not +out on the open water long before the current carried us +back to the ice ledge. Reddy jumped off and soon returned +with the steering oar; then we proceeded on our way homeward, +now in the water and now on ice. Once or twice the +scow was unable to climb out of the water, because she had +not sufficient headway, and was clumsy and heavy with four +boys aboard. Then we had to push off until we could get a +sufficient start. It struck me that while Dutchy was quite +clever to think of such a rig, yet it was very clumsy and +capable of much improvement. Bill wasn’t saying very much +all this time, and I could see he was doing a lot of thinking. +Evidently he was planning some improvement, but Bill was +a very considerate fellow, and did not want to spoil Dutchy’s +pleasure just then by telling him how much better a scooter +he might have built. It wasn’t until after supper, when +a meeting of the S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I. was called, that +Bill came out with his scheme.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A Meeting of the Society.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189'></a>189</span>“Why not mount the sailing canoe on runners, instead of +the scow? You would have a very light rig then, and it +would sail like a streak.”</p> + +<p>“Mr. President,” said Reddy, “your plan sounds first-rate, +but how are you going to fasten runners onto the +canoe?”</p> + +<p>“I’ve thought all that out,” replied Bill. “If we can only +get hold of a pair of sleigh runners it won’t take long to rig +up the sled boat.”</p> + +<p>Dutchy, who had looked rather crestfallen at a suggestion +of an improvement on his pet invention, now suddenly +brightened up.</p> + +<p>“I know where we can get the sleigh runners!” he exclaimed. +“Dad has an old ramshackle sleigh in the barn +that is just falling to pieces with dry rot. I’ll ask him for +it to-night.”</p> + +<p>“Do you think you can get it?” inquired Bill.</p> + +<p>“I guess so,” Dutchy answered, rather doubtfully. “But +say, suppose we send a delegation to see him about it?”</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>An Interview with Mr. Van Syckel.</p> + +<p>This was agreed upon, and in the morning, as soon as +breakfast had been downed, the entire society marched in a +body into Mr. Van Syckel’s library. I was appointed +spokesman, with Bill to back me, while the rest of the party +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190'></a>190</span> +were strung out behind, with Dutchy bringing up the rear. +Mr. Van Syckel was not the man to take much interest in +boys’ work, but we happened to strike him at the right moment, +and before our interview was over we had told him +all our experiences of the summer before and all our plans +for the future. Then we did a good turn for Dutchy, too. +Mr. Van Syckel had always considered his boy a “know-nothing,” +and was very much surprised to find that he had +invented the scooter scow. Why, he actually seemed proud +of his son, much to Dutchy’s embarrassment. After that +there was no trouble about getting the sleigh runners, and +Mr. Van Syckel forgot the objections he had offered at first.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Scooter Canoe.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i203'></a><img src='images/fig-195.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 195. Runners of Scooter Canoe. +</p> +</div> + +<p>Naturally we were very much elated at our success, and +straightway made for the barn, where we began operations +on the scooter canoe. The sleigh was an old-fashioned affair, +with rather broad wooden runners. First we removed the +body of the sleigh, and then the runners were cut down to a +height of about 15 inches. We spaced them apart about +28 inches, and connected them with four crosspieces at the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191'></a>191</span> +top. The runners were now placed over our larger canoe, +with forward ends about on a line with the mast, and the +crosspieces were fastened with screws to the gunwales. As +an additional security, a pair of crosspieces were now run +under the canoe at each end and fastened with screws to the +keel. At the bow the keel was shod with a strip of brass. +The rudder was taken off the boat, and an oar lock was +fastened to the stern to hold the steering oar. In place of +lee boards we nailed a couple of thin boards over each +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192'></a>192</span> +runner, as shown in the drawing. We were in a hurry to +finish this, as our vacation was short, so we used on the +scooter canoe the sails that we had made for our ice boat. +This required a bowsprit, but as we had little time to spare +we used the jib-boom of the ice boat, nailing it to the deck +beam of the canoe. We decided that the jib-sail could be +used without a boom, as we had done with the scow. The +mast was braced by stays attached to the ends of the runners +and bowsprit. This spread of canvas was far greater than +that originally provided for sailing the canoe, but the heavy +runners on each side helped to keep the boat on even keel, +and then to further balance the sail a board was nailed across +the aft end of the boat. This overhung the runners about 18 +inches each side, and in a strong wind we could sit out on the +windward end of this board, thus preventing the scooter +from heeling over too far.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i204'></a><img src='images/fig-196.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 196. The Scooter Canoe. +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193'></a>193</span><a id='link_17'></a>CHAPTER XVII.<br /><span class='h2fs'>AN ARCTIC EXPEDITION.</span></h2> + +<p>As soon as our scooter canoe was completed we prepared +for the long-planned winter expedition to Willow Clump +Island. The weather conditions were ideal. We had had +ten days of steady cold weather, which had followed a heavy +fall of snow, so that we could tramp up the island on snow +shoes, or we could use our scooter canoe and scooter scow on +the river. It was out of the question to use our skate sails +or the ice boat on the river, and the canal would be serviceable +only in case the wind should blow from a southerly +quarter. But we stowed them on the sledge for use on +Lake Placid.</p> + +<p>On the Tuesday morning following Christmas we made the +start. Bill in the scooter canoe and Dutchy in the scooter +scow sailed up the river, and the rest of us, on snow shoes, +took the tow path of the canal, hauling the sledge along. We +carried provisions for a week and a good supply of blankets. +The island was reached without mishap, except that Dutchy +had to be helped several times in dragging the heavy scow +around the rapids. Bill reached the island long before we +did, and after unloading the canoe came racing back under +a stiff breeze for a second load. Then he took his turn at +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194'></a>194</span> +hauling the sledge, while Reddy sailed the reloaded scooter +canoe up to the island.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Willow Clump Island in Winter.</p> + +<p>We brought no tent with us, as we expected to take up +our quarters in the straw hut. When we reached the hut we +hardly recognized it. It was almost completely covered with +snow and looked like an Eskimo house. The snow had +drifted well up over the north side, completely closing the +entrance. We had to set to work at once with a shovel and +open up a passageway, and then we had to shovel out a large +pile of snow that had drifted into the hut from the open +doorway.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Kindling a Camp Fire.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Jack scoured the island for some dry +wood. In this he was not very successful, because everything +was covered with snow, and when he tried to kindle a +fire in the open space in front of our hut he found the task +an exceedingly difficult one. Unfortunately we forgot to +bring the oil stove with us, and the prospect of something +warm to eat was exceedingly remote. We hadn’t yet learned +the trick of building a camp fire in wet weather. After exhausting +our stock of paper Fred and I started over to +Lumberville for several newspapers and a can of kerosene. +We went to old Jim Halliday’s, who had befriended us on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195'></a>195</span> +one or two occasions the previous summer, and made known +to him our troubles.</p> + +<p>“What! A can of oil to build yer fire with? Well, ye +won’t git it from me. I know a man as got blowed up +apourin’ oil on a fire. Why, shucks, boys, you don’t need no +oil ner paper nuther on that there island. Its chuck-full of +silver birch trees, and there ain’t no better kindlin’ than +birch bark.”</p> + +<p>Birch bark! Why, yes, why hadn’t we thought of that? +We had used it for torches the summer before and knew +how nicely it burned. So back we skated to camp, and then, +peeling off a large quantity of bark from the birch trees +around us, we soon had a rousing big fire in front of the hut.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Outdoor Fireplace.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i205'></a><img src='images/fig-197.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 197. An Outdoor Cooking Fire. +</p> +</div> + +<p>But there were more things +to be learned about open fires. +In our summer outing Jack +had done most of his cooking +on a kerosene stove, +and he soon found that it +was a very different matter +to cook over an unsheltered +fire. The heat was constantly carried hither and thither by +the gusts of wind, so that he could scarcely warm up his +saucepans. We had to content ourselves with cold victuals +for the first meal, but before the next meal time came around +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196'></a>196</span> +we had learned a little more about fire building. Two large +logs were placed about 10 inches apart, and the space between +them was filled in with pieces of bark and small twigs +and sticks. The back of the fireplace was closed with +stones. One touch of a match was enough to kindle the fire, +and in a moment it blazed up beautifully. The logs at the +sides and the stones at the back prevented the wind from +scattering the flames in all directions, and a steady draft +poured through the open end of the fireplace and up through +the heart of the fire. The side logs were so close together +that our cooking utensils could be supported directly on them.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A Stone-paved Fireplace.</p> + +<p>The following summer we continued our open fireplace +experiments. Instead of using logs we drove stakes into +the ground, forming a small circular stockade about 2 feet +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i206'></a><img src='images/fig-198.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 198. A Stone-paved Fireplace. +</span> +</span> +high and 3 feet in diameter. A paving of small stones covered +the floor of the fireplace, and a lining of stones was laid +against the wall. The stakes were driven in on a slant, as +illustrated in Fig. 198, so as to better support the stone +lining. A break in the stockade at one side let in the necessary +draft. Two of the stakes on opposite sides of the fire +were made extra long, and were crotched at their upper +ends. They served to support the cross stick from which our +kettles were hung. This form of fireplace was more satisfactory +for baking than the one in which logs were used for +the side walls, because the stone lining retained the heat much +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197'></a>197</span> +longer. To bake biscuit, a pot of beans, or the like, +the ashes would be drawn away from the stone paving +and the pot placed directly on the hot stones, after which +it was covered with hot +embers and ashes.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A Cold Night in the Hut.</p> + +<p>But to return to our +experiences on the island. +We found it very cold on +the first night in the hut. +We were afraid to build +a fire inside lest the +straw thatchings would +catch fire, and so we +huddled together in the corner, rolled up tightly in our +blankets. But it was cold, nevertheless. We had no door +to close the opening into the hut, and instead had piled up +branches of cedar and hemlock against the doorway. But +a bitterly cold northwest wind was blowing down the river, +and we couldn’t keep warm, no matter what we did. Most +of the boys were ready to go right home, but we stuck it out +until the morning, and then after we had toasted ourselves +before a blazing bright fire, and had eaten a hot breakfast, +we forgot much of the discomfort of the night and were +ready for more “fun.” We thought we would spend the +next night in our tree house, and so, right after breakfast, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198'></a>198</span> +we packed up our blankets and some provisions and started +for the Jacob’s Ladder.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Mountain Climbing.</p> + +<p>Each fellow was provided with a pair of ice creepers of +the same sort as we had used in connection with the rennwolf +(see page 170). In addition to this each boy was provided +with a home-made alpine stock, consisting of a stout wooden +stick in the end of which a large nail was driven and the +head filed off. Thus equipped we came to the foot of the +cliff, and much to our delight found it one mass of ice from +top to bottom. Now was our chance to try some Swiss +mountain climbing. Bill took the lead, with an old hatchet +in his hand, to hack out any necessary footholds in the ice +wall, and the rest of us strung out behind him tied to a long +rope, each boy about 10 or 12 feet from the one ahead. Bill +cautioned us to keep our distance, holding the rope taut in +one hand, so that if a fellow stumbled he could be kept from +falling either by the one in front or by the one behind.</p> + +<p>“Besides,” he said, “if the rope drags on the ice, it is +liable to be cut or worn so that it will break when any strain +was put on it.”</p> + +<p>Now, one would think from all these precautions that we +were launched on a perilous expedition. That was the impression +we were trying to make on ourselves, though, as a +matter of fact, any one of us could have climbed the cliff +unaided and without any ice implements if he had used +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199'></a>199</span> +ordinary care not to slip on the ice-clad ladder rounds or the +snow-covered ledges.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i207'></a><img src='images/fig-199.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 199. Winter Expedition to the Goblins’ Platform. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A Poor Shelter.</p> + +<p>The climb was without mishap and we reached our tree +house, only to find it so badly racked by storm and weather +that it was clearly out of the question to attempt to spend +the night there. The wind howled around the house and +whistled through dozens of cracks and chinks that had +opened in the walls. All that we could do, therefore, was +to turn back to the island and make the best of our straw +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200'></a>200</span> +hut again. On the way, however, we stopped at Lumberville +for some straw to be used for bedding. The afternoon +was spent sailing around on Lake Placid and the large +smooth stretch above the island.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A Costly Camp Fire.</p> + +<p>After supper Bill and Reddy went into the hut to arrange +the straw bedding, while the rest of us gathered wood for a +huge bonfire in front of the hut. The wind was blowing +right down the river and we expected it to carry the warmth +of the fire into the hut. The fire was built some distance +in front of the doorway, so as to prevent the hut from catching +fire. But we had evidently miscalculated the strength of +the wind, for no sooner was the fire fairly started than a +shower of flaming brands was blown right into the hut. In +a moment the straw blazed up, cutting off all escape for Bill +and Reddy. Fortunately the framing was not strong and +the frost had loosened up the foundations, so that a few +frantic kicks opened an exit in the rear of the hut just in +time to save our comrades from cremation. Once it was +fairly started we were powerless to put out the blaze until +the hut was ruined. The snow that covered the walls +checked the fire somewhat, but the thatching burned from +the inside, melting the snow and dropping it suddenly into +the flaming straw bedding on the floor. As we sat in a +gloomy ring about the camp fire, watching the tongues of +flame play about the charred ribs of our hut, we had reason +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201'></a>201</span> +to be thankful that the wind had played its pranks before we +turned in for the night. What a risk we had run of being +all burned to death! It made me shudder to think of it. +Well, our hut was burned. What next? That was the +question put before the society.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i208'></a><img src='images/illus216a.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Bill Gets Tangled up with His Skis. +</p> +</div> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i209'></a><img src='images/illus216b.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Warming the Lunch on a Cold Day. +</p> +</div> + +<p>“Might build a snow hut,” suggested Dutchy.</p> + +<p>“Now, be sensible,” answered Reddy. “We can’t build a +snow hut in five minutes.”</p> + +<p>“The best plan,” I volunteered, “would be to go over +to Jim Halliday’s and ask him to let us sleep in his barn.”</p> + +<p>Immediately the suggestion was acted upon.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A Friend in Time of Trouble.</p> + +<p>Old Jim Halliday greeted us very gruffly. He said he +wouldn’t have us in his barn. “You’ll be amussin’ up the +hay so’t wouldn’t be fit fer the horses to eat. Any boy that +is fool enough to build a fire on a straw bed ought to go +right home to his mother, and he hadn’t oughter be trusted +with matches, nuther. He might get his fingers burned.”</p> + +<p>But I caught a twinkle in the old man’s eyes and wasn’t +surprised to have him end his lecture by taking us into the +kitchen and seating us around an old-fashioned log fire while +“Marthy,” his daughter, made us some hot coffee to take +the chill out of our bones. We didn’t sleep in the barn that +night. The Hallidays had only one spare bed, hardly +enough for six boys, and the old man didn’t want to be partial +to any two of us, but his daughter solved the difficulty by +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202'></a>202</span> +dragging down two large feather mattresses and laying them +on the kitchen floor in front of the hearth.</p> + +<p>Before bidding us “good night,” Mr. Halliday put on his +sternest expression and bade Marthy clear out all the matches +from the room.</p> + +<p>“Jest as like as not they’ll set fire to the house,” he +growled. “I expect this is my last night on airth.” And +then, with a solemn warning not to hang our clothes on the +flames, and to “keep them feather beds offen the embers,” +he left us to a comfortable night’s rest.</p> + +<p>In the morning, after we had disposed of all the hot +griddle cakes we could eat, and had sincerely thanked our +host and hostess for their hospitality, we wended our way +back to the island, silently packed up our goods and started +home for Lamington.</p> + +<p>“Well, this isn’t going to happen again,” was Bill’s comment. +“Next year we’ll have a log cabin on the island.”</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i210'></a><img src='images/illus220a.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fast Asleep in a Sleeping Bag. +</p> +</div> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i211'></a><img src='images/illus220b.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +How the Pack Harness was Worn. +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203'></a>203</span><a id='link_18'></a>CHAPTER XVIII.<br /><span class='h2fs'>TRAMPING OUTFITS.</span></h2> + +<p>Our winter expedition to Willow Clump Island filled us +with a wholesome respect for Arctic explorers. If we could +find it so uncomfortable with the thermometer only at 10 +degrees above zero, what would it be to endure a temperature +of 40, 50 or even 60 degrees below zero? We were interested +to learn how they managed to stand it. This led to +a study of the subject in Mr. Van Syckel’s library.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Sleeping Bags.</p> + +<p>In one of the books Dutchy came across the description of +a sleeping bag. It was made of reindeer’s skin sewed into +a large bag with the fur side turned in. This bag was large +enough to hold three or four sleepers, and each man was +covered with a pair of woolen bags, one bag slipped inside +the other. The woolen bags were made of blankets sewed +together and provided with flaps at the upper ends to cover +the head of the sleeper.</p> + +<p>Of course, we had to make a sleeping bag, too. The innermost +bag was made of an old quilt and the next one of a +blanket that we were fortunate enough to get hold of. But +when it came to the reindeer skin we were balked, until we +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204'></a>204</span> +happened to run across a piece of rubber sheeting at the +village store. This was a lucky find, for I doubt if one +country store in a hundred carries such stock. The piece +was just large enough to cover the blanket bag and allow +for an ample flap to cover the head. To be sure, this furnished +a shelter for only one person, and there were six in the +society. It was clear that the treasury could not afford the +expense of six sleeping bags; but as such a device would be +useful only under very unusual circumstances we decided that +two sleeping bags would be all the society would need. We +had been rather curious to explore the country back of the +hills on the Pennsylvania side of the river, and with some +light provisions and these sleeping bags strapped to the back +a couple of boys could make quite an extended tour, unmindful +of weather conditions. On real hot nights a fellow +could get into the quilt bag and sleep on the blanket and +waterproof bag. In cold weather the combination of all three +bags provided sufficient warmth. The rubber bag would +protect the sleeper from any moisture in the ground, and +would also keep him thoroughly dry, even in a pouring rain.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Bill’s “Mummy Case.”</p> + +<p>Our second sleeping bag was Bill’s own design, and was, in +many respects, an improvement on the first, though it looked +ridiculously like an Egyptian mummy case. The inner bags +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i212'></a><img src='images/fig-200.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 200. Bottom Piece of Sleeping Bag. +</span> +</span> +were just like those of the first sleeping bag, but as there was +no more rubber sheeting in town we had to make the outer +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205'></a>205</span> +bag of enameled cloth, such as is used for carriage curtains. +Out of this cloth Bill cut a piece of the shape shown in Fig. +200 to serve as bottom, sides and ends of the sleeping bag. +The bag was sewed wrong side +out; that is, the piece was laid +with enameled side up, and then the corners were sewed +together after painting the seams with white lead. Then a +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i213'></a><img src='images/fig-201.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 201. Top Piece of Sleeping Bag. +</span> +</span> +top piece was cut out, of the size indicated in Fig. 201. The +edges were hemmed over a piece of rope, which thus formed +a corded edge. Now, with the enameled side of the cover +piece turned inward, its edges were sewed to the edges of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206'></a>206</span> +first piece. The bag was now turned inside out, so that the +enameled surface lay on the outside and the seams turned inward. +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i214'></a><img src='images/fig-202.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 202. Headboards. +</span> +</span> +The corded edge on the cover piece lapped over the +sides, forming a watershed.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i215'></a><img src='images/fig-203.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 203. The Mummy Case. +</p> +</div> + +<p>It was Bill’s idea to rig up the flap in such a manner that +it would not lie against the face, +so that the sleeper could +have plenty of fresh air, +even in rainy weather. This required the use of two headboards, +of the form shown in Fig. 202. The headboards +were connected at the bottom by a thin board, and to this +framework the sides of the bag were nailed. To the end +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i216'></a><img src='images/fig-204.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 204. Sleeping Bag in Use. +</span> +</span> +flap several cleats were nailed, adapted to fit into notches +cut in the headboards. The cleat at the end of the flap was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207'></a>207</span> +laid on edge, as shown, and fitted into deep notches in the +headboards just above the edge of the cover piece. This held +the flap securely, preventing it from flying open in a heavy +wind. At the same time the small space between the flap +and the cover piece allowed for an ample supply of fresh air. +When using this sleeping bag, if there was any indication of +a shower, we took care to have the head pointed to windward +so as to prevent entrance of rain through this air space.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The “A” Tent.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i217'></a><img src='images/fig-205.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 205. The “A” Tent. +</p> +</div> + +<p>In connection with the sleeping bags it may be well to describe +here a curious shelter Dutchy and I came across in one +of our tramps. It was just about dusk one day when we discovered +a temporary camp at which a couple of men were +preparing dinner. They informed us that they were naturalists +on a two weeks’ outing. At their invitation we joined +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208'></a>208</span> +camp with them. They had a small “A” tent of balloon silk, +under which they kept their provisions. The tent had no +ridge pole, but was supported instead by a rope stretched +between two trees (see Fig. 205).</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A Camp Chair.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i218'></a><img src='images/fig-206.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 206. The Camp Chair. +</p> +</div> + +<p>The camp was also +furnished with an easy +canvas chair, made by +driving a couple of short +posts in the ground for +front legs and a pair of +longer ones for the back. A piece of canvas was hung over +these posts, forming both seat and back. The posts were +driven into the ground on a slant, as illustrated in Fig. 206, +and the canvas was formed +with pockets at the corners +which were hooked over these +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i219'></a><img src='images/fig-207.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 207. Pockets in the Canvas Back. +</span> +</span> +posts. This made a very comfortable +chair, though, of +course, it was fixed to one spot. +When the men moved camp +they would carry with them +only the canvas piece, and at the next stopping place new +posts were chopped and used for legs.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i220'></a><img src='images/illus228a.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Waiting for a Bite. +</p> +</div> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i221'></a><img src='images/illus228b.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Temporary Shelter under an “A” Tent. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Camp Bed.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i222'></a><img src='images/fig-208.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 208. Canvas Bed. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209'></a>209</span>But what interested us most was the form of bed they had. +This, like the chair, consisted of a piece of canvas arranged +to be supported on posts cut from the woods in the neighborhood +of the camp. The canvas piece was 3 feet wide and 6 +feet long, with a wide hem at each side, forming pockets +through which poles were passed, as in a stretcher. The +ends of the poles were supported on posts driven into the +ground. The poles were also propped up at the center, as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210'></a>210</span> +shown, the pockets being cut away and bound, so as not to +permit any wear on the canvas. To prevent the posts from +leaning inward under the +weight of the sleeper, +they were braced apart by +cross sticks.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i223'></a><img src='images/fig-209.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 209. Bed Set up on Posts. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Camp Bed in a Shower.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i224'></a><img src='images/fig-210.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 210. A Poncho. +</p> +</div> + +<p>As a precaution +against rain, a tall post +was set up at the head +and another at the foot +of the bed, and a rope +was stretched over the +posts with the ends fastened +to stakes driven +into the ground. Over this rope a rubber “poncho” +was laid to keep off the rain. A “poncho,” by the way, is a +blanket of rubber cloth about 4-1/2 feet wide and 6 feet long, +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i225'></a><img src='images/fig-211.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 211. Camp Bed in the Rain. +</span> +</span> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211'></a>211</span> +in the center of which is a slit +through which you can put +your head; then the rubber +cloth falls over you +like a cape, as in +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i226'></a><img src='images/fig-212.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 212. Umbrella with Fly. +</span> +</span> +Fig. 210, and makes +a perfect protection against rain. The +ponchos these men had were not quite +long enough to cover the whole bed, so +they fastened umbrellas to the head +posts, as shown in Fig. 212. During a shower in the woods +the rain comes straight down in large drops, caused by the +water collecting on the leaves. To prevent these large drops +from splashing through the umbrellas, they laid pieces of +cloth over the umbrellas, which served, like the fly of a tent, +to check the fall of rain drops.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A Nightmare.</p> + +<p>I slept in the mummy case that night and Dutchy in the +first sleeping bag. It must have been about midnight when I +was awakened by a most unearthly yell. It sent the cold chills +running up and down my back. A second scream brought me +into action, and I struggled to throw back the head flap, +which had become caught. It seemed an age before I could +open it and wriggle out of the bag. Dutchy was sitting up +in bed with a look of horror on his face, and his whole body +was in a tremor of fear. One of the men dashed a glass of +water in his face, which brought him back to his senses. It +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212'></a>212</span> +was only a nightmare, we found. Dutchy dreamed he had +been injured in a railway accident and had been taken for +dead to the morgue. He tried to let them know that he was +alive, but couldn’t utter a sound, until finally he burst out with +the yells that roused the camp. Then, as he awoke with the +horror of the dream still on him, his eyes fell on the two +stretcher beds that looked like biers and the black coffin-like +sleeping bag. It was not much wonder that Dutchy was +frightened. The camp did certainly have a most ghastly +appearance in the vague moonlight that filtered through the +trees, and it must have been still more gruesome to see the +coffin and biers suddenly burst open and the corpses come +running toward him. To prevent any further nightmare we +set Dutchy’s sleeping bag under the “A” tent, where he would +be saved the horror of again waking up in a morgue.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Pack Harness.</p> + +<p>In the morning our friends broke camp and started westward. +Dutchy and I watched them packing up their goods +into a couple of very compact bundles, which they strapped to +their backs with a peculiar pack harness. I took careful note +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i227'></a><img src='images/fig-213.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 213. Pack Harness. +</span> +</span> +of the way the harness was put together, and when we returned +to the island we made two sets for use on our tramping +expeditions. A canvas yoke was first cut out to the form +shown in Fig. 213. We used two thicknesses of the heaviest +brown canvas we could find, binding the two pieces together +with tape. The yoke was padded with cotton at the shoulders +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213'></a>213</span> +and a strap was +fastened to each +shoulder piece. +These were arranged +to be buckled +to a pair of straps +fastened to the back +of the yoke and +passing under the +arms. Riveted to +these straps were a +pair of straps used for fastening on the pack. The yoke +straps were attached with the rough side against the yoke, +while the pack straps were riveted on with the rough side +uppermost, as indicated in the drawing.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Riveting.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i228'></a><img src='images/fig-214.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 214. Riveting the Straps Together. +</p> +</div> + +<p>The method of riveting together +the leather straps may +need a word of explanation. A +copper rivet was passed through +a hole in the two straps; then the +washer was slipped over the projecting +end of the rivet. This washer had to be jammed +down tight against the leather, and to do this we drilled a +hole of the diameter of the rivet in a block of wood, and putting +this block over the washer, with the end of the rivet projecting +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214'></a>214</span> +into the hole, we hammered the block until the washer +was forced down tight against the leather. Then taking a +light tack hammer we battered down the end of the rivet +onto the washer. Care was taken to do this hammering +very lightly, otherwise the end would have been bent over +instead of being flattened.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215'></a>215</span><a id='link_19'></a>CHAPTER XIX.<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE LAND YACHT.</span></h2> + +<p>Only one thing of importance occurred between our +Christmas holidays and Eastertide: this was Bill’s invention +of the tricycle sailboat or land yacht. We had returned to +school with sailing on the brain. Our skate sail served us +well enough while there was any ice, but as spring came on +we wished we had our canoe with us, or even the old scow +to sail on the lakes near the school. Once we seriously considered +building a sailboat, but the project was given up, +as we had few facilities for such work. But Bill wasn’t +easily baffled, and I wasn’t surprised to have him come tearing +into the room one day, yelling, “I’ve got it! I’ve got +it!” In his hands were two bicycle wheels, which I recognized +as belonging to a couple of bicycles we had discarded +the year before.</p> + +<p>“What are you going to do with them?” I inquired.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to make a tricycle sailboat.”</p> + +<p>“What?”</p> + +<p>“A tricycle sailboat, a land boat, or anything you’ve a +mind to call it. I mean a boat just like our ice boat only on +bicycle wheels instead of skates. We can sail all over south +Jersey on the thing. Come on down and help me build it.”</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Frame of the Yacht.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i229'></a><img src='images/fig-215.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 215. The Backbone and Crosspiece. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216'></a>216</span>I followed him +to the shed at the +back of the school +and found that he +had already procured a couple of scantlings for the frame +of the boat. The sticks were 2 inches thick and 4 inches +wide. The backbone was cut to a length of 10 feet, and a +5-foot link was sawed off for the crosspiece. The two +pieces were securely nailed together about 3 feet from the +forward end of the backbone. The crosspiece was set on +edge, but a notch was cut in it about 1 inch deep to receive +the backbone. We might have braced the frame with +wooden braces, as in the ice boat, but we thought that this +time we would vary the design by using wire bracing instead, +thus making the frame much lighter. I asked Bill how he +proposed to tighten the wire. Turnbuckles were the thing, +but I knew that they were rather expensive.</p> + +<p>“Just you leave that to me,” said Bill. “I’ve a scheme +that I think will work out all right.”</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A Simple Turnbuckle.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i230'></a><img src='images/fig-216.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 216. An Eye Bolt. +</p> +</div> + +<p>At the hardware store +of the town we bought +a pound of No. 16 iron +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217'></a>217</span> +wire, eight large screw eyes and six eye bolts, with nuts and +washers. Both the screw eyes and eye bolts had welded eyes +and the shanks of the eye bolts were 6 inches long. A pair of +screw eyes were now threaded into the backbone at each side +about 18 inches from the end, and at each end of the crosspieces +an eye bolt was fastened. I began to see Bill’s plan. +He was going to draw the wire taut by tightening up the nuts +on the eye bolts. To get the best effect the hole for the eye +bolt had to be drilled in on a slant, so that the bolt would +pull directly in the line of +the wire. To get just +the right angle we ran a +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i231'></a><img src='images/fig-217.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 217. Stretching the Guy Lines. +</span> +</span> +cord from the screw eye +on one side to the point +where the bolt was to be +inserted, and traced its +direction on the crosspiece. +The hole for the +eye bolt was now drilled parallel with the mark we had traced. +The same was done at the other end of the crosspiece. A +pair of screw eyes were now screwed into the backbone at +the fore end and a pair of eye bolts were set at a corresponding +angle in the ends of the crosspiece. The crosspiece was +notched at each side so that the nuts and washers on the eye +bolts would have a square seating. Then we stretched +on the wire guy lines, drawing them as tight as possible, +with the eye bolts held in place by a turn or two of the nuts, +after which we screwed up the nuts as far as we could, thus +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218'></a>218</span> +drawing up the wire until it was very taut. This done the +second nut was threaded onto each bolt against the first so +as to lock it in place and prevent it from jarring loose.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Stepping the Mast.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i232'></a><img src='images/fig-218.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 218 The Frame with Wire Braces. +</p> +</div> + +<p>Our next +task was to +step the mast. +We found in +the shed an old flagstaff 15 +feet long and 3 inches in +diameter. The lower end of this, +for about a foot, we whittled down to a diameter of 2 inches, +and drove it into a hole in the backbone 12 inches from the +forward end. The mast was stayed by a wire stretched +from the head to an eye bolt at the fore end of the backbone. +The end of the mast which projected below the backbone +was stayed with wire running forward to an eye bolt and aft +to a screw eye on the backbone, and also with a pair of wires +running to screw eyes threaded into the crosspiece near the +ends. We couldn’t very well use eye bolts on these wires +except at the fore end, but we stretched the wires as tight +as possible before the screw eyes were screwed all the way in, +and then, as we turned the screw eyes, the wire was wound up +on them and drawn fairly taut. Fig. 219 shows a side view +of the frame, and wires marked 1 and 2 are the same as +illustrated in Fig. 218, which is a top or plan view of the +frame.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Mounting the Frame on Bicycle Wheels.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i233'></a><img src='images/fig-219.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 219. Bracing the Mast. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219'></a>219</span>We were now ready to mount the frame on +the bicycle wheels. We used only the front +wheels of the +bicycles with +the forks in +which they were +journaled. The +shanks at the top of the forks were firmly driven into holes +in the crosspiece near the ends. For the steering wheel Bill +took the front fork and wheel of his new bicycle, letting the +shank into a hole at the stern end of the backbone.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Tiller.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i234'></a><img src='images/fig-220.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 220. The Tiller. +</p> +</div> + +<p>For a tiller we used a piece of an old rake handle. A +small hole was first drilled into the handle and the end of the +stick was then split through the hole, permitting the projecting +shank of the fork to be driven tightly into the hole. +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i235'></a><img src='images/fig-221.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 221. The Seat. +</span> +</span> +The split wood was now tightly closed onto the shank by +means of a bolt (see Fig. 220). In the rubbish heap we +found an old chair. The legs were sawed off and the seat +was then firmly nailed to the backbone. The back of the +chair was cut down so that it just cleared the tiller.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A “Leg-of-Mutton” Sail.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i236'></a><img src='images/fig-222.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 222. Leg-of-Mutton Sail. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220'></a>220</span>Everything was now +completed but the sail. +This was a triangular or +“leg-of-mutton” affair, +of the dimensions +given in Fig. +222. It was +made of light canvas, 30 inches +wide, of which we bought 14 yards. +Out of this we took one strip 18 +feet long, one 13 feet, one 8 feet, +and one 3 feet long. We had no +sewing machine, and therefore had +to sew the strips together +by hand. The selvedge edges of the strips +were lapped over each other about an inch +and then they were sewed together sailor +fashion, that is, each edge was +hemmed down, as shown in Fig. +223. The strips were sewed together +so that at the foot each +projected at least 21 inches +below the next shorter +one. This done, the sail +was cut to the dimensions +given, allowing 1-1/2 +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221'></a>221</span> +inches all around for the hem. The hem was turned over +a light rope, forming a strong corded edge. At the clew, +tack and head loops were formed in the rope which projected +from the canvas, and at intervals +along the foot the canvas was cut +away, exposing the rope so that the sail +could be laced to the boom, as illustrated. +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i237'></a><img src='images/fig-223.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 223. The Sailor’s Stitch. +</span> +</span> +The boom was a pole 11 feet long attached +to the mast by means of a screw +hook threaded into the end of the boom +and hooked into a screw eye on the +mast, after which the screw hook was +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i238'></a><img src='images/fig-224.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 224. Laying Out the Sail. +</span> +</span> +hammered so it would close over the +screw eye to keep it from slipping off. +The sail was raised by a halyard passing +over a block at the top of the +mast. The sheet was fastened +near the end of the boom, +passed through a block on +the backbone, back of the +tiller, and through +another block on +the boom, and +was led to a +cleat within +easy reach of +the chair seat.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A Sail through the Country.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i239'></a><img src='images/fig-225.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 225. A Sail on the Land Yacht. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222'></a>222</span>Our land yacht proved to be quite a successful craft in the +flat country around the school. Of course, we could not +sail everywhere; a country road is too narrow for any tacking +when it comes to sailing against the wind. We hadn’t +thought of that when we made our trial trip. A strong east +wind was blowing and so we ventured forth on a road that +led due west from our school. Off we sped before the wind +for two miles, until we came to a sharp turn in the road. +Then we began to think of turning homeward. But this +was a very different proposition. The wind was dead against +us and to try to tack from side to side of the road was useless, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223'></a>223</span> +because we would hardly get under way on one tack before +we had to swing around on the other tack, losing all our +momentum. It ended up by our lowering sail and ignominiously +trundling the yacht back to school. After that we +carefully selected our course, and never sailed away from +home before the wind unless we knew of a roundabout way +that would lead us back to port on a couple of reaches (long +tacks).</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224'></a>224</span><a id='link_20'></a>CHAPTER XX.<br /><span class='h2fs'>EASTER VACATION.</span></h2> + +<p>Just before Easter that year Bill’s Aunt Dorothy invited +him to spend Eastertide with her and bring along his roommate. +I accepted the invitation with alacrity. Bill had once +spent a whole summer at his aunt’s home, and when we +arrived there he had many old haunts to visit. We spent the +first day rambling through the woods, in the hills and back +of the house.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Bill’s Cave.</p> + +<p>He introduced me to a cave which he believed was known +to only two other boys, both of whom had since moved to +New York city. The mouth of the cave was almost closed +by a large boulder that had lodged in front of it. We had +to climb to the top of this rock, and then letting ourselves +down with a rope we slid down the sloping rear face of the +boulder into a crevice in the rocks. Then after squirming +under a ledge we emerged into a large chamber, which appeared +to be as dark as night after our sudden entrance from +the outer light.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i240'></a><img src='images/fig-226.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig 226. Sliding Down into the Cave. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225'></a>225</span>Bill lighted a candle which projected from a chink in the +wall. By its light I saw that there was a pool in the center +of the cave fed from a spring at one point. From the pool +the water trickled off into a tiny stream to the mouth of the +cave, where it was lost in a crack in the rocks. The water +was ice cold and clear as crystal. Around the pool were +several chairs and a table made by Bill and his two friends. +That was evidently where Bill had gotten his idea of a subterranean +club.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Barrel Stave Hammock.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i241'></a><img src='images/fig-227.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 227. The Barrel Stave Hammock. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226'></a>226</span>Hanging between a couple of projecting rocks was a hammock +made of barrel staves. The hammock was a very +simple affair, made by drilling a 1-inch hole in each end of +each barrel stave. The staves were then connected by two +ropes on each side, woven alternately in and out through +these holes, that is, one rope would be passed down through +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i242'></a><img src='images/fig-228.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 228. Tying the Staves Together. +</span> +</span> +one stave, up through the next, +down through the third, etc., +and through the same holes +another rope would be +threaded in and out but +in the opposite direction. +The end staves of the +hammock were provided with double holes, as shown in Fig. +228, so as to make them lie flat, then the ropes were threaded +through them.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Barrel Armchair.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i243'></a><img src='images/fig-229.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 229. The Armchair Frame. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227'></a>227</span>Aside from the hammock and +the rustic furniture there was a +fine armchair, made from a +barrel that had been sawed off, as +in Fig. 229, to form the arms and +back. The barrel was raised +from the ground by setting it on +a couple of boards arranged in +the form of a V. Then a caster +was fastened to the point of the +V and another at each end, making +a three-legged chair of it. +The chair was upholstered with ticking stuffed with straw. +First a piece of ticking large enough for the back was laid +on the ground and covered over with an even layer of straw. +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i244'></a><img src='images/fig-230.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 230. Casters on the Chair. +</span> +</span> +Over the straw a second piece of ticking +was laid, making what Bill +called a “straw sandwich.” +This was nailed to the chair +back along the edge and at the +bottom, drawing the cloth as +taut as possible. To make +a better finish for the chair, +the ticking was covered with +dark red denim. Then strips +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228'></a>228</span> +of braid were laid on the chair back, +crossing each other like a lattice. At +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i245'></a><img src='images/fig-231.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 231. Tacking on the Straw Sandwiches. +</span> +</span> +the crossing points of the braid brass-headed +tacks were nailed right +through the sandwich into the +wood, producing the padded +upholstered effect. Next a long, +thin sandwich was made to run +along the edge of the back, and +another one to run around the +chair just below the seat, also a +couple of small sandwiches to +cover the legs and the brackets +leading to them. These were all covered with denim before +being tacked to the chair and then they were bound with +tape at intervals to produce +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i246'></a><img src='images/fig-232.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 232. The Barrel Armchair. +</span> +</span> +the padded effect. The +rest of the woodwork was +covered with denim, and a +neat ruffle made by Aunt +Dorothy hung about the +bottom of the chair. A +thick, round sandwich was +now made to cover the seat +board. This was also given +a padded effect by binding +it with tape. The seat +board was not nailed to the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229'></a>229</span> +chair, but rested on four cleats nailed to the barrel on the +inside. When the seat was lifted out it uncovered a shallow +chest in which various things could be stored.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Summer Toboggan.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i247'></a><img src='images/fig-233.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 233. The Summer Toboggan. +</p> +</div> + +<p>Bill informed +me that he and +his two chums +used to spend +hot summer afternoons +in this cool +place whittling +out various ornaments +and making +furniture for the cave. In one corner were a number +of home-made amusement devices, one of which struck me +as rather odd. It consisted of a pair of large barrel staves, +hollow side up and connected with two short boards, as in +Fig. 233. Bill said it was a summer toboggan, to be used on +grass instead of snow. I had never heard of such an affair, +and, of course, had to have a demonstration. Bill went +to the top of the hill and from there coasted down the +grassy slope in fine style.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Tailless Kites.</p> + +<p>“There’s a better place over on the other side of the +hill,” he said, and led the way to his favorite coasting spot. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230'></a>230</span> +But here our attention was diverted from coasting by the +curious sight of a full-grown man flying a kite. We found +out afterward that he was a Professor Keeler, who had made +a great scientific study of kites. Professor Keeler was very +affable, and we soon got acquainted with him. His kite +was way up in the air, almost out of sight, and was pulling +like everything. Neither Bill nor I could hold it long. +But the most remarkable part of it all to me was the fact that +the kite had no tail. I had heard of tailless kites made like +a box, but this one appeared to be very much like the kites I +had made in my younger days, and I well knew the importance +of a long tail to keep such a kite steady. We asked +the professor about it, and were informed that this kite was +of the Malay type, which is so designed that the cloth bellies +out into pockets on each side of the central stick or backbone, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231'></a>231</span> +and these pockets balance the kite while the backbone +acts as a rudder.</p> + +<p>Finding that we were interested in the subject he gave +us full instructions for making kites from 5 to 8 feet long, +and these I jotted down for future use. In a 5-foot kite +he said the stick should be 3/8 inch thick and 1/2 inch wide, in +a 6-foot kite 7/16 inch thick and 9/16 inch wide, in a 7-foot +kite 5/8 inch thick and 3/4 inch wide, and in an 8-foot kite +3/4 inch thick and 1 inch wide. On the following summer we +built a 5-footer and also an 8-footer.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i248'></a><img src='images/fig-234.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 234. Coasting in Summer. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A Five-foot Malay Kite.</p> + +<p>For the 5-foot kite we used two sticks of hickory 3/8 of an +inch wide, 1/2 an inch thick, and each 5 feet long. According +to directions, one stick was laid across the other at a point two-elevenths +of its length from the top. Two-elevenths of 5 feet +is a little less than 11 inches, and so we fastened on the +cross stick 11 inches from the upper end of the backbone. +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i249'></a><img src='images/fig-235.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 235. Tying on the Cleats. +</span> +</span> +The sticks were not nailed together, because this would have +weakened the frame just at the point where it was under +the greatest strain. Instead we followed the professor’s +directions and tied cleats to each stick, as shown in Fig. 235, +so as to form sockets. Then the sticks were laid across +each other, each stick fitting into the socket of the other, just +like a mortised joint. A coat of shellac on the bottom of +each cleat glued it temporarily to the stick, after which it +was very tightly bound with fine cord. The stick and cleats +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232'></a>232</span> +were now thoroughly shellaced. The end of each stick was +tapered off to receive a brass ferrule of the kind used on +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i250'></a><img src='images/fig-236.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 236. Hook on the Vertical Stick. +</span> +</span> +chisel handles. They can be bought at any hardware store. +At the end of the backbone +we fastened hooks made of +brass, bent to the form +shown in Fig. 236. The +cross sticks were also provided with hooks, but these were +double, as shown in Fig. 237, so that a hook lay on both +the front and the rear side of the frame.</p> + +<p>The frame was covered with a kind of cloth called “percaline.” +The cloth was hemmed along +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i251'></a><img src='images/fig-237.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 237. Double Hook. +</span> +</span> +each edge over heavy picture wire, and at +each corner the wire was twisted around +a small solid ring of brass. The rings +were now slipped over the hooks on the +frame and then the cross stick was bowed +back by fastening a wire to the rear hooks +and drawing it taut. Professor +Keeler told us to tighten this +bowstring until the distance from the +wire to the cross stick at the center was +equal to one-tenth of the length of the +stick. As our sticks were each 5 feet long +we tightened the wire until the cross +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i252'></a><img src='images/fig-238.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 238. Connection at Corner. +</span> +</span> +stick bowed out 6 inches, as in Fig. 239. +The belly band of the kite was fastened at one end to the +lower end of the backbone and at the upper end to a wire +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233'></a>233</span> +hook at the juncture of the two sticks. The hook was +fastened to the cross stick by flattening the ends and running +them under the cord used for binding on the cleats (see Fig. +240). A buttonhole was made in the cloth covering to let +this hook project through. The belly band was just long +enough, so that it could be stretched over to one end of the +cross stick, as in Fig. 241, and at this point, that is, 30 inches +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i253'></a><img src='images/fig-239.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 239. Bending the Cross Stick. +</span> +</span> +from the upper end of the belly band, a brass ring was made +fast, to which the main kite string was tied. The kite possessed +the advantage that it could be quickly taken apart +and folded into a small space.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>An Eight-foot Malay Kite.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i254'></a><img src='images/fig-240.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 240. Belly Band Hook. +</p> +</div> + +<p>Our 8-foot kite was made +in the same way only the sticks +were 3/4 inch thick, 1 inch wide +and 8 feet long. The cross +stick was fastened 17-1/2 inches +(two-elevenths of 8 feet) from the top of the backbone and +it was bowed back 9-1/2 inches (one-tenth of 8 feet). The +wire in the hem of the covering was a double thickness of the +heaviest picture wire obtainable.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i255'></a><img src='images/fig-241.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 241. The 5-foot Malay Kite. +</p> +</div> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i256'></a><img src='images/fig-242.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 242. Malay Kite with Elastic Belly Band. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Elastic Belly Band.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235'></a>235</span>An important change was made in the belly band of the +kite. The lower strand was made elastic by tying it fast +to a number of heavy rubber bands, as in Fig. 242. When +flying the kite, if a sudden, strong puff of wind struck it, the +elastic belly band would give, tilting up the lower end of the +kite so that the wind passed under; but as soon as the gust +had passed the rubber bands would draw the lower end of +the kite back against the wind. The elastic belly band had +the effect of making the kite rise almost vertically. Sometimes +it would even sail square overhead. The 8-foot kite +was a very powerful one. To hold it we had to use a very +strong cord, the kind used by upholsterers for tying down +the springs in a chair or a sofa.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Putting the Kites to Work.</p> + +<p>Bill tested the strength of the kite once by hooking a +spring scale to the kite string. The scale was made to +register weights up to 25 pounds. But our kite yanked the +pointer immediately past the 25-pound mark as far as it +would go. We judged from this that the kite would lift +at least 40 pounds. Such a pull as this it seemed a pity to +waste, but how to utilize the power was a problem until one +day, when the kite was soaring up on a south wind, Dutchy +suggested that we tie it to one of the canoes and go sailing up-stream. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236'></a>236</span> +We tried the trick at once, but it didn’t work very +well, because the canoe was too light. The kite would drop +unless there was a heavy pull on the string. We had better +success with the scow, however, which provided a sufficient +drag on the kite, and with the two kites to pull us we sailed +a long ways up-stream, drifting down with the current when +we had gone as far as we cared to.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Diamond Box Kite.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i257'></a><img src='images/fig-243.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 243. The Scow Towed by Kites. +</p> +</div> + +<p>Professor Keeler also gave us instructions for making a +diamond-shaped box kite, and though we never built one, it +may not be amiss to publish his instructions here. I quote +from the chronicles of the S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I.:</p> + +<p>“Materials: Four sticks, 1/4 inch thick by 5/8 inch wide by +44 inches long, for the corner sticks. Two sticks, 1/4 inch +thick by 5/8 inch wide by 15 inches long, for the short +spreaders. Two sticks, 1/2 inch square by about +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237'></a>237</span> +38 inches long, for the long spreaders. Two strips of cloth +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i258'></a><img src='images/fig-244.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 244. Cleat for Spreader. +</span> +</span> +81 inches long, hemmed at each edge to a width of 13 inches. +Whittle out twelve cleats to the form +shown in Fig. 244. At the ends of +the 15-inch spreaders nail cleats on +each side with long wire brads, so as +to form forks, as shown in Fig. +245, in which two of the corner sticks are held. The +short spreaders are fastened to the corner sticks, 7 inches +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i259'></a><img src='images/fig-245.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 245. Corner Stick and Spreader. +</span> +</span> +from the ends, with brads +driven through the cleats, +making the frame (as in Fig. +246). To prevent the frame +from skewing off sidewise it +should be braced with wire running diagonally +across from one corner stick to +the other. Ordinary soft stovepipe wire +will do. Care must be taken to have the +spreaders meet the corner sticks squarely +or at right angles. Now take one of the cloth strips and sew +its ends together to form a band. The end should be lapped +about an inch and fastened with the sailor stitch (see Fig. +223). The same +should be done to +the other cross strip, +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i260'></a><img src='images/fig-246.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 246. The Narrow Frame. +</span> +</span> +and then each band +should be marked +off with pencil lines +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238'></a>238</span> +at four points, all equidistant from +each other. The two bands may +now be tacked to the two ends of +the frame with opposite pencil lines +over the edges of the corner sticks, +as in Fig. 247. The +two remaining corner +sticks are then +nailed to the +bands at the two +other pencil lines. +These corner +sticks will now be braced +apart by the long spreaders, +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i261'></a><img src='images/fig-247.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 247. Tacking on the Cloth. +</span> +</span> +which are notched to +the right length to stretch +the cloth taut. A cleat is +nailed over each notch, as shown in Fig. 248, forming +forks to hold the corner pieces. The long spreaders are +now forced down until they meet the short spreaders, to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239'></a>239</span> +which they are tied with waxed string. The long spreaders +may be nailed to the corner sticks by driving brads right +through the cloth into the cleats and the sticks. The belly +band may be fastened to any one of the corner sticks at the +spreaders, and from the points where it is tied it should +measure about 45 inches in length. The point where the +main string should be attached to the belly band may be best +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i262'></a><img src='images/fig-248.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 248. Forked End of Long Spreader. +</span> +</span> +determined by experiment.”</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i263'></a><img src='images/fig-249.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 249. The Diamond Box Kite. +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240'></a>240</span><a id='link_21'></a>CHAPTER XXI.<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE WATER WHEEL.</span></h2> + +<p>Summer found us again on Willow Clump Island with +heads full of new ideas. Bill had come across an old copy +of Ewbanks’ “Hydraulics” in the school library. It was a +book describing machines of the ancients–principally devices +for raising water. Rather dry reading, I thought, even +though it was a wet subject; but Bill seemed to find it absorbingly +interesting. I came in late one afternoon, after a +glorious game of baseball, only to find Bill poring over the +yellowed leaves of the “Hydraulics” as fascinated as most +fellows would be over a detective story. It exasperated me +to note that he thought more of this old book than he did of +our baseball team.</p> + +<p>“Bill,” I exclaimed, “what’s got into you? I can’t for +the life of me see what is so entertaining in that prehistoric +book.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, go way. Don’t bother me,” was the surly reply.</p> + +<p>But I wouldn’t be put off that way. Quickly I snatched the +book from his grasp and threw it out the window.</p> + +<p>“Now, sir,” I cried, “maybe you will kindly explain to +me why you persist in studying that old volume, to the neglect +of our baseball team.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241'></a>241</span>“Don’t get so excited, old chap,” he replied. “That book +is all right. I’m studying up some new schemes for next +year’s expedition to Willow Clump Island. Why, there are +lots of things in that old book that we can make.” And he +proceeded to unfold his plans, sketching out some curious +designs of water wheels and pumps.</p> + +<p>By the time school closed for the summer Bill had thoroughly +digested that volume, and was ready to reconstruct +many of the ancient machines.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Water Wheel.</p> + +<p>Our first work on reaching the island was to erect a water +wheel, or “noria,” as it was called in the book, in front of +the camp. It had been a great nuisance to keep our filter +barrel full. Every few days we would have to form a +bucket brigade, passing pails of water up the line until the +barrel was filled. Now Bill proposed to do away with all +this bother and let the river do the work for us.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Surveying for the Water Wheel.</p> + +<p>We first determined the height of the upper filter barrel +above the level of the river. This was done with our surveying +instrument, which was set level with the top of the +barrel. We sighted with the instrument to a long pole that +was held upright at the edge of the water. The pole had +been marked off into feet with white chalk marks, and on +sighting through the sight holes we found that the hairs +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242'></a>242</span> +came in line with the eleventh chalk mark. The top of the +filter was, therefore, 11 feet above the level of the river. +Bill figured that it would be necessary to construct a wheel +about 15 feet in diameter in order to raise the water to the +proper height.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i264'></a><img src='images/fig-250.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 250. Surveying for the Water Wheel. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Towers for the Water Wheel.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i265'></a><img src='images/fig-251.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 251. Frame for Large Tower. +</p> +</div> + +<p>First +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243'></a>243</span> +we built the towers to +support the wheel. One tower +was 16 feet high and the other +only 10 feet. The large tower +was made something like a +very tall and narrow saw-horse. +Two stout poles 17 +feet long were flattened at +their upper ends and +nailed together, with the +ends projecting about a +foot, as shown in Fig. +251. At the bottom +these poles were +spaced 8 feet apart by a cross bar, and about 9-1/2 feet from +the bottom a pair of boards were nailed to opposite sides of +the pole to serve as supports for the axle of the water wheel. +Another pair of 17-foot poles was now similarly fastened +together and then the two pairs were spaced about 12 feet +apart and connected at the top and bottom with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244'></a>244</span> +boards.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i266'></a><img src='images/fig-252.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 252. The Large Tower. +</p> +</div> + +<p>At the top two smooth +boards were used and +these were nailed to +the inner sides of the +projecting ends, +which were tapered +off. In this manner +a V-shaped +trough was +formed. The +boards were +firmly nailed together +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i267'></a><img src='images/fig-253.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 253. V-shaped Trough. +</span> +</span> +at their meeting edges so as to prevent them from +warping apart. A diagonal brace at each corner made the +wedge-shaped tower very substantial. A number of cleats +nailed to one of the poles +provided a ladder by which +we could mount to the top +of the tower. The shorter +tower was a three-legged +affair, made of three +12-foot poles. At first two +of these were flattened and nailed +together at their upper ends, and +they were braced at the top and +bottom. The third leg was then +nailed in place and braced by cross +bars connecting it with the other +two poles.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Wheel.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i268'></a><img src='images/fig-254.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 254. The Small Tower. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_245'></a>245</span>We were now ready to +make the wheel. From +Lumberville four 1/2-inch +boards, each 3 inches wide +and 15 feet long, were procured; +also a bar of iron 3/4 +of an inch in diameter and +2 feet long. At the center +of one of the boards a block +of wood 4 inches long and +4 inches in diameter was +nailed on for a hub. A +3/4-inch hole was +now drilled through +this hub and the +board. Holes were also drilled into the +other boards at their centers. Then they +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i269'></a><img src='images/fig-255.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 255. The Hub. +</span> +</span> +were all strung onto the bar and +spaced like spokes at equal angles +apart. Bill had figured it out +some way that the ends of the +boards should be just about 5 feet 10-1/2 inches +apart. When the boards were all arranged we +nailed them together at the center, and connected +the ends with narrow tie boards, as +indicated in Fig. 256.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Buckets.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i270'></a><img src='images/fig-256.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 256. The Water Wheel. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_246'></a>246</span>Eight large +tomato cans were +now procured and +fastened to the +spokes at the ends +on the inner side, that +is, the side the hub was +nailed to. We couldn’t +very well nail on the cans, +so we punched two holes in +the side of each can and then secured them to the spokes by +passing bolts through these holes and the boards.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Paddles.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i271'></a><img src='images/fig-257.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 257. A Paddle. +</p> +</div> + +<p>Then we cut sixteen paddles of the form +shown in Fig. 257. Eight of these were 12 +inches long, and the rest measured 18 inches. +A slot 3 inches deep was cut in each paddle +of just the right width to slip over the tie +boards. The shorter paddles were fastened +on just back of the spokes, and the rest were +secured half-way between each spoke. The +paddles were braced by stretching a wire +from one to another all the way around the +wheel.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Receiving Trough.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i272'></a><img src='images/fig-258.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 258. How the Paddles and Cans Were Attached. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_247'></a>247</span>Our next task was to nail +the receiving trough in +place on the higher +tower. We set up +the towers on land +and mounted the +wheel between them +with the axle resting +in the crotch of the +short tower and in a +deep notch cut in the +cross boards of the +larger one. The cans on the +wheel faced the larger tower, +but the hub at the center and +a block nailed to the larger +tower spaced the wheel far +enough out so that the cans did not strike the tower as they +revolved. We carefully measured the distance between the +spokes and the larger tower, and +then built a square trough of a +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i273'></a><img src='images/fig-259.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig 259. The Receiving Trough. +</span> +</span> +size to just fit into this space. +This trough was nailed across +the end of the V-shaped trough +on top of the tower, but a notch +was cut in the side so that the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_248'></a>248</span> +water would pour from the square or receiving trough into +this V-shaped one. The square trough was about 8 feet +long and its sides were 12 inches high; but at the ends we +had to cut them down to a height of but 6 inches, so as to +permit the cans to pass without hitting them.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Setting Up the Towers.</p> + +<p>Our filter was located nearly 20 feet from the end of the +river, and in order to get a good current of water to revolve +our wheel we had to place it about 15 feet from shore. +This necessitated building a trough line 35 feet long. Ten +feet of this line were already provided in the top of the tall +tower. This tower was now set up in place with the legs +firmly wedged into holes excavated in the bottom of the +river. The legs on the shore side were sunk a little deeper, +so as to tilt the trough slightly shoreward. The outer end +of the trough was about 12 feet above the level of the water. +We needed but one more tower to support the remainder of +the trough line. This tower was built like the first one, but +was much shorter, as it was erected on land and the level of +the trough at the top had to be 5 or 6 inches lower so as to +make the water flow. We connected the towers by another +V-shaped trough section. This we nailed to the under side +of the first trough and to the inside of the second trough. +The latter was then in the same way connected by a trough +section with the upper filter barrel. We now rigged up our +shorter tower about a foot from the taller one, wedging in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_249'></a>249</span> +the legs so that the top came level with the slotted boards +of the other tower.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Mounting the Water Wheel.</p> + +<p>Then came the task of mounting our wheel in place. We +were working in a pretty strong current and found it no +easy matter. In the first place, the wheel was floated down to +the towers, but there it got jammed and we couldn’t lift it +up. One of the paddles was broken and a bucket wrenched +off before we could disentangle the wheel from the towers, +and then the wheel was carried quite a distance down-stream +before we could drag it in to shore.</p> + +<p>Our next attempt was more successful. This time we +anchored the wheel so that it just cleared the towers, then +fastening a couple of long guy ropes to it, we raised the wheel +on edge, while a boy stood on each side holding the ropes to +keep the wheel steady. The anchor rope was now slowly +paid out and the wheel was rolled in between the towers. +This done, the wheel was lifted up and the axle rod was +pushed in, with the ends of the rod resting in slots of the +boards on the tall tower and in the crotch on the shorter +one. To prevent the axle rod from working endwise out +of its bearings, we nailed pieces of wood across the crotch +and the slots against the ends of the rod. Then we cast off +the anchor rope and our wheel started work, the cans dipping +up the water as they were carried around by the wheel +and pouring it out of the top into the receiving trough, from +which the water flowed down into the filter barrel.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Cooling the Filter Barrel.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i274'></a><img src='images/fig-260.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 260. The Water Wheel in Action. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_250'></a>250</span>The trough line was very leaky and a great deal of water +splashed out of the buckets. But for all that, within a few +moments our barrel was full and overflowing. We hadn’t +figured on its filling so rapidly, but we soon found a way of +utilizing the surplus water. It was led to a half-barrel in +which we washed our dishes, and from there it flowed +through a ditch back to the river. The water for the wash +barrel was taken from the top of the upper filter barrel. +But we let the lower filter barrel flow over so that it would +be kept wet on the outside. Our filter was fortunately +placed at a point where a good breeze struck it, and we +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_251'></a>251</span> +shoveled away the earth that had been piled around it so +that the wind playing on the wet barrel evaporated the +moisture, making the water inside very cool.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Canvas Bucket.</p> + +<p>This same trick was used for cooling our drinking water +whenever we went off on an expedition away from camp. +We had a heavy canvas bucket, the kind used on ships. We +would fill this bucket with water and then hang it up in the +wind. The water seeping out of the pores of the bucket +would be evaporated by the wind, and this would, in a few +moments, make the water inside delightfully cool. Such +buckets may be bought for $1.50 to $2.00 apiece, but ours +was a home-made affair, and made somewhat differently from +the store kind. The canvas used was the heaviest we could +find. A piece 9 inches in diameter was cut out for the +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i275'></a><img src='images/fig-261.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 261. Bottom of Bucket. +</span> +</span> +bottom. A ring 7 inches in diameter, made of heavy brass +wire, was laid on the canvas, and the cloth was turned over +it and sewed down the inside of the ring. For the sides of +the bucket we cut a piece 14 inches wide and 23 inches long. +The upper edge was strengthened by a piece of light rope +held in place by hemming the cloth over it. The lower edge +was now sewed to the bottom, +just inside the wire ring and +then the ends of the piece were +joined, completing the sides +of the bucket. The bail of the +bucket was formed of a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_252'></a>252</span> +piece of rope fastened to the roped upper edge of the +bucket.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i276'></a><img src='images/fig-262.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 262. The Canvas Bucket. +</p> +</div> + +<p>But to return to the current wheel; the day after it was +completed, when I went over to Lumberville for the mail, I +was met by old Jim Halliday, who wanted to know what sort +of a rig we had out on the river. I told him, and after a dint +of much persuasion, induced him to take a ride back in the +scow with me. He had never visited our camp and hadn’t +realized how handy we were +with the tools, because, with +the exception of the current +wheel, all our work had been +done on the opposite side of +the island. We made him a +guest of honor, showing him +over the whole place. The +bridges struck him as remarkably +clever, but what pleased +him most was our current +wheel.</p> + +<p>“I swan,” he said. “Ef that ain’t jest the thing I have +been awantin’ for the past twenty year. What’ll ye sell +me the hull plant fer, boys?”</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Mr. Halliday’s Water Wheel.</p> + +<p>We thought he was fooling at first, but when he had +assured us that he was in earnest, Bill told him that we +needed our own plant, but we could build him a similar +and even better current wheel for any amount he thought +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_253'></a>253</span> +it was worth to him. The figure settled on was six dollars +(a dollar apiece) for our work, Mr. Halliday paying for +the material. It was not a +large sum, but it seemed +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i277'></a><img src='images/fig-263.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 263. Mr. Halliday’s Water Wheel. +</span> +</span> +a lot to us, and considering +the scarcity of +money in that region +it was pretty generous +pay. We built Mr. +Halliday’s current +wheel just like our +own, except that the paddles were much broader, and instead +of using cans for the buckets Mr. Halliday supplied us with +small dinner pails. The method of fastening on the pails +is shown in Fig. 263. A stick was nailed across the end of +each spoke and the bail of the pail was held by a screw eye +threaded into this stick. The pails would hang straight, +holding all the water without spilling a drop until the receiving +trough was reached. This trough was fastened high +enough to strike the bottom of the pails as they went by, +tipping them over and emptying them of their contents. +From the trough the water ran directly into a large cider +barrel and from here was carried through a pipe to Mr. +Halliday’s barn. A stopcock was here provided so that +he could turn the water on or off, as he desired. The use of +pails was a great improvement on tin can buckets. Fully +three times as much water was poured into the receiving +trough, because not a drop was spilled out on the way up.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_254'></a>254</span><a id='link_22'></a>CHAPTER XXII.<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE LOG CABIN.</span></h2> + +<p>Immediately after fitting out Jim Halliday with his +water wheel we set to work on our log cabin. As a model +we had a photograph of a log hut which Uncle Ed had sent +us. As the cabin was designed particularly for use in +winter time, we decided that it should be located where it +would be sheltered from the northern winds and would be +exposed to the sun. The ideal spot seemed to be on the +southern shore of Kite Island, which was backed by a thick +grove of trees but gave an unobstructed view in front for +a distance of about four miles down-stream.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Foundation of Log Cabin.</p> + +<p>First we staked out the plan of the house. It was to be +12 feet long by 10 feet wide, so we leveled off a space of this +area, and at the corners, where the greatest weight of the +building would come, large rocks were embedded in the +ground.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A Logging Expedition.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_255'></a>255</span>The logs for the house were cut from a tract of wooded +land about five miles up the river, belonging to Mr. Schreiner. +To be sure we could have cut the timber from our +own island, but when Reddy had said something to his father +about our building a log cabin, Mr. Schreiner had warned +us not to cut down any of the trees without the owner’s permission. +All we could learn about the owner was that his +name was Smith, and that he lived somewhere in New York +city. It seemed unlikely that he would ever have anything +to say about our cutting down a few trees, but rather +than run any risk Mr. Schreiner advised us to make use of +his woods for any timber we might need. Accordingly we +started out early one morning on a logging expedition. We +had no apparatus for handling any logs more than 6 or 8 +inches in diameter, and Bill reckoned it out that we would +have to have about fifty logs of this size for the sides of the +building alone. This did not mean that fifty trees had +to be chopped down, because we could usually cut two logs +from a single tree. As the logs would have to overlap about +a foot at each corner, we had to cut the longer ones to a +length of 14 feet and the others to a length of 12 feet. Aside +from these we had to have several 16-foot logs for the roof. +Only the straightest logs were chosen, and while Bill and +Reddy wielded the axes the rest of us hacked off the small +branches with hatchets and hauled the sticks down the river. +Here we tied them together to make a raft.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Log Raft.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_256'></a>256</span>This was done by running a pair of ropes alternately over +and under the logs at each end (see Fig. 264). About +fifteen were thus fastened together, and then as an extra precaution +a log was laid across each end of the raft and tied +fast. As soon as we had cut enough timber for our first +raft, we all ceased +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i278'></a><img src='images/fig-264.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 264. Tying the Logs Together. +</span> +</span> +work, to take a ride +down the river on +the logs. Two of us, +armed with poles, +were to do the steering. +There was one +spot in the river of which +we were rather apprehensive. +That was a bit of shallow, swift water three miles +from camp. A line of rocks jutted up from the river, forming +a natural dam which was broken only at the eastern end. +The water swirled madly through this opening, and veering +off a huge rock which lay directly in front of the gap turned +sharply westward. As we neared this dam the river became +deeper and deeper, until finally we could no longer reach +bottom with the poles, and could not properly steer the boat. +For some time we drifted helplessly round and round in the +still water above the dam. Then suddenly the current +caught us and we swept like a shot for the opening. The +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_257'></a>257</span> +gap was quite wide, and had we only thought to provide +ourselves with oars we could have steered the raft clear of +the rocks below, but we were entirely at the mercy of the +current, and with a terrific crash we were hurled head on +against the boulder.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i279'></a><img src='images/illus278a.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Getting Dinner. +</p> +</div> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i280'></a><img src='images/illus278b.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +The Photo after which Our Log Cabin was Modeled. +</p> +</div> + +<p>Just what happened then I can not say. When I undertook +to record the incident in the chronicles of the S. S. I. +E. E. of W. C. I., I found there were five entirely different +versions of the affair besides my own. I knew that immediately +after the shock I found myself struggling in the +water just below the rock over which I must have been slung +by the force of the impact. Dutchy declared up and down +that he had sailed fifty feet in the air astride of a log. Bill +had been almost stunned by a blow on the head and was +clinging desperately to a jagged projection of the rock. The +ropes that had held the raft together had parted, scattering +the logs in all directions, and I could see the rest of the crew +hanging on to them for dear life.</p> + +<p>Shouting to Bill to let go his hold on the rock. I swam over +and caught him as he drifted down, then I helped him ashore. +Leaving Bill to recuperate I rushed down the bank, shouting +to the others to paddle the logs over toward shore. Then +I plunged in, and pulling myself up on the nearest log, paddled +shoreward as we had done on the planks when shooting +the rapids. In this way one by one we corralled the logs, +and after tying them together again resumed our voyage +down the river. We now had no swift water to fear and were +able to guide the raft successfully down to Lake Placid. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_258'></a>258</span> +But here we moored it, not venturing to take it past the mill-race +until we had gotten the oars from the scow and nailed +on oar locks at each side and the rear, so that we could properly +row and steer the raft safely to Kite Island.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Sail-Rigged Raft.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i281'></a><img src='images/fig-265.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 265. A Sail-rigged Raft. +</p> +</div> + +<p>When we went up the river again we carried the oars +with us, also the sail and mast belonging to our ice boat, as +there was a good breeze blowing down-stream. Our second +trip was more successful. The mast was stepped in a small +but solid box nailed to the logs. In the top of this box a +hole was cut for the mast to fit +into and then the mast was +braced with guy lines. We +came down the river in fine +style, steering straight +for the opening in the +dam, and just as we +were about to shoot +through Reddy +and I plied the +oars for all we +were worth on +the port (left) +side so as to +swing the raft +around past the +boulder. However, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_259'></a>259</span> +we didn’t escape entirely without accident, for the raft rode +up on a submerged ledge, dipping the starboard side clear +under water and nearly tipping us over. But in a moment +the raft had righted itself and we had smooth sailing for the +rest of the way.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Building the Log Cabin.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i282'></a><img src='images/fig-266.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 266. Foundation Logs Notched. +</p> +</div> + +<p>Our third expedition completed the number of logs we +required for the log cabin. Two large 12-foot logs were +chosen for the foundation logs at the front and rear of the +building. The logs were flattened along the bottom so that +they would have a firmer bearing on the ground, and particularly +on the corners, where they rested on foundation stones. +Each log was now notched about a foot from the ends. The +notches were 8 inches long and about 2 inches deep. Care +was taken to place those on one log squarely opposite the +notches on the other. A pair of 14-foot logs were now laid +across the foundation logs and rolled along them until another +half-turn would have dropped them into the notches +(shown in Fig. 266). Then notches were cut in the 14-foot +logs to correspond, so that when the final half-turn was +given one notch would fit over +the other, making a mortise +joint (Fig. 267). +When the side +logs were in +position +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_260'></a>260</span> +notches were cut in their upper surface to receive a pair of +12-foot logs which were rolled onto them, notched and +dropped into place. Then another pair of side logs were +laid on, and so the work progressed. +The notches in +each log were cut to +a depth equal +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i283'></a><img src='images/fig-267.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 267. Foundation Logs Fitted Together. +</span> +</span> +to one-quarter +the diameter of +the log; that +is, if the log was 8 inches in diameter the notch was made 2 +inches deep, and if 6 inches in diameter it was cut to a depth +of 1-1/2 inches. When the logs were laid in place no space +intervened between them, as will be clearly understood by +reference to Fig. 268.</p> + +<p>We found, after a few logs had been set in place, that our +cabin was growing faster at one end than at the other. The +trouble was that our logs were not of uniform diameter +throughout, and we had been laying the butt ends, which +were larger, all at +one end of the +building. So we +had to take down +the logs and relay +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i284'></a><img src='images/fig-268.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 268. A Corner of the Log Wall. +</span> +</span> +them with the butt +end of the front +foundation log at +one end and that of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_261'></a>261</span> +the rear foundation log at the other. Then the cross logs +were laid on with their butt ends on the small ends of the +foundation logs. The next end logs were laid with their +small ends on the butt ends of the cross logs, and so on, taking +care never to lay the butt end of one log across the butt end +of another. In this way the walls were built up evenly to a +height of 3 feet.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i285'></a><img src='images/fig-269.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 269. Piece Cut Out to Admit Saw. +</p> +</div> + +<p>We had planned to make a large open fireplace in the +cabin, and this necessitated cutting an opening in the rear +wall. But we did not want to cut the opening until the wall +was built up to its full height lest it might buckle while the +remainder of the logs were being placed in position. So +we merely cut a piece out of the top log to make room for a +saw when we were ready to cut the complete opening. As +our fireplace was to be 5 feet in width, a 5-foot piece was cut +out of the center of the log. Then the ends were supported +by cleats nailed on each side, as shown in Fig. 269. This +done the building was continued as before, but as the walls +grew we found it more and more difficult to raise the logs to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_262'></a>262</span> +position. We could not lift them directly to the top of the +wall, but had to roll them up on “skids”; that is, on a pair +of 14-foot logs which were laid against the top of the wall. +When the walls had reached a height of about 5 feet above +the foundation logs, a length 4 feet 9 inches long was cut +out of the top log to allow space for sawing out the front +door and window, and also a 30-inch piece was cut out for the +side window. Cleats temporarily held the sawed ends of +the logs, while the walls were +carried on up to a height of a +little over 6 feet from +the foundation logs.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Roof of the Log Cabin.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i286'></a><img src='images/fig-270.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 270. Skids +</p> +</div> + +<p>Then we started laying the roof. A 16-foot log was now +notched in place at each side, with its forward end projecting +about 3 feet over the front of the cabin to form a shelter in +front of the building. A pair of 12-foot logs were then laid +in position. The next pair of 16-foot logs were laid about +20 inches in from the sides, and after a pair of the cross logs +had been set in place a third pair of logs were laid about +40 inches from the sides. Finally, a single 16-foot log was +set in place at the center, to serve as the ridge beam of the +roof. The roof logs were all carefully tested to see if they +were sound before we laid them in place, because we did not +want to run any risk of the roof falling in, particularly in the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_263'></a>263</span> +winter time, when it would be heavily covered with snow. +A chalk line was drawn from the ridge beam to the lower +roof beam, and the cross logs were sawed off along this line, +as indicated in Fig. 271. Several slabs were now procured +and laid across the roof beams to serve as rafters. These +rafters projected about 18 inches beyond the side walls of +the cabin, so as to support the eaves. Over the rafters we +laid a roofing of slabs, starting with the bottom and lapping +them, as we had done on our tree house.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i287'></a><img src='images/fig-271.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 271. How the Roof Logs were Laid. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Door and Window Frames.</p> + +<p>We were now ready to cut out and frame the doors and +window openings. The front window of the cabin was to be +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_264'></a>264</span> +close beside the door, so we merely widened the door opening +at the top to include the window opening as well (see Figs. +271 and 272). The door was made 2-1/2 feet wide, and was +cut down to the foundation logs. The window opening was +cut to a depth of 24 inches. Before sawing out the opening +we wedged pieces of wood between the logs along the line +we were to follow with the saw, so as to keep them in +place. After the opening had been made a couple of stout +boards were nailed to the sawed ends of the logs at each +side, to hold them securely in place and make a suitable framing +for the door. The cleats were then removed. The +foundation log and the one at the top of the opening were +flattened, to serve as the sill and lintel of the door. Between +the door and window a short post was wedged in place. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_265'></a>265</span> +This post was flattened on opposite sides, so that the door +jamb could be nailed against it on one side and the window +frame on the other. The side window was next cut out +and framed. After it had been framed it measured 2 feet +square.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i288'></a><img src='images/fig-272.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 272. The Finished Roof. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Fireplace.</p> + +<p>Then came the task of building our fireplace. First we +sawed out the opening, cutting right through the rear foundation +log. Then we gathered from the river a large number +of the flattest stones we could find. With these we planned +to build the three outer walls of our chimney. But the question +of getting mortar to bind the stones together bothered +us for a while.</p> + +<p>“If only we could find a bed of clay. Don’t any of you +know of one around here?” queried Bill.</p> + +<p>But none of us remembered seeing any clay bed in the +vicinity.</p> + +<p>“If we were in south Jersey now,” I said, “we could +use some of that red mud they have down there. It sticks +like the mischief to shoes and pant legs. I bet it would hold +those stones together.”</p> + +<p>“Red mud? Why there’s plenty of it over the hill, back +of Lumberville,” said Reddy. “All the roads over there are +red shale roads, and I saw some red banks along the river +when we went after the logs.”</p> + +<p>That was just what we wanted. The banks Reddy referred +to turned out to be genuine red shale, and soon we had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_266'></a>266</span> +ferried several scow loads of the stuff down to Kite Island. +When the shale was wet it made quite a sticky mortar. The +foundations of the chimney were laid in a trench about 2 feet +deep, and the side walls of the chimney were carried inside +of the cabin and covered the ends of the logs at the chimney +opening. The side walls extended outward a distance of +3 feet, where they were joined by the rear wall of the +chimney.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Proper Way to Build a Stone Wall.</p> + +<p>In making our chimney we could not rely on the red shale +to hold the stones as firmly as good lime mortar would, so +we had to be careful that each stone, as it was laid, had a +firm bearing. The stones were embedded in a thick layer +of mud, and if they showed any tendency to teeter we +propped them up by wedging small stones under them until +they lay solid. Another thing that we were very careful +about was to “break joints”; that is, to keep the joints in +each layer of the stones from coinciding with those in the +next layer, above or below. To make sure of this we made +it a point to lay a stone over each joint in the top of the wall +and then to fill in the space between the stones with smaller +stones. In this way the wall was made very substantial.</p> + +<p>When the masonry had been carried up to the top of the +chimney opening, a heavy timber about 12 inches wide was +laid across the walls close against the wall of the building. +This was to support the fourth wall of the chimney, and so +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_267'></a>267</span> +we flattened its upper surface. To prevent it from catching +fire it was covered with a thick plastering of mud, and then +to keep the mud from cracking and flaking off we procured +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i289'></a><img src='images/fig-273.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 273. How to Build a Wall. +</span> +</span> +a piece of tin and +tacked it over the +log. The tin also +extended over the +top log of the +opening. Then +we went on with +the building of the chimney walls, carrying them up about a +foot above the ridge of the roof. Our chimney was completed +by paving the bottom with stones, well packed in mud +and nicely smoothed off to make the hearth. The hearth +extended about 18 inches into the cabin, and was framed with +logs, as shown in Fig. 275.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Floor of the Cabin.</p> + +<p>A number of logs were now laid on the ground to serve as +floor beams. Slabs were used for the floor. We had some +trouble in making the floor perfectly even, because the floor +beams were rather irregular, and a great deal of time was +spent in smoothing the logs off to a common level. If we had +the work to do over again we would have bought two or +three planks and laid them on edge to support the flooring.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i290'></a><img src='images/fig-274.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 274. Building the Chimney. +</p> +</div> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i291'></a><img src='images/fig-275.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 275. Section through the Fireplace. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Door Hinges and Latch.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_269'></a>269</span>A door was now constructed by battening together a number +of slabs. In place of a hinge a hole was drilled into the +sill and another into the lintel directly in line with it. Two +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i292'></a><img src='images/fig-276.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 276. The Door Hinges. +</span> +</span> +sticks of wood were then whittled to fit snugly, but without +jamming, into these holes. These sticks were then nailed to +the inner face of the door, with their whittled ends projecting +into the holes, forming +pintles on which the +door could turn. A narrow +strip of wood was +nailed to the outer jamb +for the door to close +against. The latch consisted +of a stick of wood, +fastened to the door at +one end with a nail. It +hooked onto a catch +whittled out of hard +wood to the form illustrated in Fig. 278, and nailed to the +jamb. Then to keep the latch from dropping too far when +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i293'></a><img src='images/fig-277.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 277. The Latch Guard. +</span> +</span> +the door was open, and to guide it when slammed against the +catch, we whittled out a guard piece to the form illustrated +in Fig. 277, and nailed this to the door, with the latch projecting +through the slot of the guard. A string was now +fastened to the latch and passed through a hole in the door. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_270'></a>270</span> +A block was tied to the end of the latch string to +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i294'></a><img src='images/fig-278.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 278. Door Catch. +</span> +</span> +prevent it from slipping back through the hole; +but at night, when we did not want to be molested +by any intruders, we untied +the block and drew +in the latch string.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Window Sash.</p> + +<p>For our windows we made wooden sashes which fitted +nicely into the window openings. A small hole was drilled +through the sash at each side into the frame, and nails inserted +in these holes held the sash in place, and served also +as hinge pins for the sash to turn on. The sash could be +taken out at any time by removing +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i295'></a><img src='images/fig-279.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 279. The Latch. +</span> +</span> +these nails. As we +could not afford to use glass +for our windows, we covered +the sashes first with cloth, and +later, when it occurred to us +that in winter time it would be +difficult to keep the cold air +out, we used oiled paper.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Bunks.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i296'></a><img src='images/fig-280.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 280. Hinged Window Sash. +</p> +</div> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i297'></a><img src='images/fig-281.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 281. Bunks. +</p> +</div> + +<p>Our next work was directed +toward providing sleeping +accommodations in the log +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_271'></a>271</span> +cabin. A large log was laid on the floor the full length of the +cabin, as far out as possible without interfering with the +opening of the front +door. Stakes were laid +across this log, with their +opposite ends wedged in +between the logs of the +wall. A nail or two in +each slab held it in place. +This formed a sort of +shelf 12 feet long, which +was divided at the center +to form two bunks, each wide enough for two persons. But +as there were six of us in the society, we had to provide two +more berths. A stout post was set into a hole in the ground, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_272'></a>272</span> +and nailed firmly at the bottom to the lower berth log and +at the top to one of the roof beams. This post supported a +second berth log, which extended the full length of the building +at a height of about 3 feet from the floor, and was +wedged at the ends between the logs of the house. Cleats +were nailed to the walls under this berth log to make it +perfectly secure. Then slabs were nailed across it to form +the two bunks.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Stopping up the Chinks.</p> + +<p>The log cabin was completed by stopping up all the chinks +between the logs of the walls. Strips of wood and bits of +bark plastered with mud were driven into all the cracks and +crevices until everything was made perfectly tight.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_273'></a>273</span><a id='link_23'></a>CHAPTER XXIII.<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE WINDMILL.</span></h2> + +<p>When our log cabin was completed we immediately +transferred our camp from the tent to the hut. But at the +very outset we were confronted with the problem of getting +drinking water. We hadn’t thought of that before. It was +easy enough to move the filter barrels, but when it came to +moving the water wheel we could find no suitable place for it +anywhere near the log cabin. The water of Lake Placid was +too quiet, while the mill-race and the rapids on the other side +of Kite Island ran so swiftly that we were afraid the water +wheel would be swept away with its course. The matter +was carefully considered at a special meeting of the society. +It occurred to Bill that we might build a windmill in place +of the water wheel, and use it to pump water from a well +which could be dug near the hut.</p> + +<p>“We wouldn’t have to use a filter, then,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Why not?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“Why, because the sand of the island will strain out +all the dirt in the water. You see, the water in the well will +have to soak in from the river, and by the time it gets through +all the gravel and sand between the river and the well it +ought to be filtered pretty clear.”</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Digging the Well.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_274'></a>274</span>That sounded logical, and so we adopted the plan at once. +We chose a spot quite near the hut for our well. When we +had dug down about 6 feet we struck water, but continued +excavating until the water lay 3 feet deep in the well. +While making the excavation we shored up the sides with +planks, to prevent the loose soil from falling in on us and +smothering us, as it so nearly did when we were digging our +first cave. By “shoring,” I mean we lined the walls with +planks, which were driven into the ground with large wooden +mallets. The planks were braced apart with sticks at frequent +intervals. As the well hole grew deeper we had to +rig up a bucket to haul the dirt out. Our bucket was a soap +box attached to a rope, which +passed through a pulley at the +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i298'></a><img src='images/fig-282.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 282. Digging the Well. +</span> +</span> +top of the well. The pulley +was supported by a tripod +made by firmly lashing +together the +upper ends of +three stout +poles and +spreading their +lower ends far +enough apart +to straddle the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_275'></a>275</span> +mouth of the well, as shown in Fig. 282. After the well +had been carried down to a sufficient depth, we began laying +the stone wall, which was to form the permanent lining. We +knew that the wooden walls would not do, because they would +soon decay. Our stone wall, which +was built up of flat stones like the +chimney of the log house, was not +very strong, I fear, and had not the +soil around it been pretty firm it +would probably have caved in. +However, if it served no other +purpose, it formed a fairly good +finish for the well.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Windmill Tower.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i299'></a><img src='images/fig-283.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 283. Frame for the Tower. +</p> +</div> + +<p>The mouth of the well was +carefully covered with planks +while we constructed the windmill +above it. For the tower of +the windmill we chose four long +sticks. They must have measured +about 16 feet in length, and +were from 4 to 6 inches in diameter. With them we made +two frames of the form given in Fig. 283, using slabs to +brace them apart. These frames were now set in position, +with their lower ends firmly planted in holes in the ground, +and the tower was completed by nailing on a number of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_276'></a>276</span> +diagonal braces. A couple of boards were nailed across the +upper ends at opposite sides, and holes were drilled through +them to provide bearings for the wind wheel shaft.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Crank Shaft.</p> + +<p>The shaft was a piece of heavy iron rod which we procured +from the blacksmith at Lumberville. Under Bill’s +direction the blacksmith hammered a U-shaped bend at the +center of the shaft, so as to form a crank, and then he flattened +the rod near the ends (see Fig. 284). When the shaft +was set in its place these flat spots lay just outside of the +bearing boards, and +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i300'></a><img src='images/fig-284.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 284. The Crank Shaft. +</span> +</span> +then, to keep the +shaft from sliding +back and forth in its +bearings, we fastened +on two clamps +over these flattened parts. The clamps were made of pairs of +hardwood blocks bolted together in the manner indicated +in Fig. 285.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Wind Wheel.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i301'></a><img src='images/fig-285.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 285. A Clamp. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_277'></a>277</span>Our next task was to construct +the wind wheel. First +we procured three boards, each +3 inches wide and 3-1/2 feet +long. A 1/2-inch hole was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_278'></a>278</span> +drilled in the center of each +board, and then, with these +holes coinciding, the boards +were nailed together, with +their ends projecting, like +spokes, equally distant from +each other. Six wedges were +now made of the size indicated +in Fig. 286. These were made of a 2 x 4-inch scantling, +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i302'></a><img src='images/fig-286.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 286. Wedge for Wind Wheel. +</span> +</span> +sawed diagonally in two and then planed down to the given +dimensions. The wedges were now nailed firmly to the spokes, +as shown in Fig. 286. For the blades we used six thin +boards, each about 4 feet +long. Each blade measured +10 inches in width +at the outer end, and +tapered down to a width +of 3 inches at the inner +end, as illustrated in Fig. +288. The blades were +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i303'></a><img src='images/fig-287.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 287. Spokes of Wind Wheel. +</span> +</span> +now securely nailed to +the wedges, and their +outer ends were braced +together by means of +wires stretched from the forward edge of each blade to the +rear edge of the next one ahead. The wheel was then fitted +onto the shaft and nailed to one of the clamps. In this way +it was practically keyed to the shaft.</p> + +<p>We did not make any vane for our windmill. It did not +need any. The wind nearly always blew either up or down +the river, more often up the river, for the prevailing summer +winds in that part of the country are southerly. But, +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i304'></a><img src='images/fig-288.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 288. Wind Wheel Blade. +</span> +</span> +aside from that, +east and west +winds could not +very well reach us +on account of the hills on both sides of the river. The wheel +was set facing the north, because the strongest winds came +from that direction, and as an extra brace against these winds +we stretched wires from the projecting end of the shaft to the +center of each blade.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A Simple Break.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i305'></a><img src='images/fig-289.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 289. The Wind Wheel. +</p> +</div> + +<p>A brisk northerly +wind was blowing +when we set the +wheel in place, and +it began to revolve +at once, before we +could nail it to the +clamp. To stop it +we nailed a stick of +wood to the tower, +so that its end projected +in the path of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_279'></a>279</span> +the blades and kept the wheel from turning around. This +brake was swung up to the dotted position illustrated when +we were ready to have the wheel revolve, +but it could be thrown down at any time to +stop it.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Pump.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i306'></a><img src='images/fig-290.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 290. Side View of the Wind Wheel, showing Brake. +</p> +</div> + +<p>Our pump was made +of a galvanized leader +pipe; that is, a pipe used +to carry off rain water +from the roof of the +house. The pipe was +only about 8 feet long, +and so we had to piece it +out with a long wooden +box pipe. A block closed +the lower end of this +box, and the leader pipe +fitted snugly into a hole +in the block (Fig. 291). A spout was set into the upper end +of the box pipe to carry the water to the cask, which was to +serve as our water reservoir.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Pump Valves.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i307'></a><img src='images/fig-291.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 291. The Box Pipe. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_280'></a>280</span>We plugged the bottom of the leader pipe with a block +of wood, in the center of which a large hole was drilled. +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i308'></a><img src='images/fig-292.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 292. The Lower Valve. +</span> +</span> +The hole was covered with a piece of leather nailed at one +side, so that it could lift up to let water +into the pipe. The piston was made of +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i309'></a><img src='images/fig-293.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 293. The Piston Valve. +</span> +</span> +a disk of wood of slightly smaller diameter than the inside +of the pipe, and over it was fastened a piece of leather just +large enough to fit snugly against the walls of the pipe. +This piston was fastened to a wooden rod long enough to +reach from well within the pipe to the wind wheel shaft. +A strip of brass was bent over the crank, or U-shaped +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_281'></a>281</span> +bend in the shaft, and its ends were +fastened to the rod.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i310'></a><img src='images/illus304.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +The Old Windmill at Work on a Lumberville Farm. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Action of the Pump.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i311'></a><img src='images/fig-294.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 294. Connection of Rod and Crank. +</p> +</div> + +<p>It was rather a crude pump, but it +did all the work we required of it. As +the wheel went around the crank shaft +would move the piston up and down. +Whenever the piston went down, the air +in the pipe would press up the edges of +the leather disk and squeeze past (see Fig. 295). Then +when the piston came up again, the leather disk, being backed +by the wooden disk beneath it, was kept flat, so that no air +could force its way back into the pipe. This made a partial +vacuum in the pipe, and the water from the well rushed up +through the valve at the bottom to fill it (see Fig. 296). +When next the piston went down the bottom valve closed and +more air forced its way past the piston. Then on the next +upward stroke more water flowed into the pipe, until, after +a number of strokes, all the air was pumped out and the +water which took its place began to force its way up past +the piston and eventually to flow out of the spout into the +cask.</p> + +<p>Our old windmill was sold to a farmer near Lumberville +when we broke camp that fall. We carted it over and set it +up for him. A number of years later I saw it still faithfully +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_282'></a>282</span> +at work pumping water for his cattle. The original pump +had been worn out and a new one substituted, but otherwise +the old windmill remained just as we had first rigged it up.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i312'></a><img src='images/fig-295-6.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 295. Fig. 296. Action of the Pump. +</p> +</div> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_283'></a>283</span><a id='link_24'></a>CHAPTER XXIV.<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE GRAVITY RAILROAD.</span></h2> + +<p>“About all we lack now,” said Dutchy, when the windmill +had been completed, “is a railroad.”</p> + +<p>“Then suppose we build one,” was Bill’s unexpected rejoinder.</p> + +<p>We all thought he was joking, but he wasn’t.</p> + +<p>“I don’t mean a steam railroad,” he said, “but a gravity +railroad.”</p> + +<p>“A what?”</p> + +<p>“A gravity railroad. Oh, you know what that is–a +roller toboggan–the kind they have down at Coney Island.” +And he went on to explain how we could rig up a simple +roller toboggan on our island.</p> + +<p>His plan was to build an inclined trestle on the high ground +just below the lagoon, and then run wooden tracks along the +shore down to the pontoon bridge, and across the mill-race +to Kite Island. We started first to dig a road down to the +bridge, because the bank was quite high at this point. The +task was rather greater than we anticipated, but we kept +steadily at it until we had cut a fairly good road through the +bank, though the grade was rather steep.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_284'></a>284</span>Before proceeding with the trestle and track we thought +the best plan would be to build our car, and then we could +use it as a gauge to determine how far apart the rails should +be set.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Car.</p> + +<p>First we got a 2 x 4-inch scantling, and cut from it two +lengths, each 4 feet 6 inches long. These were laid on edge +just 30 inches apart, and then a number of boards were +nailed across from one +scantling to the +other and sawed +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i313'></a><img src='images/fig-297.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 297. Putting the Car Body Together. +</span> +</span> +off flush with +their edges. The +floor thus formed +was now turned +over so that the +scantlings lay uppermost +and the sides of the car were then nailed on with +their edges overlapping the ends of the floor boards. The +sides, which were about 18 inches high, were each made of +two boards firmly battened together. Great care was taken to +securely nail both the flooring and the sides to the scantlings, +because these scantlings were to carry the wheels of the car. +The car body was completed by nailing on the end pieces +which overlapped both the flooring and the side walls.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Flanged Wheels.</p> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i314'></a><img src='images/fig-298.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 298. The Car Wheel. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_285'></a>285</span>Next we sawed out the wheels +of our car. From a board of +hardwood 3/4 of an inch thick +four disks, 12 inches in diameter, +were sawed out. Then from a +board 1 inch thick four 9-inch +disks were sawed out. We cut +these disks in the same way as we had made the disks for our +surveying rod (see page 78), by making cuts across corners +and finally smoothing off the angles with a draw-knife. A +half-inch hole was now drilled in the center of each disk. +Then on each large disk a smaller one was placed, with the +center holes of the two coinciding and the grain of one lying +across the grain of the other. In this position they were +firmly nailed together, making a wheel like those used on a +railway car, with the small disc forming the tread of the +wheel and the large disk serving as a flange.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Car Axles.</p> + +<p>For the car axles we bought four 1/2-inch bolts, 6 inches +long, with two washers and two nuts for each bolt. In +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i315'></a><img src='images/fig-299.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 299. Car Body with Axles in Place. +</span> +</span> +each side of the car, about 8 inches from the ends, we nailed +face blocks; that is, blocks of wood for the wheels to bear +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_286'></a>286</span> +against. These face blocks were +only 1/2 inch thick. Then in +these blocks holes +were drilled which +were carried clear +through the scantling. +The holes +were just large +enough for the bolts +to fit snugly in +them. The bolts were inserted from the inside, so that their +threaded ends projected out at each side of the car. A patch +of wood was nailed to the scantling over each bolt head to +prevent the bolt from slipping back into the car. Then the +wheels were mounted on these +bolts, which served as axles.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Mounting the Wheels.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i316'></a><img src='images/fig-300.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 300. Section Showing How to Fasten on the Wheel. +</p> +</div> + +<p>First a washer was +placed on the axle, +then the wheel was applied, +with the larger +or flange disk against +the face block, after +which another washer +was slipped on. A nut +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_287'></a>287</span> +was screwed against this washer just tightly enough to keep +the wheel snugly in place, and yet let it turn freely on its +axle. Then to keep this nut from shaking loose a second +nut was screwed on against it. While one fellow held the +first nut from turning, another screwed the second nut against +it as tightly as he could. The second nut is technically +known as a “jam nut,” or “lock nut.” The car was completed +by laying a couple of boards across from one scantling +to the other to serve as seats.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Railway Track.</p> + +<p>The trestle was now begun. First we erected a level platform, +which was to be the starting point of the railway. +This was made very substantial by planting the corner posts +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i317'></a><img src='images/fig-301.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 301. The Inclined Trestle. +</span> +</span> +firmly in the ground and then bracing them together with +diagonal braces. A couple of planks leaning against the +platform at one side provided a convenient +means for mounting to the top. From +the platform the trestle ran down +at an easy incline to the +ground. It was made +of 2 x 4-inch +scantlings supported +at intervals +on posts +driven into the +ground. The opposite +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_288'></a>288</span> +posts were firmly braced with boards fastened diagonally +across them. The scantlings were to serve as rails, and +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i318'></a><img src='images/fig-302.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 302. Joints of the Track. +</span> +</span> +so we fastened them at the proper distance apart with ties +nailed to the under side. But to be sure that the rails were +not too far apart or too close together, the car was rolled +over the track and the rails were +set to keep the tread disks of +the wheels on them +and the flange disks +just clear of their +inner edges. The +ends of the rails +were cut off at an angle, making a slanting joint, as shown in +Figs. 301 and 302. They were fastened firmly together by +nailing a piece of board on the bottom and also on the outer +side.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Carpenter’s Miter Box.</p> + +<p>To make sure that the ends were all cut to the same angle, +we made a carpenter’s “miter box.” Two sideboards were +nailed to a baseboard, making a trough large enough for +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i319'></a><img src='images/fig-303.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 303. Carpenter’s Miter Box. +</span> +</span> +the scantling to be +set in it. Then we +sawed through the +sides of the trough +at an angle of 45 +degrees. When we +wanted to cut the end of the scantling at an angle it was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_289'></a>289</span> +placed in the trough, and with the saw set in the saw cuts, +as a guide, we were sure that they would all be cut at the same +angle.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Laying the Track.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i320'></a><img src='images/fig-304.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 304. How the Track was Anchored. +</p> +</div> + +<p>From the bottom of +the inclined trestleway +we continued the track +down the slope to the +river; but for the +sake of economy, +instead of using +2 x 4-inch scantlings +for the rails, we +bought a number of +2-inch planks at Lumberville, +and had them +sawed up into strips 2 inches wide. These 2-inch square +rails were fastened together with slabs nailed on at frequent +intervals. To maintain the proper gauge the car was rolled +over each pair of rails, which were nailed first at the ends +and center. To anchor the track we drove short posts into +the ground so that their upper ends lay flush with the surface. +A post was provided under each joint and one under the +center of each rail, and then the slab ties were nailed securely +to these posts. In imitation of a full-sized railway, we +made it a point to “break joints” on our track; that is, to +make the end of one rail come in line with the center of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_290'></a>290</span> +opposite rail, as shown in Fig. 302. Our track was continued +across the pontoon bridge and ran around the west +shore of Kite Island. The track was straight as far as the +shore of Kite Island, whence, by an easy curve, it was carried +around to the log cabin.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The First Railway Accident.</p> + +<p>Dutchy was the first one to try the railway. He sneaked +back to the platform while the rest of us were putting a few +last touches on the track. The first we knew the car came +tearing down the track at full speed, with Dutchy yelling at +the top of his voice for us to get out of his way. Bill was +on the bridge when the car came along and he had no time +to run for shore, but with great presence of mind he jumped +into the water and clung to one of the barrels. But the +joke of it all was that Dutchy himself got a wetting too. +The track at the middle of the bridge was not quite true to +gauge. It was this very spot that Bill was fixing up when +Dutchy came along. The end of a rail was bent in far +enough to catch the flange of one of the car wheels, and in a +moment Dutchy, car and all, was slung head over heels +into the mill-race. Fortunately no serious harm was done. +Dutchy landed a little ways down-stream, and Reddy, by +quick work, managed to rescue the car just as it was floating +off under the suspension bridge. The car was undamaged +except that the flange of a wheel was split off.</p> + +<p>Of course, Bill was as mad as a hornet at Dutchy, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_291'></a>291</span> +expressed his feelings in no mild terms. But his anger was +somewhat tempered by the fact that Dutchy received as bad +a punishment as he had inflicted.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i321'></a><img src='images/illus316.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +The Start of the Gravity Railroad. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Testing the Track.</p> + +<p>We had to cut a new flange disk for the broken wheel, +and to prevent the flanges from splitting off again we nailed +a batten across the inner face of each wheel extending down +to the very edge of the flange disk. This batten was fastened +on across the grain. When everything was completed +the car was started down the track empty to see if it would +keep the rails. It went beautifully as far as the bridge, but +was too light to run much beyond. The next time we loaded +it up with stones and had the pleasure of watching it sail +down hill, across the bridge and vanish out of sight around +the shore of Kite Island. That was demonstration enough. +We knew it would carry us safely and it did. The next +time we tried it four of us piled into the small car, and in a +moment we were off on a most thrilling ride, which ended +right in front of the log cabin, where the car came to a +sudden stop after riding off the end of the rails and plowing +through the sand for a short space.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_292'></a>292</span><a id='link_25'></a>CHAPTER XXV.<br /><span class='h2fs'>THE CANTILEVER BRIDGE.</span></h2> + +<p>There is one more piece of work done by our society +which yet remains to be described, and that is the cantilever +bridge. This we all voted to be the greatest of our achievements +on the island. To be sure, it was Uncle Ed’s design, +but I think we justly deserve credit for the masterful way in +which it was erected. In our search for types of bridges +before building the king post bridge, we came across a simple +cantilever bridge that didn’t look very difficult to construct. +To be sure, none of us knew a thing about stresses and +strains, and ingenious though we were, Bill realized that the +task of designing a cantilever bridge was far beyond him. +Nevertheless, we were sure we could build one if only we +had a good set of plans. A letter was therefore mailed to +Uncle Ed, asking him for the required details. The answer +came promptly from Western Australia, asking us to send +him the exact width of the water we wished to span, the +depth of the water, the distance from the top of one bank +to the top of the other, and the exact height of the banks +above water level. We decided we would build the bridge +across the mouth of the lagoon. The distance here between +the two banks measured a little over 60 feet. The banks +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_293'></a>293</span> +were very precipitous, and rose 13-1/2 feet above the level of +the water. All these details, together with soundings of the +bottom, all the way across, were sent to Uncle Ed, and on +the day after our railway was completed quite a bulky package +was received in answer. It contained complete directions +for building the bridge of wooden frames, which were so designed +that they needed merely to be hooked together to +form the bridge, though to make the structure perfectly safe +Uncle Ed cautioned us to tie the frames together wherever +they met.</p> + +<p>I am half afraid to tell my readers how to build this +bridge, as it required the utmost care, and had to be built just +so to avoid disaster. Bridge building is a serious business, +and I would not advise any one to attempt building this, of +all bridges, who does not propose to follow instructions implicitly. +Uncle Ed told us that if we built it properly, and +with sound timbers, we would find the bridge strong enough +to support a dozen boys, but he warned us not to crowd more +than that number on it.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Frames for the Cantilever Bridge.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i322'></a><img src='images/fig-305.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 305. A Frame (make four). +</p> +</div> + +<p>The frames with which the cantilever bridge was built +were made of saplings from 3 to 4 inches in diameter. We +procured them from Mr. Schreiner’s lands up the river. In +making the frames the sticks were fastened together with +1/2-inch bolts 6 inches long. It was quite a strain on our +pocketbooks to buy these bolts, but Uncle Ed had written +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_294'></a>294</span> +that nails or spikes would +be useless to stand the +strains of so large a +bridge, and that if we +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i323'></a><img src='images/fig-306.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 306. B Frame (make four). +</span> +</span> +could not get any bolts +we had better give up the +idea of building a cantilever +bridge. To make +sure that we made no +mistakes, Uncle Ed had +made a drawing of each +different size of frame we +would need, designating +each with a different letter, +and then these same letters +were marked on a general +view of the bridge, so that +we would know exactly +where the frames belonged. +These drawings are reproduced +here in Figs. 305 to +316 and 318. We had to +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i324'></a><img src='images/fig-307.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 307. C Frame (make four). +</span> +</span> +make four frames each, of +the <i>A</i>, <i>B</i>, <i>C</i> and <i>E</i> sizes, +two each of the <i>F</i>, <i>G</i> and <i>L</i> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_295'></a>295</span> +sizes and one each of the <i>H</i>, <i>I</i>, <i>J</i> and <i>K</i> sizes. Of the <i>D</i> +frames two were made with the ends cut away on the outer +half, as illustrated in Fig. 308, and two were cut away at +the inner side, the reason for which will appear presently. +When fastening the timbers together +we cut notches in each +stick, as shown in Fig. 317. +The depth of each notch was +just one-quarter the diameter +of the stick; that is, the notch +was 3/4 of an inch deep in a +3-inch stick and 1 inch deep in a +4-inch stick. Care was taken not +to exceed this depth, for fear of +weakening the sticks. In the +case of frame <i>D</i>, the sticks were +not notched or mortised together. +It will be noticed that the measurements +are given to the inner +edges of the sticks in some cases, +and to the outer edges in others. +The reason for this, as Uncle Ed +explained it, was because the +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i325'></a><img src='images/fig-308.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 308. D Frame (make four). +</span> +</span> +thickness of our sticks would +vary considerably, and it was +important that many of the measurements +be exact, otherwise the +frames would not fit into each +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_296'></a>296</span> +other as they should. Another +thing to which he +called our attention was the +fact that frames <i>A</i>, <i>B</i>, <i>E</i>, <i>F</i>, +<i>H</i>, <i>K</i> and <i>L</i> were stiffened +with cross braces, while the +rest were not. The braced +frames, he wrote, were +those which would be under +a compression strain, while +the others would be under +tension; that is, when any +weight was placed on the +bridge it would push against +the ends of the braced +frames, trying to crush +them, but would pull on the +unbraced frames, trying to +tear them apart. In fact, +the bridge would have been +just as strong had we used +heavy iron wire in place of +the unbraced frames, and +the only reason Uncle Ed +did not recommend our +doing so was because we +had no simple way of +stretching the wire taut.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i326'></a><img src='images/fig-309.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 309. E Frame (make four). +</p> +</div> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i327'></a><img src='images/fig-310.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 310. F Frame (make two). +</p> +</div> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i328'></a><img src='images/fig-311.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 311. G Frame (make two). +</p> +</div> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i329'></a><img src='images/fig-312.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 312. H Frame (make one). +</p> +</div> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i330'></a><img src='images/fig-313.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 313. I Frame (make one). +</p> +</div> + +<div class='figright'> +<a id='link_i331'></a><img src='images/fig-314.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 314. J Frame (make one). +</p> +</div> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i332'></a><img src='images/illus324a.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fishing off the Cantilever Bridge. +</p> +</div> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i333'></a><img src='images/illus324b.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +The Cantilever Bridge in Reddy’s Back Yard. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Erecting the Towers.</p> + +<div class='figleft'> +<a id='link_i334'></a><img src='images/fig-315.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 315. K Frame (make one). +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_299'></a>299</span>We built the complete set of frames before attempting to +erect the bridge. Then we began by building the towers. +Two <i>A</i> frames were set on end and spaced 4 feet apart at the +top and 5 feet apart at the bottom, measuring not from the +inner but from the outer edges of the frames. In this position +they were connected by short spars, notched in place. +<span class='image-right'> +<a id='link_i335'></a><img src='images/fig-316.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 316. L Frame (make two). +</span> +</span> +The notches for these connecting spars will be seen in Fig. +305 on the main or vertical timbers of frame <i>A</i>, just below +the upper and middle cross sticks and above the lower cross +sticks. The upper connecting spars were wedged tightly +under the cross sticks, and served as an additional support +for them. Diagonal braces were nailed from one frame to +the other, as illustrated in Fig. 318. The towers were built +<span class='image-left'> +<a id='link_i336'></a><img src='images/fig-317.png' alt='' /><br /> +<span class='image-caption'> +Fig. 317. Notching the Sticks Together. +</span> +</span> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_300'></a>300</span> +on opposite banks, at the mouth of the lagoon, and when +completed we lowered them carefully down the banks into +the water. According to directions they were to be set just +30 feet apart, measuring from the center of one tower to +the center of the other. The water was quite shallow where +the towers rested, but the bottom was +pretty firm. Holes were dug in the +bottom for the legs of the tower to set +into, and then large stones were piled +around each leg to provide a firm +foundation for the towers.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Setting Up the Frames.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i337'></a><img src='images/fig-318.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 318. View of Part of the Bridge, with Letters Indicating the Various Frames. +</p> +</div> + +<p>A <i>B</i> frame was now hauled out to one of the towers and +lifted by its narrower end, with fall and tackle, until its lower +tie piece rested on the projecting ends of the center crosspieces +of the tower. The upper end of the frame was held +against the top of the tower, while a <i>C</i> frame was hooked +over the upper ends of the tower legs; then frame <i>B</i> was +allowed to swing outward until its smaller end locked with +the outer end of frame <i>C</i>. It will be observed in Fig. 306 +that the upper crosspiece or tie piece of frame <i>B</i> was fastened +to one side of the vertical sticks and the lower tie piece to +the other side. This was done purposely, so that when the +frame was set in position the bottom tie piece would be on +the lower side of the frame and the top piece would lie on +the upper side, as shown in Fig 318, or, better still, in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_301'></a>301</span> +Fig. 319. The rest of the frames were all arranged to be set +in place with their tie pieces on the lower side, or facing the +towers, as will be clearly understood by examining the illustrations. +As soon as the <i>B</i> and <i>C</i> frames were set up on one +side of the tower, another pair of <i>B</i> and <i>C</i> frames was set +up on the other side of the same tower. A cantilever bridge +must always be built out on both sides of the tower at the +same time, otherwise it will be overbalanced on one side and +topple over. After the <i>B</i> and <i>C</i> frames were in place we +took two <i>D</i> frames, with oppositely cut ends, and rested their +tie sticks on the top of the tower, just under the ends of the +<i>C</i> frames. The ends of the two <i>D</i> frames overlapped at the +center of the tower, and, as one was cut away at the outer +side and the other at the inner side, they fitted neatly together +and were fastened with bolts. The <i>D</i> frames were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_302'></a>302</span> +supported near their outer ends with <i>E</i> frames, which rested +on the <i>B</i> and <i>C</i> frames. Fig. 319 shows an <i>E</i> frame set in +position on the landward side of the tower, while two of the +boys are climbing out on the opposite <i>B</i> and <i>C</i> frames preparatory +to setting up the other <i>E</i> frame. A cross stick was +now bolted to each <i>D</i> frame, just beyond the upper ends of +the <i>E</i> sticks. This done, the frame <i>F</i> was hooked in between +the ends of <i>B</i> and <i>C</i>, at the shoreward side of the tower, and +its outer ends were supported by frame <i>G</i>, which was hooked +over frame <i>D</i> and the upper ends of frame <i>E</i>. The frame <i>L</i> +was then rested on the ends of frame <i>F</i> and <i>G</i>, and supported +the shore end of frame <i>D</i>. A stick nailed across frame <i>D</i> on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_303'></a>303</span> +each side of the upper ends of frame <i>L</i> served to hold the +latter in place.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Binding and Anchoring the Structure.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i338'></a><img src='images/fig-319.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 319. Preparing to Put an E Frame in Place. +</p> +</div> + +<p>As the different frames were coupled together, we bound +the overlapping ends with soft iron wire. The place where +frames <i>B</i>, <i>C</i>, <i>E</i> and <i>F</i> came together was quite a vital point, +and we took pains to make the wire binding at this place +doubly strong. As soon as the <i>L</i> frame was in place we +anchored the bridge to shore by running wires from the +ends of the <i>D</i> frame and the ends of the <i>G</i> frame to stakes +driven into the banks. The frames on the second tower were +now similarly erected and anchored, after which we were +ready to put in the center panels of the bridge.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>The Center Panels of the Bridge.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_304'></a>304</span>First, the frame <i>H</i> was wedged into place and thoroughly +fastened by a liberal winding of wire. Next the frames <i>I</i> and +<i>J</i> were set in place, and in order to do this we had to remove +the upper tie pieces of these frames. Then one frame was +hooked in the other, and the two were carried out on the +scow under the center of the bridge. Ropes were tied to the +ends of the two frames, and they were lifted together, like a +wide <i>V</i>, to the position shown in Fig. 318, after which the tie +pieces were bolted on again, resting against the ends of the <i>E</i> +frames. As an additional security, two sticks were bolted to +the under side of the frame <i>H</i>, one at each side of the <i>I</i> and <i>J</i> +frames. The bridge was then completed by wedging the +frame <i>K</i> under the ends of the <i>D</i> frames, and also placing a +stick across each tower under the joints of the <i>D</i> frames. +We planned to run our gravity railway across this bridge, +moving our platform and trestle to the opposite bank; so +instead of flooring our bridge with slabs, we fastened ties +across at intervals of 15 or 18 inches. These ties were sticks +3 inches in diameter, which were secured to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_305'></a>305</span> +the <i>D</i> frames.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>A Serious Interruption.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i339'></a><img src='images/fig-320.png' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Fig. 320. A General View of our Cantilever Bridge. +</p> +</div> + +<p>We were just preparing to lay the tracks across the bridge +when we met with a serious interruption. Mr. Halliday had +told us that a few days before our arrival that summer Mr. +Smith, the owner of the island, and another man had paid +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_306'></a>306</span> +a visit to the place. Jim Halliday himself had rowed them +over, and learned from their conversation that Mr. Smith +was trying to sell the island, and that the stranger, a Mr. +Gill, was a prospective purchaser. All summer long we had +been dreading the return of this customer, though, as time +passed without his putting in an appearance, we almost forgot +the incident. But now, at the end of August, just as we +had about completed our cantilever bridge, who should +arrive but this very man Gill and three other men with a +large tent and camping outfit. It was a sorrowful crowd of +boys that watched the wagon with their belongings ford the +shallow water over to our island. We felt that the island +was ours by right of discovery and occupation, but we were +powerless to force our claims. And what if they did not +insist on our leaving the island? It would not be the same +place with strangers around to meddle with our things.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Dispossessed.</p> + +<p>But the new owner of the island was even more of a boor +than we had anticipated. As soon as he landed he wanted +to know what we were doing on his property, and peremptorily +ordered us off. Bill answered that we were camping +there, and politely asked if we couldn’t stay out the summer. +But Gill would not listen to the idea. We must get off the +island that very day or he would see to it that we did.</p> + +<p>I tell you it made us boil. We were just itching to give +the pompous little man the sound thrashing he deserved, but +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_307'></a>307</span> +knew that we would stand a very small show against his +three powerful companions. At any rate, we were determined +not to leave at once. Instead, we repaired to Kite Island, +taking our belongings with us. Then we cut away the suspension, +spar and pontoon bridges, so that we would not be +annoyed by any of the Gill crowd. We were resolved that +they should not benefit by any of the things we had built.</p> + +<p>At the dead of night we paddled back to Willow Clump +Island, crept past the slumbering intruders and waded out +to the old water wheel. After a good deal of exertion we +managed to dislodge the smaller tower, letting the wheel +drop into the river and float away. Then we made for the +cantilever bridge. It didn’t take us very long to cut away the +wire bindings, unhook the frames and drop them into the +lagoon. But the task was quite a perilous one, as the night +was pitch black. Finally, nothing remained of the bridge +but the two towers, which were left as monuments to mark +the spot where our last piece of engineering on the island +was done.</p> + +<div class='figcenter'> +<a id='link_i340'></a><img src='images/illus336.jpg' alt='' /> +<p class='center caption'> +Building the Cantilever Bridge over Cedar Brook. +</p> +</div> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Farewell to Willow Clump Island.</p> + +<p>We spent several days on Kite Island, knowing that we +were safe from intrusion, because the Gill crowd had but +one boat, and that was on the Jersey side of the island. We +felt confident that they would not take the trouble of wading +around Point Lookout with their boats, as we had done; +nevertheless, to prevent a surprise, we kept a sentry posted +on the Lake Placid side of the island and gathered a pile of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_308'></a>308</span> +stones for ammunition. But our fun was spoiled, and we +finally decided to break camp and bid farewell forever to +Willow Clump Island and its vicinity. Our goods were +ferried over to Jim Halliday’s farm, where we were given +shelter. The windmill, as I have already stated, was sold +to a farmer at Lumberville, and we were kept busy for +several days carting it over and setting it up in place. When +everything had been done we stole back to Kite Island and +set fire to the log cabin. The next day Mr. Schreiner took +us home in a couple of his wagons. Thus ended our “investigation, +exploration and exploitation of Willow Clump +Island.” The work of two summers was practically all destroyed +in a few days.</p> + +<p class='c mt20 mb10 b cb'>Reddy’s Cantilever Bridge.</p> + +<p>I believe I have given a careful account of everything that +was recorded in the chronicles of the society. We were too +discouraged to undertake anything new in the two weeks before +school opened. I presume I might mention here Reddy’s +cantilever bridge, which, however, had really nothing to +do with the S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I., because our society +was formally disbanded the day before Bill and I returned +to school. About a month after leaving home I received +a letter from Reddy inclosing three interesting photographs, +which are reproduced herewith. Reddy certainly had the +bridge fever, because soon after we had left he started to +work, with the rest of the boys, on a cantilever bridge across +Cedar Brook. The brook was entirely unsuited to such a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_309'></a>309</span> +structure, because the banks were very low; but he made the +towers quite short and built an inclined roadway leading up +to the top of them. The legs of the towers were driven +firmly into the bank, making them so solid that he thought +it would be perfectly safe to build the frames out over the +brook without building them at the same time on the shore +side. But he had made a miscalculation, for when a couple +of the boys had crawled out on the <i>B</i> and <i>C</i> frames to set up +an <i>E</i> frame the structure commenced to sag. The trouble +was remedied by propping up the tower with a stout stick +driven into the river bottom and wedged under the upper +tie piece of the tower. The towers were really too short to +make a well proportioned bridge, for the panels had to be +made very long and narrow, so as to reach across. But on +the whole it was a very creditable structure when completed, +though it had only half as long a span as our cantilever bridge +over the lagoon.</p> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<p class='c fs13 mb20'>INDEX</p> + +<p class='c b'>A</p> + +<p class='fs09'>“A” tent, <a href='#page_207'>207</a><br /> +Abbreviations, wigwag, <a href='#page_146'>146</a><br /> +Accident, railway, the first, <a href='#page_290'>290</a><br /> +Ainu snow shoe, <a href='#page_41'>41</a><br /> +Alarm clock, a unique, <a href='#page_63'>63</a><br /> +Alphabet, wigwag, <a href='#page_145'>145</a><br /> +Alpine stock, <a href='#page_198'>198</a><br /> +Anchoring cantilever bridge, <a href='#page_303'>303</a><br /> +Annex, the, <a href='#page_50'>50</a><br /> +Arctic expedition, <a href='#page_193'>193</a><br /> +Armchair, barrel, <a href='#page_227'>227</a><br /> +Axles of railroad car, <a href='#page_285'>285</a></p> + +<p class='c b'>B</p> + +<p class='fs09'>Bags, sleeping, <a href='#page_203'>203</a><br /> +Banquets, midnight, <a href='#page_179'>179</a><br /> +Barrel armchair, <a href='#page_227'>227</a><br /> +Barrel filter, <a href='#page_68'>68</a><br /> +Barrel hoop snow shoe, <a href='#page_36'>36</a><br /> +Barrel stave hammock, <a href='#page_226'>226</a><br /> +Barrel stave snow shoe, <a href='#page_36'>36</a><br /> +Bat’s wings, <a href='#page_33'>33</a><br /> +Bed, a camp, <a href='#page_209'>209</a><br /> +Bed in shower, <a href='#page_210'>210</a><br /> +Belly band, elastic, <a href='#page_235'>235</a><br /> +Bending wood, <a href='#page_39'>39</a><br /> +Bicycle wheels, mounting frame on, <a href='#page_219'>219</a><br /> +Big Bug Club, <a href='#page_177'>177</a><br /> +“Bill,” <a href='#page_17'>17</a><br /> +Bill’s cave, <a href='#page_224'>224</a><br /> +Bill’s skate sail, <a href='#page_21'>21</a><br /> +Binding cantilever bridge, <a href='#page_303'>303</a><br /> +Blades of wind wheel, <a href='#page_278'>278</a><br /> +Boat, ice, <a href='#page_159'>159</a><br /> +Boat mooring, tramp-proof, <a href='#page_142'>142</a><br /> +Boat, scow, <a href='#page_59'>59</a><br /> +Box kite, diamond, <a href='#page_236'>236</a><br /> +Box, the black walnut, <a href='#page_19'>19</a><br /> +Brake for wind wheel, <a href='#page_278'>278</a><br /> +Bridge building, <a href='#page_95'>95</a><br /> +Bridge, cantilever, <a href='#page_292'>292</a><br /> +Bridge, king post, <a href='#page_105'>105</a><br /> +Bridge, king rod, <a href='#page_102'>102</a><br /> +Bridge, pontoon, <a href='#page_101'>101</a><br /> +Bridge, Reddy’s cantilever, <a href='#page_308'>308</a><br /> +Bridge, spar, <a href='#page_95'>95</a><br /> +Bridge, stiffening, <a href='#page_104'>104</a><br /> +Bridge, suspension, <a href='#page_99'>99</a><br /> +Bridge wreck, <a href='#page_66'>66</a><br /> +Bucket, the canvas, <a href='#page_251'>251</a><br /> +Buckets for water wheel, <a href='#page_246'>246</a><br /> +Bunks, <a href='#page_270'>270</a></p> + +<p class='c b'>C</p> + +<p class='fs09'>Camp bed, <a href='#page_209'>209</a><br /> +Camp bed in shower, <a href='#page_210'>210</a><br /> +Camp, breaking, <a href='#page_158'>158</a><br /> +Camp chair, a, <a href='#page_208'>208</a><br /> +Camp fire, a costly, <a href='#page_200'>200</a><br /> +Camp fire, kindling, <a href='#page_194'>194</a><br /> +Canoe, Indian paddling, <a href='#page_121'>121</a><br /> +Canoe lee boards, <a href='#page_119'>119</a><br /> +Canoe rudder, <a href='#page_115'>115</a><br /> +Canoe, the sailing, <a href='#page_111'>111</a><br /> +Canoe sails, <a href='#page_117'>117</a><br /> +Canoe, scooter, <a href='#page_190'>190</a><br /> +Canoe, stretching on canvas, <a href='#page_114'>114</a><br /> +Canoes, canvas, <a href='#page_109'>109</a><br /> +Cantilever bridge, <a href='#page_292'>292</a><br /> +Cantilever bridge, anchoring, <a href='#page_303'>303</a><br /> +Cantilever bridge, binding frames, <a href='#page_303'>303</a><br /> +Cantilever bridge, center panels, <a href='#page_304'>304</a><br /> +Cantilever bridge, frames for, <a href='#page_293'>293</a><br /> +Cantilever bridge, Reddy’s, <a href='#page_308'>308</a><br /> +Cantilever bridge, setting up frames of, <a href='#page_300'>300</a><br /> +Cantilever bridge towers, <a href='#page_299'>299</a><br /> +Canvas bucket, <a href='#page_251'>251</a><br /> +Canvas canoes, <a href='#page_109'>109</a><br /> +Canvas, stretching on canoe, <a href='#page_114'>114</a><br /> +Canvas tent, <a href='#page_46'>46</a><br /> +Car axles, <a href='#page_285'>285</a><br /> +Car for gravity railroad, <a href='#page_284'>284</a><br /> +Car, mounting wheels on, <a href='#page_286'>286</a><br /> +Carpenter’s miter box, <a href='#page_288'>288</a><br /> +Cave, Bill’s, <a href='#page_224'>224</a><br /> +Cave, covering the, <a href='#page_177'>177</a><br /> +Cave, excavating for, <a href='#page_173'>173</a><br /> +Cave, framing, <a href='#page_174'>174</a><br /> +Cave-in, a, <a href='#page_171'>171</a><br /> +Center panels of cantilever bridge, <a href='#page_304'>304</a><br /> +Chain, surveyor’s, <a href='#page_77'>77</a><br /> +Chair, a camp, <a href='#page_208'>208</a><br /> +Chair seat snow shoe, <a href='#page_35'>35</a><br /> +Cheek blocks, <a href='#page_162'>162</a><br /> +Chinks in log cabin, stopping up, <a href='#page_272'>272</a><br /> +Christmas vacation, <a href='#page_19'>19</a><br /> +Clamp for crank shaft, <a href='#page_276'>276</a><br /> +Clapboards, nailing on, <a href='#page_135'>135</a><br /> +Cleat, a, <a href='#page_163'>163</a><br /> +Climbing, mountain, <a href='#page_198'>198</a><br /> +Clock, a unique alarm, <a href='#page_63'>63</a><br /> +Club, the Big Bug, <a href='#page_177'>177</a><br /> +Club pin, <a href='#page_180'>180</a><br /> +Club, the Subterranean, <a href='#page_171'>171</a><br /> +Code, International Telegraph, <a href='#page_155'>155</a><br /> +Combination lock, <a href='#page_181'>181</a><br /> +Council of war, <a href='#page_139'>139</a><br /> +Crank shaft, the, <a href='#page_276'>276</a><br /> +Creepers, ice, <a href='#page_170'>170</a><br /> +Crossbow, <a href='#page_55'>55</a><br /> +Crossbow trigger, <a href='#page_57'>57</a><br /> +Cutting out disk, <a href='#page_78'>78</a></p> + +<p class='c b'>D</p> + +<p class='fs09'>Danish sail, <a href='#page_30'>30</a><br /> +Derrick, the, <a href='#page_131'>131</a><br /> +Diamond box kite, <a href='#page_236'>236</a><br /> +Digging the well, <a href='#page_274'>274</a><br /> +Disk, cutting out, <a href='#page_78'>78</a><br /> +Disk, sighting, <a href='#page_79'>79</a><br /> +Dispossessed, <a href='#page_306'>306</a><br /> +Diving tree, <a href='#page_84'>84</a><br /> +Door hinges, <a href='#page_269'>269</a><br /> +Door latch, <a href='#page_269'>269</a><br /> +Doors, sliding, <a href='#page_136'>136</a><br /> +Double mirror heliograph, <a href='#page_156'>156</a><br /> +Double surprise, <a href='#page_140'>140</a><br /> +Drill, fire, <a href='#page_69'>69</a><br /> +Drowned, how to restore, alone, <a href='#page_92'>92</a><br /> +Drowned, restoring the, <a href='#page_89'>89</a></p> + +<p class='c b'>E</p> + +<p class='fs09'>Easter vacation, <a href='#page_224'>224</a><br /> +Elastic belly band, <a href='#page_235'>235</a><br /> +Expedition, Arctic, <a href='#page_193'>193</a><br /> +Expedition, logging, <a href='#page_255'>255</a><br /> +Expedition, preparing for, <a href='#page_53'>53</a><br /> +Exploration, preliminary, <a href='#page_66'>66</a></p> + +<p class='c b'>F</p> + +<p class='fs09'>Farewell to Willow Clump Island, <a href='#page_307'>307</a><br /> +Fastener, brass, <a href='#page_58'>58</a><br /> +Filter, the barrel, <a href='#page_68'>68</a><br /> +Filter barrel, cooling the, <a href='#page_250'>250</a><br /> +Filter, the small, <a href='#page_67'>67</a><br /> +Fire drill, <a href='#page_69'>69</a><br /> +Fireplace of log cabin, <a href='#page_265'>265</a><br /> +Fireplace, outdoor, <a href='#page_195'>195</a><br /> +Fireplace, stone-paved, <a href='#page_196'>196</a><br /> +Fissure, path up the, <a href='#page_129'>129</a><br /> +Flanged wheels, <a href='#page_285'>285</a><br /> +Fly, ridge pole, <a href='#page_54'>54</a><br /> +Fly for tent, <a href='#page_54'>54</a><br /> +Fly, umbrella with, <a href='#page_211'>211</a><br /> +Focusing heliograph instrument, <a href='#page_153'>153</a><br /> +Frame on bicycle wheels, <a href='#page_219'>219</a><br /> +Frames for cantilever bridge, <a href='#page_293'>293</a><br /> +Frames of cantilever bridge, setting up, <a href='#page_300'>300</a><br /> +Friend in time of trouble, <a href='#page_201'>201</a></p> + +<p class='c b'>G</p> + +<p class='fs09'>Goblins’ Dancing Platform, <a href='#page_126'>126</a><br /> +Grass hut, <a href='#page_124'>124</a><br /> +Gravity railroad, <a href='#page_283'>283</a></p> + +<p class='c b'>H</p> + +<p class='fs09'>Halliday, Jim, <a href='#page_194'>194</a><br /> +Hammock, barrel stave, <a href='#page_226'>226</a><br /> +Harness, pack, <a href='#page_212'>212</a><br /> +Heliograph, the, <a href='#page_147'>147</a><br /> +Heliograph, double mirror, <a href='#page_156'>156</a><br /> +Heliograph instrument, focusing, <a href='#page_153'>153</a><br /> +Heliograph screen, <a href='#page_151'>151</a><br /> +Heliograph sight rod, <a href='#page_150'>150</a><br /> +Heliograph signaling, <a href='#page_154'>154</a><br /> +Heliograph, single mirror, <a href='#page_148'>148</a><br /> +Hinge for spars, <a href='#page_30'>30</a><br /> +Hinges, door, <a href='#page_269'>269</a><br /> +House building, <a href='#page_124'>124</a><br /> +House, log, <a href='#page_254'>254</a><br /> +House, the tree, <a href='#page_132'>132</a><br /> +Hut, cold night in, <a href='#page_197'>197</a><br /> +Hut, log, <a href='#page_254'>254</a><br /> +Hut, straw, <a href='#page_124'>124</a></p> + +<p class='c b'>I</p> + +<p class='fs09'>Ice boat, the, <a href='#page_159'>159</a><br /> +Ice boats, sledges and toboggans, <a href='#page_158'>158</a><br /> +Ice, craft strikes the, <a href='#page_184'>184</a><br /> +Ice creepers, <a href='#page_170'>170</a><br /> +Indian paddling canoe, <a href='#page_121'>121</a><br /> +Instrument, double mirror, <a href='#page_156'>156</a><br /> +Instrument, single mirror, <a href='#page_148'>148</a><br /> +Instrument, surveying, <a href='#page_73'>73</a><br /> +International Telegraph Code, <a href='#page_155'>155</a><br /> +Iroquois snow shoe, <a href='#page_39'>39</a><br /> +Island, mapping the, <a href='#page_82'>82</a><br /> +Island, off to the, <a href='#page_63'>63</a><br /> +Island, trip to the, <a href='#page_64'>64</a></p> + +<p class='c b'>J</p> + +<p class='fs09'>Jacob’s Ladder, <a href='#page_129'>129</a><br /> +Jaws of boom, <a href='#page_162'>162</a><br /> +Jib-sail for ice boat, <a href='#page_164'>164</a><br /> +Jib-sail for scooter scow, <a href='#page_187'>187</a><br /> +Jim Halliday, <a href='#page_194'>194</a></p> + +<p class='c b'>K</p> + +<p class='fs09'>King post bridge, <a href='#page_105'>105</a><br /> +King rod truss, <a href='#page_102'>102</a><br /> +Kite, diamond box, <a href='#page_236'>236</a><br /> +Kite Island, <a href='#page_83'>83</a><br /> +Kite, Malay, 5-foot, <a href='#page_231'>231</a><br /> +Kite, Malay, 8-foot, <a href='#page_233'>233</a><br /> +Kites, putting to work, <a href='#page_235'>235</a><br /> +Kites, tailless, <a href='#page_229'>229</a><br /> +<i>Klepalo</i>, the, <a href='#page_70'>70</a></p> + +<p class='c b'>L</p> + +<p class='fs09'>Ladder, the Jacob’s, <a href='#page_129'>129</a><br /> +Ladders, rope, <a href='#page_130'>130</a><br /> +Lagoon, the, <a href='#page_83'>83</a><br /> +Lake Placid, <a href='#page_83'>83</a><br /> +Land yacht, <a href='#page_215'>215</a><br /> +Land yacht, a sail on, <a href='#page_222'>222</a><br /> +Lanteen sail for canoe, <a href='#page_117'>117</a><br /> +Lanteen skate sail, <a href='#page_29'>29</a><br /> +Latch, door, <a href='#page_269'>269</a><br /> +Latch string, <a href='#page_270'>270</a><br /> +Lee boards, canoe, <a href='#page_119'>119</a><br /> +“Leg-of-mutton” sail, <a href='#page_220'>220</a><br /> +Levels, spirit, <a href='#page_74'>74</a><br /> +Lock combination, <a href='#page_181'>181</a><br /> +Log cabin, <a href='#page_251'>251</a><br /> +Log cabin, building the, <a href='#page_259'>259</a><br /> +Log cabin door hinges, <a href='#page_269'>269</a><br /> +Log cabin door latch, <a href='#page_269'>269</a><br /> +Log cabin door and window frames, <a href='#page_263'>263</a><br /> +Log cabin fireplace, <a href='#page_265'>265</a><br /> +Log cabin, floor of, <a href='#page_267'>267</a><br /> +Log cabin, foundation of, <a href='#page_254'>254</a><br /> +Log cabin, roof of, <a href='#page_262'>262</a><br /> +Log cabin, stopping up chinks, <a href='#page_272'>272</a><br /> +Log cabin window sash, <a href='#page_270'>270</a><br /> +Log raft, <a href='#page_256'>256</a><br /> +Logging expedition, <a href='#page_255'>255</a></p> + +<p class='c b'>M</p> + +<p class='fs09'>Mainsail for canoe, <a href='#page_117'>117</a><br /> +Mainsail for ice boat, <a href='#page_162'>162</a><br /> +Malay kite, 5-foot, <a href='#page_231'>231</a><br /> +Malay kite, 8-foot, <a href='#page_233'>233</a><br /> +Mapping the island, <a href='#page_82'>82</a><br /> +Mast of land yacht, stepping, <a href='#page_218'>218</a><br /> +Mast step, ice boat, <a href='#page_161'>161</a><br /> +Mast step, leather, <a href='#page_30'>30</a><br /> +Mast step, wooden, <a href='#page_30'>30</a><br /> +Megaphone, <a href='#page_57'>57</a><br /> +Megaphone mouthpiece, <a href='#page_58'>58</a><br /> +Midnight banquets, <a href='#page_179'>179</a><br /> +Mill-race, the, <a href='#page_88'>88</a><br /> +Mirror instrument, heliograph, <a href='#page_148'>148</a><br /> +Miter box, carpenter’s, <a href='#page_288'>288</a><br /> +Mizzen sail of canoe, <a href='#page_118'>118</a><br /> +Mooring, tramp-proof boat, <a href='#page_142'>142</a><br /> +Mountain climbing, <a href='#page_198'>198</a><br /> +Mouthpiece of megaphone, <a href='#page_58'>58</a><br /> +“Mummy case,” <a href='#page_204'>204</a></p> + +<p class='c b'>N</p> + +<p class='fs09'>Needle, weaving, <a href='#page_39'>39</a><br /> +Night, cold, in the hut, <a href='#page_197'>197</a><br /> +Nightmare, a, <a href='#page_211'>211</a><br /> +Noria, <a href='#page_241'>241</a><br /> +Norwegian ski, <a href='#page_42'>42</a><br /> +Numerals, wigwag, <a href='#page_145'>145</a></p> + +<p class='c b'>O</p> + +<p class='fs09'>Oar, the, <a href='#page_61'>61</a><br /> +Off to the island, <a href='#page_63'>63</a><br /> +Organizing the society, <a href='#page_25'>25</a><br /> +Outdoor fireplace, <a href='#page_195'>195</a><br /> +Outfits, tramping, <a href='#page_203'>203</a></p> + +<p class='c b'>P</p> + +<p class='fs09'>Pack harness, <a href='#page_212'>212</a><br /> +Paddling canoe, Indian, <a href='#page_121'>121</a><br /> +Paddles for water wheel, <a href='#page_246'>246</a><br /> +Panels, center, of cantilever bridge, <a href='#page_304'>304</a><br /> +Path up the fissure, <a href='#page_129'>129</a><br /> +Patient, how to work over, alone, <a href='#page_93'>93</a><br /> +Pin, the club, <a href='#page_180'>180</a><br /> +Plank, swimming on, <a href='#page_86'>86</a><br /> +Platform, Goblins’ Dancing, <a href='#page_126'>126</a><br /> +Point Lookout, <a href='#page_83'>83</a><br /> +Pole, ridge, <a href='#page_48'>48</a><br /> +Poncho, <a href='#page_210'>210</a><br /> +Pontoon bridge, <a href='#page_101'>101</a><br /> +Poor shelter, a, <a href='#page_199'>199</a><br /> +Preparing for the expedition, <a href='#page_53'>53</a><br /> +Protractor, the, <a href='#page_76'>76</a><br /> +Provisions and supplies, <a href='#page_54'>54</a><br /> +Pump, the, <a href='#page_279'>279</a><br /> +Pump, action of, <a href='#page_281'>281</a><br /> +Pump valves, the, <a href='#page_280'>280</a></p> + +<p class='c b'>R</p> + +<p class='fs09'>Raft, log, <a href='#page_256'>256</a><br /> +Raft, sail-rigged, <a href='#page_258'>258</a><br /> +Railroad car, <a href='#page_284'>284</a><br /> +Railroad car axles, <a href='#page_285'>285</a><br /> +Railroad flanged wheels, <a href='#page_285'>285</a><br /> +Railroad, gravity, <a href='#page_283'>283</a><br /> +Railway track, the, <a href='#page_287'>287</a><br /> +Railway accident, the first, <a href='#page_290'>290</a><br /> +Railway, rope, <a href='#page_97'>97</a><br /> +Railway spikes, <a href='#page_50'>50</a><br /> +Rapids, shooting the, <a href='#page_88'>88</a><br /> +Receiving trough for water wheel, <a href='#page_247'>247</a><br /> +Records of the S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I., <a href='#page_19'>19</a><br /> +Reddy’s cantilever bridge, <a href='#page_308'>308</a><br /> +Rennwolf, the, <a href='#page_168'>168</a><br /> +Restoring the drowned, <a href='#page_89'>89</a><br /> +Ridge pole, <a href='#page_48'>48</a><br /> +Ridge pole, fly, <a href='#page_54'>54</a><br /> +Riveting, <a href='#page_213'>213</a><br /> +Rod, heliograph sight, <a href='#page_150'>150</a><br /> +Rod, surveyor’s, <a href='#page_78'>78</a><br /> +Rope ladders, <a href='#page_130'>130</a><br /> +Rope railway, <a href='#page_97'>97</a><br /> +Rowlocks, sockets for, <a href='#page_60'>60</a><br /> +Rudder, canoe, <a href='#page_115'>115</a><br /> +Rudder shoe, ice boat, <a href='#page_160'>160</a><br /> +Runner shoe, ice boat, <a href='#page_160'>160</a><br /> +Runners of scooter canoe, <a href='#page_190'>190</a><br /> +Runners of sledge, <a href='#page_165'>165</a><br /> +Rustic table, <a href='#page_66'>66</a></p> + +<p class='c b'>S</p> + +<p class='fs09'>S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I., records of, <a href='#page_19'>19</a><br /> +Sail, jib, for scooter, <a href='#page_187'>187</a><br /> +Sail, “leg-of-mutton,” <a href='#page_220'>220</a><br /> +Sail, mizzen, of canoe, <a href='#page_118'>118</a><br /> +Sail-rigged raft, <a href='#page_258'>258</a><br /> +Sail, sprit, for scooter, <a href='#page_186'>186</a><br /> +Sail stitch, <a href='#page_46'>46</a><br /> +Sail through the country, <a href='#page_222'>222</a><br /> +Sailing canoe, the, <a href='#page_111'>111</a><br /> +Sailor’s stitch, <a href='#page_221'>221</a><br /> +Sails, canoe, <a href='#page_117'>117</a><br /> +Sails for ice boat, <a href='#page_162'>162</a><br /> +Sandwiches, straw, <a href='#page_227'>227</a><br /> +Schreiner, a visit from Mr., <a href='#page_110'>110</a><br /> +Scooter canoe, <a href='#page_190'>190</a><br /> +Scooter sailing, <a href='#page_188'>188</a><br /> +Scooter scow, <a href='#page_185'>185</a><br /> +Scooters, <a href='#page_183'>183</a><br /> +Scow, the, <a href='#page_59'>59</a><br /> +Scow, a sail in, <a href='#page_184'>184</a><br /> +Scow, scooter, <a href='#page_185'>185</a><br /> +Scow, stolen, <a href='#page_138'>138</a><br /> +Screen, heliograph, <a href='#page_151'>151</a><br /> +Seat, swing, <a href='#page_97'>97</a><br /> +Shaft, the crank, <a href='#page_276'>276</a><br /> +Shelter, a poor, <a href='#page_199'>199</a><br /> +Shooting the rapids, <a href='#page_88'>88</a><br /> +Sight rod, <a href='#page_150'>150</a><br /> +Sighting blocks, <a href='#page_74'>74</a><br /> +Sighting disk, <a href='#page_79'>79</a><br /> +Signaling, heliograph, <a href='#page_154'>154</a><br /> +Signals, wigwag, <a href='#page_144'>144</a><br /> +Simple method of surveying, <a href='#page_79'>79</a><br /> +Single mirror heliograph, <a href='#page_148'>148</a><br /> +Sioux snow shoe, <a href='#page_37'>37</a><br /> +Skate sail, bat’s wings, <a href='#page_33'>33</a><br /> +Skate sail, Bill’s, <a href='#page_21'>21</a><br /> +Skate sail, Danish, <a href='#page_30'>30</a><br /> +Skate sail, double Swedish, <a href='#page_26'>26</a><br /> +Skate sail, lanteen, <a href='#page_29'>29</a><br /> +Skate sail, single Swedish, <a href='#page_28'>28</a><br /> +Skate sails, <a href='#page_26'>26</a><br /> +Ski, Norwegian, <a href='#page_42'>42</a><br /> +Ski sticks, <a href='#page_43'>43</a><br /> +Skids, <a href='#page_262'>262</a><br /> +Slabs, <a href='#page_101'>101</a><br /> +Sledge, the, <a href='#page_165'>165</a><br /> +Sleeping bags, <a href='#page_203'>203</a><br /> +Sliding doors, <a href='#page_136'>136</a><br /> +Snotter, <a href='#page_187'>187</a><br /> +Snow shoe, Ainu, <a href='#page_41'>41</a><br /> +Snow shoe, barrel hoop, <a href='#page_36'>36</a><br /> +Snow shoe, barrel stave, <a href='#page_36'>36</a><br /> +Snow shoe, chair seat, <a href='#page_35'>35</a><br /> +Snow shoe, Iroquois, <a href='#page_39'>39</a><br /> +Snow shoe, Sioux, <a href='#page_37'>37</a><br /> +Snow shoe, Swiss, <a href='#page_43'>43</a><br /> +Snow shoes, <a href='#page_35'>35</a><br /> +Society, meeting of, <a href='#page_189'>189</a><br /> +Society, organizing the, <a href='#page_25'>25</a><br /> +Spar bridge, <a href='#page_95'>95</a><br /> +Spars, hinge for, <a href='#page_30'>30</a><br /> +Spikes, railway, <a href='#page_50'>50</a><br /> +Spiral spring, <a href='#page_153'>153</a><br /> +Spirit levels, <a href='#page_74'>74</a><br /> +Spring, spiral, <a href='#page_153'>153</a><br /> +Sprit sail, <a href='#page_186'>186</a><br /> +Stepping mast of land yacht, <a href='#page_218'>218</a><br /> +Stitch, the sail, <a href='#page_46'>46</a><br /> +Stitch, sailor’s, <a href='#page_221'>221</a><br /> +Stick, ski, <a href='#page_43'>43</a><br /> +Stiffening the bridge, <a href='#page_104'>104</a><br /> +Stone-paved fireplace, <a href='#page_196'>196</a><br /> +Stone wall, how to build, <a href='#page_266'>266</a><br /> +Straw hut, <a href='#page_124'>124</a><br /> +Straw sandwiches, <a href='#page_227'>227</a><br /> +Subterranean Club, <a href='#page_171'>171</a><br /> +Summer toboggan, <a href='#page_229'>229</a><br /> +Supplies and provisions, <a href='#page_54'>54</a><br /> +Surprise, a double, <a href='#page_140'>140</a><br /> +Surveying, <a href='#page_73'>73</a><br /> +Surveying, first lesson in, <a href='#page_79'>79</a><br /> +Surveying instrument, <a href='#page_73'>73</a><br /> +Surveying, a simple method of, <a href='#page_79'>79</a><br /> +Surveying for water wheel, <a href='#page_241'>241</a><br /> +Surveyor’s chain, <a href='#page_77'>77</a><br /> +Surveyor’s rod, <a href='#page_78'>78</a><br /> +Suspension bridge, <a href='#page_99'>99</a><br /> +Swamp shoe, <a href='#page_43'>43</a><br /> +Swedish sail, double, <a href='#page_26'>26</a><br /> +Swedish sail, single, <a href='#page_28'>28</a><br /> +Swimming, <a href='#page_84'>84</a><br /> +Swimming on a plank, <a href='#page_86'>86</a><br /> +Swing seat, <a href='#page_97'>97</a><br /> +Swiss snow shoe, <a href='#page_43'>43</a></p> + +<p class='c b'>T</p> + +<p class='fs09'>Table, a rustic, <a href='#page_66'>66</a><br /> +Tailless kites, <a href='#page_229'>229</a><br /> +Telegraph Code, International, <a href='#page_155'>155</a><br /> +Tent, the “A”, <a href='#page_207'>207</a><br /> +Tent, annex, <a href='#page_50'>50</a><br /> +Tent, canvas wall, <a href='#page_46'>46</a><br /> +Tent fly, <a href='#page_54'>54</a><br /> +Tent making, <a href='#page_44'>44</a><br /> +Testing the track, <a href='#page_291'>291</a><br /> +Thole pins, <a href='#page_61'>61</a><br /> +Tie block, wood, <a href='#page_49'>49</a><br /> +Tie, wire, <a href='#page_50'>50</a><br /> +Tiger’s Tail, <a href='#page_83'>83</a><br /> +Tiller, ice boat, <a href='#page_161'>161</a><br /> +Tiller of land yacht, <a href='#page_219'>219</a><br /> +Toboggan, the, <a href='#page_167'>167</a><br /> +Toboggan, the summer, <a href='#page_229'>229</a><br /> +Tower, the windmill, <a href='#page_275'>275</a><br /> +Towers of the cantilever bridge, <a href='#page_299'>299</a><br /> +Towers for water wheel, <a href='#page_243'>243</a><br /> +Towers of water wheel, setting up, <a href='#page_248'>248</a><br /> +Track, laying the, <a href='#page_289'>289</a><br /> +Track, the railway, <a href='#page_287'>287</a><br /> +Track, testing the, <a href='#page_291'>291</a><br /> +Tramping outfits, <a href='#page_203'>203</a><br /> +Tramp-proof boat mooring, <a href='#page_142'>142</a><br /> +Tramps, trouble with, <a href='#page_138'>138</a><br /> +Tree, diving, <a href='#page_84'>84</a><br /> +Tree house, the, <a href='#page_132'>132</a><br /> +Trigger for crossbow, <a href='#page_57'>57</a><br /> +Trip to the island, <a href='#page_64'>64</a><br /> +Tripod, the, <a href='#page_75'>75</a><br /> +Trouble with tramps, <a href='#page_138'>138</a><br /> +Trunk, the old, <a href='#page_18'>18</a><br /> +Truss, king rod, <a href='#page_102'>102</a><br /> +Turnbuckle, a simple, <a href='#page_216'>216</a></p> + +<p class='c b'>U</p> + +<p class='fs09'>Umbrella with fly, <a href='#page_211'>211</a><br /> +Umbrella rib crossbow, <a href='#page_55'>55</a><br /> +Uncle Ed, word from, <a href='#page_45'>45</a><br /> +Uncle Ed’s departure, <a href='#page_109'>109</a></p> + +<p class='c b'>V</p> + +<p class='fs09'>Vacation, Christmas, <a href='#page_19'>19</a><br /> +Vacation, Easter, <a href='#page_224'>224</a><br /> +Valves, the pump, <a href='#page_280'>280</a><br /> +Van Syckel, interview with, <a href='#page_189'>189</a><br /> +Vengeance, <a href='#page_139'>139</a><br /> +Visit from Mr. Schreiner, <a href='#page_110'>110</a></p> + +<p class='c b'>W</p> + +<p class='fs09'>Wall, how to build, <a href='#page_266'>266</a><br /> +Wall tent, <a href='#page_46'>46</a><br /> +Water wheel, <a href='#page_241'>241</a><br /> +Water wheel buckets, <a href='#page_246'>246</a><br /> +Water wheel, construction of, <a href='#page_245'>245</a><br /> +Water wheel, Mr. Halliday’s, <a href='#page_252'>252</a><br /> +Water wheel, mounting the, <a href='#page_249'>249</a><br /> +Water wheel paddles, <a href='#page_246'>246</a><br /> +Water wheel receiving trough, <a href='#page_247'>247</a><br /> +Water wheel, surveying for, <a href='#page_241'>241</a><br /> +Water wheel, towers for, <a href='#page_243'>243</a><br /> +Water wheel towers, setting up, <a href='#page_248'>248</a><br /> +War, council of, <a href='#page_139'>139</a><br /> +Weaving needle, <a href='#page_39'>39</a><br /> +Well, digging the, <a href='#page_274'>274</a><br /> +Wheel, the wind, <a href='#page_276'>276</a><br /> +Wheels for gravity railroad, <a href='#page_285'>285</a><br /> +Wheels, mounting, on car, <a href='#page_286'>286</a><br /> +Wheels, mounting frame on, <a href='#page_219'>219</a><br /> +Wigwag abbreviations, <a href='#page_146'>146</a><br /> +Wigwag alphabet, <a href='#page_145'>145</a><br /> +Wigwag numerals, <a href='#page_145'>145</a><br /> +Wigwag signals, <a href='#page_144'>144</a><br /> +Wigwagging and heliographing, <a href='#page_144'>144</a><br /> +Wigwagging at night, <a href='#page_147'>147</a><br /> +Willow Clump Island, <a href='#page_23'>23</a><br /> +Willow Clump Island, farewell to, <a href='#page_307'>307</a><br /> +Willow Clump Island in winter, <a href='#page_194'>194</a><br /> +Wind wheel, <a href='#page_276'>276</a><br /> +Wind wheel blades, <a href='#page_278'>278</a><br /> +Wind wheel brake, <a href='#page_278'>278</a><br /> +Windmill, <a href='#page_273'>273</a><br /> +Windmill tower, <a href='#page_275'>275</a><br /> +Window hinge, <a href='#page_270'>270</a><br /> +Window sash, log cabin, <a href='#page_270'>270</a><br /> +Wings, bat’s, <a href='#page_33'>33</a><br /> +Wire tie, <a href='#page_50'>50</a><br /> +Wood, bending, <a href='#page_39'>39</a><br /> +Wood tie block, <a href='#page_49'>49</a><br /> +Word from Uncle Ed, <a href='#page_45'>45</a></p> + +<p class='c b'>Y</p> + +<p class='fs09'>Yacht, land, <a href='#page_215'>215</a><br /> +Yacht, land, frame of, <a href='#page_216'>216</a></p> + +<hr class='pb' /> + +<p class='c fs12'>The Most Popular Scientific Paper in the World</p> + +<div class='tpi'> +<img alt='emblem' src='images/illus-349.png' /> +</div> + +<p class='c fs08'>Established 1845<br />Weekly, $3.00 a Year; $1.50 Six Months</p> + +<p>This unrivaled periodical is now in its <i>sixtieth year</i>, and, +owing to its ever-increasing popularity, it enjoys the +largest circulation ever attained by any scientific publication. +Every number contains sixteen large pages, +beautifully printed, handsomely illustrated; it presents +in popular style a descriptive record of the most novel, interesting +and important developments in Science, Arts and Manufactures. +It shows the progress of the World in respect to New +Discoveries and Improvements, embracing Machinery, Mechanical +Works, Engineering in all its branches, Chemistry, Metallurgy, +Electricity, Light, Heat, Architecture, Domestic Economy, +Agriculture, Natural History, etc. It abounds in fresh +and interesting subjects for discussion, thought or study. To +the inventor it is invaluable, as every number contains a complete +list of all patents and trade-marks issued weekly from the +Patent Office. It promotes Industry, Progress, Thrift and +Intelligence in every community where it circulates.</p> + +<p>The <span class='sc'>Scientific American</span> should have a place in every +Dwelling, Shop, Office, School, or Library. 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Russell +(Alexander Russell) Bond + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Scientific American Boy + or, The Camp at Willow Clump Island + + +Author: A. Russell (Alexander Russell) Bond + + + +Release Date: March 16, 2010 [eBook #15831] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN BOY*** + + +E-text prepared by Don Kostuch and revised by Roger Frank, Juliet +Sutherland, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team +(http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file + which includes the more than 300 original illustrations. + See 15831-h.htm or 15831-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/15831/15831-h/15831-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/15831/15831-h.zip) + + + + + +THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN BOY + +Or + +The Camp at Willow Clump Island + +by + +A. RUSSELL BOND + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Fun in Swimming.] + + + +New York +Munn & Co., Publishers +1906 + +Copyright, 1905, by +Munn & Co., New York + +Press of +The Kalkhoff Company +New York + + + + +PREFACE + +All boys are nature lovers. Nothing appeals to them more than a summer +vacation in the woods where they can escape from the restraints of +civilization and live a life of freedom. Now, it may appear to be a +bit of presumption to attempt to advise the boy camper how to spend +his time. Surely the novelty of outdoor life, the fascinating charm of +his surroundings, will provide him plenty of entertainment. + +But, after all, a camp generally affords but two major amusements, +hunting and fishing. These have been fully covered by a vast number of +books. However, there is another side of camp life, particularly in a +boys' camp, which has been very little dealt with, namely, the exercise +of one's ingenuity in creating out of the limited resources at hand such +devices and articles as will add to one's personal comfort and welfare. +It is, therefore, the aim of this book to suggest certain diversions of +this character for the boy camper which, aside from affording him plenty +of physical exercise, will also develop his mental faculties, and above +all stimulate that natural genius which is characteristic of every +typical American boy. To this end the story contains descriptions of a +large collection of articles which can be made by any boy of average +intelligence, not only in the camp but at home as well. + +The use of a narrative to connect the various incidents marks a +departure in this class of book, and it is believed that the matter will +thus be made more realistic and interesting. In all cases full +directions are given for making the various articles. While it is not +presumed that the directions will be slavishly followed, for this would +defeat the general aim of the work, yet all the principal dimensions are +given so that they can be used, if desired. + +I beg to acknowledge the courtesy of Mr. Daniel C. Beard and Mr. Henry +D. Cochrane in supplying a number of photographs. The directions for +making the lee boards (page 119) were obtained from data furnished by +the latter. Many of the details recorded in the chapter on Tramping +Outfits are to be accredited to Mr. Edward Thorpe. In the preparation of +this book I have received valuable assistance from my colleague, Mr. A. +A. Hopkins. + +A. RUSSELL BOND. + +New York, October, 1905. + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER I. + PAGE + +"BILL" 17 + +The Old Trunk. Christmas Vacation. "Bill's" Skate Sail. Willow +Clump Island. Organizing the Society. + +CHAPTER II. + +SKATE SAILS 26 + +The Double Swedish Sail. The Single Swedish Sail. The Lanteen +Sail. The Danish Sail. Bat's Wings. + +CHAPTER III. + +SNOW SHOES, SKIS AND SWAMP SHOES 35 + +Chair Seat Snow Shoe. Barrel Stave Snow Shoe. Barrel Hoop Snow +Shoe. The Sioux Snow Shoe. The Iroquois Snow Shoe. The Ainu +Snow Shoe. The Norwegian Ski. The Swamp Shoe or Swiss Snow +Shoe. + +CHAPTER IV. + +TENT MAKING 44 + +Farewell Meeting. Word from Uncle Ed. The Canvas Tent. +Adjustable Ridge Pole. Tie Blocks. The Annex. + +CHAPTER V. + +PREPARING FOR THE EXPEDITION 53 + +Tent Fly. Provisions and Supplies. Umbrella Rib Crossbow. +Megaphone. The Scow. + +CHAPTER VI. + +OFF TO THE ISLAND 63 + +A Unique Alarm Clock. The Trip to the Island. Preliminary +Exploration. A Rustic Table. The Small Filter. The Barrel +Filter. The _Klepalo_. + +CHAPTER VII. + +SURVEYING 73 + +The Surveying Instrument. Spirit Levels. The Tripod. Surveyor's +Chain. Surveyor's Rod. A Simple Method of Surveying. Mapping +the Island. + +CHAPTER VIII. + +SWIMMING 84 + +Swimming on a Plank. Shooting the Rapids. Restoring the +Drowned. How to Work over a Patient Alone. + +CHAPTER IX. + +BRIDGE BUILDING 95 + +The Spar Bridge. The Rope Railway. The Suspension Bridge. +The Pontoon Bridge. The King Rod Truss. Stiffening the Bridge. +The King Post Bridge. + +CHAPTER X. + +CANVAS CANOES 109 + +Uncle Ed's Departure. A Visit from Mr. Schreiner. The Sailing +Canoe. Stretching on the Canvas. The Rudder. The Deep Keel. +Canoe Sails. Lee Boards. Indian Paddling Canoe. + +CHAPTER XI. + +HOUSE BUILDING 124 + +The Grass Hut. The Goblins' Dancing Platform. Dutchy +Takes a Dare. A Path Up the Fissure. Rope Ladders. The +Derrick. The Tree House. Sliding Doors. + +CHAPTER XII. + +TROUBLE WITH THE TRAMPS 138 + +The Scow is Stolen. A Council of War. Vengeance. A Double +Surprise. Tramp-proof Boat Mooring. + +CHAPTER XIII. + +WIGWAGGING AND HELIOGRAPHING 144 + +Wigwag Signals. The Wigwag Alphabet. Abbreviations. Wigwagging +at Night. The Heliograph. The Single Mirror Instrument. +The Sight Rod. The Screen. Focusing the Instrument. Heliograph +Signaling. The International Telegraph Code. The Double +Mirror Instrument. + +CHAPTER XIV. + +ICE BOATS, SLEDGES AND TOBOGGANS 158 + +Breaking Camp. The Ice Boat. The Sledge. The Toboggan. +The Rennwolf. Ice Creepers. + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE SUBTERRANEAN CLUB 171 + +A Cave-in. Excavating for the Cave. Covering the Cave. The +Big Bug Club. Midnight Banquets. The Club Pin. The Combination +Lock. + +CHAPTER XVI. + +SCOOTERS 183 + +A Sail in the Scow. Our Craft Strikes the Ice. The Scooter Scow. +A Sprit Sail. Scooter Sailing. A Meeting of the Society. An +Interview with Mr. Van Syckel. The Scooter Canoe. + +CHAPTER XVII. + +AN ARCTIC EXPEDITION 193 + +Willow Clump Island in Winter. Kindling a Camp Fire. The +Outdoor Fireplace. A Stone-paved Fireplace. A Cold Night in +the Hut. Mountain Climbing. A Poor Shelter. A Costly Camp +Fire. A Friend in Time of Trouble. + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +TRAMPING OUTFITS 203 + +Sleeping Bags. Bill's "Mummy Case." The "A" Tent. A +Camp Chair. A Camp Bed. The Camp Bed in a Shower. A +Nightmare. Pack Harness. Riveting. + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE LAND YACHT 215 + +The Frame of the Yacht. A Simple Turnbuckle. Stepping the +Mast. Mounting the Frame on Bicycle Wheels. The Tiller. A +"Leg-of-Mutton" Sail. A Sail Through the Country. + +CHAPTER XX. + +EASTER VACATION 224 + +Bill's Cave. The Barrel Stave Hammock. The Barrel Armchair. +The Summer Toboggan. Tailless Kites. A Five-foot Malay Kite. +An Eight-foot Malay Kite. The Elastic Belly Band. Putting the +Kites to Work. The Diamond Box Kite. + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE WATER WHEEL 240 + +The Water Wheel. Surveying for the Water Wheel. Towers for +the Water Wheel. The Wheel. The Buckets. The Paddles. +The Receiving Trough. Setting Up the Towers. Mounting the +Water Wheel. Cooling the Filter Barrel. The Canvas Bucket. +Mr. Halliday's Water Wheel. + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE LOG CABIN 254 + +Foundation of Log Cabin. A Logging Expedition. The Log Raft. +The Sail-Rigged Raft. Building the Log Cabin. The Roof of +the Log Cabin. Door and Window Frames. The Fireplace. +The Proper Way to Build a Stone Wall. The Floor of the Cabin. +The Door Hinges and Latch. The Window Sash. Bunks. Stopping +up the Chinks. + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +THE WINDMILL 273 + +Digging the Well. The Windmill Tower. The Crank Shaft. The +Wind Wheel. A Simple Brake. The Pump. Pump Valves. +Action of the Pump. + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE GRAVITY RAILROAD 283 + +The Car. The Flanged Wheels. Car Axles. Mounting the Wheels. +The Railway Track. The Carpenter's Miter Box. Laying the Track. +The First Railway Accident. Testing the Track. + +CHAPTER XXV. + +THE CANTILEVER BRIDGE 292 + +Frames for the Cantilever Bridge. Erecting the Towers. Setting up +the Frames. Binding and Anchoring the Structure. The Center +Panels of the Bridge. A Serious Interruption. Dispossessed. +Farewell to Willow Clump Island. Reddy's Cantilever Bridge. + + + + +[Illustration: Map of Willow Clump Island and Vicinity.] + + + + +THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN BOY. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +"BILL." + + +"Bill," he was it, the Scientific American Boy, I mean. Of course, we +were all American boys and pretty scientific chaps too, if I do say it +myself, but Bill, well he was the whole show. What he didn't know wasn't +worth knowing, so we all thought, and even to this day I sometimes +wonder how he managed to contrive and execute so many remarkable plans. +At the same time he was not a conceited sort of a chap and didn't seem +to realize that he was head and shoulders above the rest of us in +ingenuity. But, of course, we didn't all have an uncle like Bill did. +Bill's Uncle Ed was one of those rare men who take a great interest in +boys and their affairs, a man who took time to answer every question put +to him, explaining everything completely and yet so clearly that you +caught on at once. Uncle Ed (we all called him that) was a civil +engineer of very high standing in his profession, which had taken him +pretty much all over the world, and his naturally inquisitive nature, +coupled with a wonderful memory, had made him a veritable walking +encyclopedia. With such an uncle it is no wonder that Bill knew +everything. Of course, there were some things that puzzled even Bill. +But all such difficulties, after a reasonable amount of brain-work had +failed to clear them, were submitted to Uncle Ed. Uncle Ed was always +prompt (that was one thing we liked about him), and no matter where he +was or what he was doing he would drop everything to answer a letter +from the society. + + +THE OLD TRUNK. + +[Illustration: Fig. 1. The Old Trunk in the Attic.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 2. The Black Walnut Box.] + +But hold on, I am getting ahead of my story. I was rummaging through the +attic the other day, and came across an old battered trunk, one that I +used when I went to boarding-school down in south Jersey. That trunk was +certainly a curiosity shop. It contained a miscellaneous assortment of +glass tubes, brass rods, coils of wire, tools, fish hooks--in fact, it +was a typical collection of all those "valuables" that a boy is liable +to pick up. Down in one corner of the trunk was a black walnut box, +marked, with brass letters, "Property of the S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I." +On my key-ring I still carried the key to that box, which had not been +opened for years. I unlocked the box and brought to light the "Records +and Chronicles of the Society for the Scientific Investigation, +Exploration and Exploitation of Willow Clump Island." For hours I pored +over those pages, carried back to the good old times we used to have as +boys along the banks of the Delaware River, until I was brought sharply +back to the present by the sound of the dinner bell. It seemed that the +matter contained in those "Chronicles" was too good to be kept locked up +in an old trunk. Few boys' clubs ever had such a president as Bill, or +such a wonderful bureau of information as Uncle Ed. For the benefit of +boys and boykind in general, I decided then and there to publish, as +fully as practicable, a record of what our society did. + + +CHRISTMAS VACATION. + +This was how the society came to be formed. Bill, whom I met at +boarding-school, was an orphan, and that's why he was sent to +boarding-school. His uncle had to go down to Brazil to lay out a +railroad, I believe, and so he packed Bill off to our school, which was +chosen in preference to some others because one of the professors there +had been a classmate of Uncle Ed's at college. Bill roomed with me, and +naturally we became great chums. When Christmas time came, of course I +invited him to spend the holidays with me. My home was situated in the +little village of Lamington, on the Jersey side of the Delaware River. +Here we arrived late at night on the Saturday before Christmas. A cold +wind was blowing which gave promise of breaking the spell of warm +weather we had been having, and of giving us a chance to try our skates +for the first time. True to our expectations, the next day was bitterly +cold, and a visit to the canal which ran along the river bank, just +beyond our back fence, showed that quite a thick skim of ice had formed +on the water. Monday morning, bright and early, found us on the smooth, +slippery surface of the canal. "Us" here includes, in addition to Bill +and myself, my two younger brothers, Jack and Fred, and also Dutchy Van +Syckel and Reddy Schreiner, neighbors of ours. It was the custom at the +first of December every year to drain out most of the water in the +canal, in order to prevent possible injury to the canal banks from the +pressure of the ice. But there was always a foot or two of water +covering the bottom of the canal, and this afforded a fine skating park +of ample width and unlimited length, while the high canal banks on each +side protected us from the bitter wind that was blowing. Toward noon, +however, the wind shifted and swept at a terrific rate down the narrow +lane between the canal banks. We could scarcely make headway against the +blow. It was too much for Bill, who wasn't as used to skating as we +were. He sat down in a sheltered nook and commenced to think. When Bill +sat down to think it always meant that something was going to happen, as +we soon learned. + +"Say, Jim," said he to me, "have you got any canvas up at the house?" + +"No," I replied. "What do you want it for?" + +"I want to rig up a skate sail. If you have an old sheet, that will do +just as well." + +"Well, I guess I can find you an old sheet. Do you think you can make +one?" + +"Sure thing," answered Bill, and off we went to the house, where I +received my first lesson on the practical genius of my chum. + + +"BILL'S" SKATE SAIL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 3. Laying Out the Sail.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 4. The Tape Tie Strings.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 5. "Bill's" Sail Complete.] + +The old sheet which Mother furnished us was laid out on the floor and +two corners were folded over to the center, as shown in the drawing, +making a triangle with base 7 feet long and sides each about 4 feet 6 +inches long. The surplus end piece was then cut off, and a broad hem +turned and basted all around the edges of the triangle. Bill wanted to +work the sewing machine himself, but Mother was afraid he would break +something, so she sewed down the hem for us. Then, under Bill's +supervision, she re-enforced the corners by sewing on patches of cloth. +Along the diagonal a strip of heavy tape was sewed, leaving loops at +intervals, which afterward were cut and provided means for tying the +sail to the mast. Tie strings of tape were also sewed at the corners, as +shown in the illustration, and then a trip was made to the garden in +search of suitable spars. A smooth bean pole of about the right weight +served for the mast, and another stick with a crotch at one end served +as the boom or cross-spar. The spars were cut to proper length, and the +sail was then tied on, as illustrated, with the crotch of the cross-spar +fitted against and tied to the center of the mast. A light rope, long +enough to provide plenty of slack, was tied to the ends of the mast to +assist in guiding the sail when in use. In the meantime I had procured +another sheet from one of our neighbors, and Bill helped me make a sail +for myself. It was not until long after dark that we finished our work. + + +WILLOW CLUMP ISLAND. + +The next day we tried the sails and it didn't take me very long to learn +how to steer the device. The wind had changed again and this time blew +up the canal. We took the line of least resistance, and went skimming up +the ice lane like birds for several miles before we realized how far we +were getting away from home. As we rounded a bend in the canal, much to +my astonishment, I saw just before us the bridge at Raven Hill, eight +miles from our town. We started to go back, but the wind was too strong +for us, and there wasn't much room in which to do any tacking; nor could +we make any progress when the sails were folded. I began to get +extremely tired and rather exasperated at Bill for not having thought of +the return trip before he led me such a hot pace up the canal. But Bill +was getting tired, too. + +"Look here, Jim," he said, "we haven't covered a mile, and I'm worn +out." + +"Why in thunder didn't you think of this before we started?" I returned. + +"How much money have you with you?" was the reply. + +"What's that got to do with it?" + +"I'll tell you in a minute. How much have you?" + +A careful search of my dozen odd pockets netted the sum of twenty-seven +cents. + +"I have fifty-nine," said Bill, "and that makes eighty-six altogether, +doesn't it? Isn't there a railroad depot near here?" + +"There is one at Raven Hill, and the next is at Lumberville. That is +about eleven miles from home." + +"Well," said Bill, "at three cents each per mile that would amount to +sixty-six cents. Let's sail on to Lumberville and then take the train +back." + +On we sped to Lumberville, only to find that the next train was not due +until noon, and it was now just half past ten. + +Time never hung heavy on our hands. Out on the river we espied an +island. I had heard of this island--Willow Clump Island, it was +called--but had never been on it; consequently I fell in with Bill's +suggestion that we make it a visit. Owing to the rapids which separated +the island from the Jersey shore, we had to go up stream a quarter of a +mile, to where a smooth sheet of ice had formed, over a quiet part of +the river; thence we sailed down to the island along the Pennsylvania +side. + +"What a capital island for a camp," cried Bill, after we had explored it +pretty thoroughly. "Have you ever been out camping?" + +I had to confess I never had, and then Bill gave me a glowing account of +his experiences in the Adirondacks with his uncle the year before, which +so stirred up the romance in me that I wanted to camp out at once. + +"Shucks!" said Bill, "We would freeze in this kind of weather, and +besides, we've got to make a tent first." + +We then sat down and made elaborate plans for the summer. Suddenly the +distant sound of a locomotive whistle interrupted our reveries. + +"Jiminy crickets!" I exclaimed. "That's the train coming through +Spalding's Cut. We've got to hustle if we are to catch it." + +We were off like the wind, and a merry chase brought us to the +Lumberville depot in time to flag the train. We arrived at Lamington at +half past twelve, a trifle late for dinner, rather tired and hungry, but +with a glowing and I fear somewhat exaggerated account of our adventure +for the credulous ears of the rest of the boys. + + +ORGANIZING THE SOCIETY. + +The camping idea met with the hearty approval of all, and it was decided +to begin preparations at once for the following summer. Dutchy, whose +father was a member of a geographical society, suggested that we form a +society for the exploration of Willow Clump Island. By general +acclamation Bill was chosen president of the society, Dutchy was made +vice-president, Reddy was elected treasurer, and they made me secretary. +It was Dutchy who proposed the name "The Society for the Scientific +Investigation, Exploration and Exploitation of Willow Clump Island." It +was decided to make an expedition of exploration as soon as we could +make skate sails for the whole society. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +SKATE SAILS. + + +The duties of the secretary, as defined in the constitution which Dutchy +Van Syckel drew up, were to keep a record of all the acts of the +society, the minutes of every meeting, and accurate detailed +descriptions of all work accomplished. Therefore, while the rest of the +society was busy cutting up old sheets, levied from the surrounding +neighborhood, and sewing and rigging the sails under Bill's direction, +I, with pad and pencil in hand, took notes on all the operations. + + +THE DOUBLE SWEDISH SAIL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 6. Dimensions of Double Swedish Sail. N. B.--The mark +(') means feet and (") means inches.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 7. Halyards Looped onto Pole.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 8. The Double Swedish Sail.] + +Bill evolved some new types of sails which differed materially from the +type described in the first chapter. One was a double sail--"the kind +they use in Sweden," he explained. One of the sheets which the foraging +party brought in was extra large; it measured approximately two yards +and a half square. This was folded on itself, making a parallelogram +seven feet six inches long and three feet nine inches wide. The sheets +we had were all rather worn and some were badly torn, so that we had to +make our sails of double thickness, sewing patches over the weak spots. +A broad hem was turned down at each end, and heavy tape was sewed on, +leaving loops as before, to attach them to the spars. This reduced the +length of our sail to seven feet three inches. The end spars were spaced +apart by a light pole about ten feet long, to which they were tied at +the points of intersection. The spars were also braced by halyards +looped over the ends of the pole in the manner indicated in the drawing +(Fig. 7). It took a crew of two boys to manipulate this sail. In use, +the pole of the rig was carried on the shoulders, and the sail was +guided by means of ropes attached to the lower corners of the vertical +spars. These ropes in nautical language are called "sheets." The boy at +the rear was the pilot and did the steering, because his position behind +the sail gave him an unobstructed view in all directions. When changing +tack the sail was lifted overhead to the other side of the crew. + +[Illustration: Fig. 9. Changing Tack.] + + +THE SINGLE SWEDISH SAIL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 10. The Single Swedish Sail.] + +Another sail of similar form, but for use of one boy only, is shown in +Fig. 10. This had a height of six and one-half feet at the forward end +and three feet at the rear; and its length was five feet. This sail was +very satisfactory in light winds, owing to its great area. In use we +found that it was very important to keep the lower edge against the leg, +as indicated by the arrow. The rig was manipulated just like the double +Swedish sail, lifting it over the head when it was desired to change +tack. + + +THE LANTEEN SAIL. + +[Illustration: Fig 11. The Lanteen Sail.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 12. Hinge for Spars.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 13. Leather Mast Step.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 14. Wooden Mast Step.] + +The lanteen sail we found to be a very good rig. It was made in the form +of a triangle, measuring eight feet on one side, seven and one-half feet +on another side and six and one-half feet on the third. The six and +one-half foot side was secured to a boom, and the seven and one-half +foot side to a yard. The yard and boom were hinged together by a leather +strap nailed on as shown in Fig. 12, and to this hinge a rope was +attached, which served as a sheet. These spars were secured to a mast +erected perpendicularly to the boom and intersecting the yard a little +above its center. We had had some trouble with the first sails we made +in keeping the base of the sail against the body, and to overcome this +difficulty Bill proposed tying the bottom of the mast to the leg. This +was a rather risky thing to do, as we learned later, for in case of +accident it would be difficult to get clear of the sail. It was Reddy +who finally solved the problem by rigging up a step for the mast. It +consisted of a leather tag tied to the leg, and provided with a hole +into which the bottom of the mast was fitted. To prevent the mast from +slipping too far into the step the lower portion of it was whittled +down, leaving a shoulder which rested on the leather. Bill later devised +another step, which consisted of a wooden block (Fig. 14) strapped to +the leg and formed with a shallow socket to receive the end of the mast. + + +THE DANISH SAIL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 15. The Danish Sail.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 16. Topsail of the Danish Rig.] + +But the most satisfactory sail we found to be the Danish sail, though it +was not until we had served quite a long apprenticeship and sustained +many pretty bad falls that we mastered the art of manipulating these +sails properly. Our ideas on this sail were obtained from a French +illustrated paper which Dutchy Van Syckel picked up in his father's +library. This sail was formed with a topsail so arranged that it could +be lowered when the wind was too strong. The dimensions of the sail as +we made it are given in the drawing (Fig. 15). The top of the sail was +lashed to a spar, which was connected by a short stick to another spar +tied to the mainsail about eighteen inches lower down. The sail was +strengthened with an extra strip of cloth along the lower spar, and the +tie strings were applied in the usual way. The connecting stick, or +topmast we may call it, was hinged to the lower spar by means of a short +piece of leather strap, which was passed round the spar in the form of a +loop and its two ends nailed to the bottom of the topmast. The topmast +extended above the upper spar a short distance, and to this we fastened +the flag which our society had adopted. A couple of strong cords were +secured to the center spar to provide for fastening the sail onto the +skater. Tied to the lower corners of the mainsail were two sticks which +were used for guiding the sail when in flight. + +[Illustration: Fig. 17. Before the Wind. Fig. 18. Topsail Lowered. Fig. +19. Skating against the Wind. Fig. 20. On the Port Tack.] + + +The different methods of sailing with this rig are shown in Figs. 17-20. +When sailing with the wind the skater would stand very erect, bending +backward in proportion as the wind blew fresher. By inclining the sail +in one direction or the other, the skater could tack to port or +starboard. When moving against the wind by skating in the usual way, the +body was bent forward in such manner that the sail lay horizontal, so +that it would not offer a purchase for the wind. + + +BAT'S WINGS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 21.] + +One more sail deserves mention. It was Bill's idea, and it came near to +ending his career the first day he tried it. It had no spars at all, but +was merely a strip of cloth of somewhat triangular shape. The upper side +was tied to the head, and the two corners to the wrists, while the lower +portion was tied to the ankles. This converted him into a huge +white-winged bat. Bill had to try it at once, even though the rest of +the sails were not finished, and a very comical spectacle he made as he +flapped his wings in his endeavors to tack. When the wind was too strong +for him he had merely to drop his arms and thus lower sail. At length he +became tired of holding his arms out at full length, and I got him a +stick to put over his shoulders and rest his arms on. But that stick was +Bill's undoing, for coming around a sudden bend in the canal he caught +the full force of the wind, which knocked him flat on his back before he +could disentangle himself from the stick and lower sail. It took us some +time to bring him back to consciousness, and a very scared lot of boys +we were for a while. However, the lesson was a good one, for after that +we were very cautious in experimenting with sails that had to be tied +on, such as the Danish rig and the lanteen rig, before Reddy invented +the mast step. + +It was not until the day after Christmas that the sails were all +completed, but then there was scarcely any wind blowing and we could not +attempt the expedition to the island. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +SNOW SHOES, SKIS AND SWAMP SHOES. + + +The next day, Sunday, it began to snow, and we realized that our chance +of skating up to Willow Clump Island was spoiled. All the afternoon it +snowed, and the next morning we woke to find the ground covered to a +depth of eight inches and snow still falling. But who ever heard of a +boy complaining because there was snow on the ground? Here were new +difficulties to overcome, new problems to solve, and new sports provided +for our amusement. There was no disappointment shown by any of the +members of the S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I., as they met in the woodshed +immediately after breakfast to discuss proceedings for the day. There +seemed to be but one way of reaching the island, and that was by means +of snow shoes. Bill had only a vague idea of how snow shoes were made. + + +CHAIR SEAT SNOW SHOE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 22. Chair Seat Snow Shoe] + +The first pair was made from a couple of thin wooden chair seats which +we found in the shed. They proved quite serviceable, being very light +and offering a fairly large bearing surface. The chair seats were +trimmed off at each side to make the shoes less clumsy, and a loop of +leather was fastened near the center of each shoe, in which the toe +could be slipped. This shoe possessed the disadvantage of being too flat +and of picking up too much snow when used. + + +BARREL STAVE SNOW SHOE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 23. Barrel Stave Snow Shoe.] + +Another pair of shoes was made from barrel staves. At first one stave +was made to serve for a shoe, but we found that two staves fastened +together with a pair of wooden cleats were much better. Jack was the +proud inventor of these shoes and insisted that they were far more +satisfactory than the elaborate ones which were later devised. + + +BARREL HOOP SNOW SHOE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 24. Barrel Hoop Snow Shoe.] + +Now that Jack had shown his ingenuity, Fred thought it was his turn to +do something, and after mysteriously disappearing for the space of an +hour we saw him suddenly come waddling back to the shed on a pair of +barrel hoops covered with heavy canvas. He had stretched the canvas so +tightly across the hoops that they were bent to an oval shape. It was +claimed for these shoes, and with good reason, that they were not so +slippery as the barrel stave shoe, for they permitted the foot to sink +slightly into the snow. + +After dinner, Dutchy came back with a book of his father's, a sort of an +encyclopedia in which several different kinds of snow shoes were +illustrated. Reddy, whose father owned a sawmill, volunteered to provide +us with strips of hickory from which to make the frames. + + +THE SIOUX SNOW SHOE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 25. Sioux Shoe.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 26. Frame of the Sioux Shoe.] + +[Illustration: Fig 27. Web of the Sioux Shoe.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 28. Weaving Needle] + +The Sioux snow shoe was the first type we tackled. Two strips of hickory +4 feet long and 3/4 inch square in section, were bent over a pair of +spreaders and securely fastened together at each end. The spreaders were +about 12 inches long and located about 15 inches apart. They were +notched at the ends, as shown in Fig. 26, to receive the side strips, +which were not fastened together until after they had been nailed to the +spreaders. We found that the most satisfactory way of fastening together +the ends of the hickory strips was to bolt them together. When the frame +was completed, we began the tedious process of weaving in the filling or +web of the snow shoe. First we cut notches in the edges of the +spreaders, spacing these notches an inch apart. Then we procured several +balls of heavy twine at the corner store. Tying one end of the cord to +the right side stick about three inches below the forward spreader, we +stretched a strand down to the notch at the left end of the lower +spreader. The strand was drawn taut, and after making several twists +around it the cord was tied to the left side stick three inches above +the spreader. From this point the cord was stretched to the notch at the +right end of the upper spreader, twisted several times and brought back +to the starting point. The cord was now wrapped around the side stick +for a space of about an inch, and then carried down to the second notch +on the lower spreader, whence it was woven through the other two strands +and tied about the left side stick about four inches from the spreader. +Thus the weaving continued, passing the cord alternately over and under +any cross strands encountered. In order to make the left side correspond +with the right, a separate cord was wound around it, filling up the +space between the strands of the web. The filling above and below the +spreaders could not be so methodically done, but we managed to weave the +strands quite neatly with about the same mesh as used at the center. To +facilitate the weaving we improvised a rough needle of a piece of wire. +The latter was bent double to receive the cord which was wedged in +between the two arms of the needle. + + +THE IROQUOIS SHOE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 29. Bending the Hickory Strips.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 30. Frame of Iroquois Shoe.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 31. Iroquois Snow Shoe.] + +But the best snow shoe we made was the Iroquois shoe. The frame of this +shoe was made of hickory strips of the same width and thickness as used +in the Sioux shoe, but 8 feet long. The strips were bent in a loop and +the ends were bolted together. How to bend the wood without breaking it +seemed a very difficult problem. Wood, we knew, could be easily bent +without breaking if boiled or steamed for a while; but we had nothing +large enough in which to boil a strip of wood 8 feet long. Bill hit upon +the plan of wrapping the stick with burlap and then pouring boiling +water on it until it became sufficiently soft to bend easily. An old +oats-sack was cut up into strips and wound onto the hickory sticks for a +distance of 18 inches at each side of the center. We then repaired to +the kitchen to do the steaming. The hickory stick was held over a large +dish-pan filled with boiling water, and from this we dipped out the +water and poured it slowly over the burlap wrapping of the stick. After +a little of this treatment the stick was sufficiently steamed to permit +of bending to the required shape. The ends were then firmly secured by +means of bolts passed through bolt holes which had been previously +drilled. The frame was completed by fitting the spreader sticks in +place, after which it was laid away to dry. When the frame was perfectly +dry we started weaving the web. In this case, however, instead of cord +we used cane strips, which we had bought from a chair caner. This +necessitated drilling holes in the side sticks to receive the cane +strips. The web consisted of strands crossing each other diagonally, as +illustrated. Our second pair of Iroquois snow shoes was made with a web +of rawhide which we bought from a hardware store at Millville. + + +THE AINU SNOW SHOE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 32. Ainu Snow Shoe.] + +One of the snowshoes described in the book was very much like Fred's +barrel-hoop snow shoe in appearance. According to the description, it +was a type used by the Ainus, a peculiar people living in the cold +northern islands of Japan. As the shoe seemed quite simple and rather +unique, we thought we would make one like it. Two hickory strips each 4 +feet long were bent to a U-shape and lashed together, forming an oval +about 2 feet 6 inches long by 18 inches wide. The frame was held to oval +shape by tying the sides together. Then the filling was woven in, +running the strands diagonally, as shown in Fig. 32. + +We had excellent weather for snow shoes after that snowstorm. A thaw +followed by a cold spell caused a thick crust to form on the snow which +would nearly hold us up without the aid of our snowshoes. We were rather +awkward with those shoes for a while, trying to keep them clear of each +other, and we found it particularly hard to turn sharply without causing +one shoe to run foul of the other. But with a little practice we soon +felt quite at home on them. In order to prevent cutting the web with our +heels, we found it necessary to wear rubbers. + +[Illustration: Fig. 33. The Norwegian Ski.] + +Our vacation came to an end before we were prepared for the expedition +to Willow Clump Island. But before leaving the subject on snow shoes, +two more shoes remain to be described, namely the Swiss snow shoe and +the Norwegian ski. The Swiss shoe was made during the summer and the ski +during the following winter. + + +THE NORWEGIAN SKI. + +[Illustration: Fig. 34. Bending the Ski.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 35. The Ski Stick.] + +The Norwegian ski was made of close-grained wood, 1 inch thick, 3-1/2 +inches wide and 6 feet long. About 18 inches from the forward end the +wood was planed down to a thickness of 1/4 of an inch. This end was +placed in the dish-pan of boiling water, and in a short time it was +pliable enough to permit of bending. It was secured in the proper bent +position by slipping the toe end of the shoe between the banisters on +the back porch and nailing a cleat back of the heel end. When the ski +was perfectly dry the toe strap was nailed on just back of the balancing +point, and also another strap, to be secured about the ankle. Then a +cleat was nailed onto the ski to fit against the heel of the shoe. In +use we found it best to cut a groove in the bottom of the ski, so as to +give us a better grip on the snow in climbing up hills. With the skis we +had to use short poles or "ski sticks" to assist in starting, stopping +and steering when coasting. The ski stick was a bean pole provided with +a wooden block near the lower end, to prevent it from being forced too +far through the snow. + + +THE SWISS SNOW SHOE OR SWAMP SHOE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 36. The Swiss Snow Shoe.] + +The Swiss shoe was made primarily to assist us in exploring some boggy +land a short distance up the river from our island. The original swamp +shoes were made from the bottoms of two old baskets, and they worked so +admirably that it was decided to equip the whole society with them. +Uncle Ed, when told about them, informed us that that was the kind of +snow shoe used in Switzerland. Of course, we could not afford to destroy +a pair of baskets for each member of the club, and so we had to weave +the shoes from the willows which grew on the island. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +TENT MAKING. + + +We had a farewell meeting of the society the evening before Bill and I +had to return to boarding-school. At this meeting plans were made for +the Easter vacation. We also considered the matter of getting parental +permission for our summer outing. So far we had been afraid to breathe a +word of our plans outside of the society, since Fred had said something +about it in the presence of Father and had been peremptorily ordered to +banish all such hair-brained, Wild West notions from his head. We +realized from that incident that the consent of our parents would not be +so very easily obtained. But Bill came forward with a promising +suggestion. He would write to his Uncle Ed and see if he couldn't be +persuaded to join the expedition. At first we demurred. We didn't want a +"governor" around all the time. But Bill assured us that his uncle was +"no ordinary man"; that he would not interfere with our plans, but would +enter right into them and give us many valuable pointers. Though not by +any means convinced, we told him to go ahead and invite his uncle, as +that seemed about the only means of winning over our fathers and +mothers. The society was then adjourned until our Easter vacation began, +each member promising to earn and save as much money as he could in the +meantime to buy the materials for a tent and provisions for the summer +outing. + + +Word From Uncle Ed. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 37. Breadths sewed together for Roof and Side Walls +of Tent.] + +Bill's letter to Uncle Ed was answered as quickly as the mail could +travel to Brazil and back. Uncle Ed heartily approved of our plans, and +said that he would be delighted to join the expedition. He could not be +on hand before the 1st of July, but that would give us plenty of time to +make all necessary preparations. He told us not to worry about gaining +the consent of our parents. He would write to them and see them all +personally, if necessary to win their approval. + + +THE CANVAS TENT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 38. The Sail Stitch.] + +When at last spring arrived and we returned to Lamington on our Easter +vacation, quite a sum of money had been collected, nearly $15.00, if I +remember rightly; at any rate plenty to buy the materials for a +good-sized tent and leave a large surplus for provisions, etc. Bill +figured out on paper just how much canvas we would need for a tent 7 +feet wide by 9-1/2 feet long, which he estimated would be about large +enough to hold us. It took 34 yards, 30 inches wide. Then we visited the +village store to make our purchase. Canvas we found a little too +expensive for us, but a material called drill seemed about right. It +cost ten cents a yard, but since we wanted such a quantity of it the +price was reduced to a total of $3.00. We repaired to the attic to lay +out the material. + +[Illustration: Fig. 39. Cutting out the Door Flaps.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 40. Sewing on the Door Flaps.] + +First we cut out four lengths of 5 yards and 26 inches each. The strips +were basted together, lapping the edges 1 inch and making a piece 17 +feet 2 inches long by 9 feet 9 inches wide. Mother sewed the breadths +together on the machine, using a double seam, as in sail making; that +is, two parallel rows of stitching were sewed in, one along each +overlapping edge, as shown in Fig. 38. A 1-inch hem was then turned and +sewed at the ends of the goods, so that the piece measured exactly 17 +feet long. It served for the roof and side walls of the tent. Our next +operation was to cut three strips 11 feet long, and sew them together +with a double seam as before. This piece was now slit along the center +line _m_, Fig. 39, making two lengths 3 feet 8 inches wide. The +strips were then cut along the diagonal lines _a a_, forming the +end walls or doors, so to speak, of the tent. In sewing on the door +flaps we started first at the bottom of the side _c_, sewing it to +the side edge of the main piece, as shown in Fig. 40, and running the +seam up for a distance of exactly 3 feet 6 inches. After all the door +strips had been sewed along their _c_ edges the sewing was +continued up the diagonal or _a_ edges. In cutting out the door +pieces we had allowed 1 inch on each side for hems and seams, so that +the door pieces met without lapping at the exact center of the main or +body piece, that is, at the peak of the tent. + +[Illustration: The Wall Tent Set Up in the Back Yard.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 41. Adjustable Ridge Pole.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 42. The Tent Set Up.] + +Our next step was to fasten the necessary ropes and loops. Ten 8-foot +lengths of light rope were procured. These were fastened at the top of +the side walls, that is, 3 feet 6 inches from the ends of the main or +body piece, one at each corner and one on each seam. The cloth was +strengthened at these points with patches sewed on the inside. At the +bottom of the side walls we sewed on loops of heavy tape. These were +spaced about 15 inches apart. Along the _b_ edges of the door +pieces tie strings of tape were fastened. A rope 15 feet long was +attached to the peak at the front and at the rear of the tent. The front +and rear posts of the tent were made from scantlings measuring 2 by 4 +inches, which were procured from Mr. Schreiner's lumber yard. They were +planed smooth and sawed off to a length of 7 feet 6 inches. A slot was +cut in the end of each stick to a depth of 6 inches and measuring +slightly over an inch in width. For the ridge pole a strip 1 inch thick, +2-1/2 inches wide and 10 feet long was secured. This was fitted into the +slotted ends of these posts, where it was fastened by wooden pegs +slipped into holes drilled through the ends of the posts and the ridge +pole. A number of these peg holes were provided, so that if the canvas +stretched the ridge pole could be raised or lowered to prevent the walls +from dragging on the ground. We set up the tent in our back yard to see +if it was properly constructed. Twelve stakes were required, ten for the +sides and one for the ridge stays at the front and rear. The side stakes +were driven into the ground at a distance of about 8 feet from the +center of the tent. First we tied the guy ropes to the stakes, but later +we found it much easier to secure them with tie blocks. + + +TIE BLOCKS. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 43. The Wood Tie Block.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 44. The Wire Tie.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 45. Bottom of Tent Wall.] + +These were made of wood 1/2 inch thick, 1 inch wide and each measured 3 +inches long. A hole was drilled into the block at each end and through +these holes the rope was threaded. A knot in the rope then held the end +from slipping out. The loop between the two holes, or the bight, as +sailors would call it, was now slipped over the stake, and the rope +hauled tight by drawing up the tie block, as shown in Fig. 43. A still +later improvement consisted in making ties of stout galvanized iron +wire, bent to the form shown in Fig. 44. The wooden ties were apt to +swell and split open when exposed to the weather, while the wire ties +could always be relied upon. + +The walls of the tent were held down along the bottom by railway spikes +hooked through the tent loops and driven into the ground. Wooden pegs +with notches to catch the loops would have served as well, but Dutchy +happened to find a number of the spikes along the track and in his usual +convincing manner argued that they were far better than pegs because +their weight would hold the cloth down even if they were not firmly +embedded in the ground. + + +THE ANNEX. + +We were surprised to find out how small the tent was after it was set +up. We could see at once that when we had put in all the stores and +provisions we would need, there would not be room enough for six boys +and a man to stretch themselves out comfortably in it. Bill had +evidently made a miscalculation, but he suggested that we remedy the +error by building an annex for our kitchen utensils and supplies. + +[Illustration: Fig. 46. Cutting out the Annex.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 47. The Annex Applied.] + +This gave us a two-room tent, which we found to be quite an advantage. +Twelve more yards of drill were bought and cut into two strips, each 17 +feet 2 inches long. The breadths were then sewed together, and the ends +turned up and hemmed to make a piece 17 feet long and 4 feet 9 inches +wide. Tape loops were then sewed on as before, and ropes were fastened +on at the top of the side walls, that is, 3 feet 6 inches from the ends +of the strips. We thought it would be better to have a slanting ridge on +the annex, so we cut out a wedge-shaped piece from the center of the two +strips, as shown by dotted lines _B B_ in Fig. 46. This +wedge-shaped piece measured 2 feet at the outer end of the annex, and +tapered down to a point at the inner end. The canvas was then sewed +together along these edges. Tie strings were sewed to the inner edge of +the annex and corresponding ones were attached to the main tent a little +ways back from the edge, so that the two could be tied together, with +the annex lapping well over on the roof and side walls. A notch was cut +out of the peak of the annex, so that it could be tied around the rear +post of the tent, and notches were cut at the top of the side walls to +permit passing the cloth around the wall ropes. Instead of supporting +the ridge of the annex on a ridge pole, we used the rear guy line of the +tent, propping it up with a scantling about 5-1/2 feet long. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +PREPARING FOR THE EXPEDITION. + + +School closed on the 21st of June that year, just ten days before the +expected arrival of Uncle Ed. The first thing we did was to set up our +tent in the back yard and camp out so as to become acclimatized. It is +good that we did this, for the very first night a heavy summer shower +came up which nearly drenched us. The water beat right through the thin +canvas roof of our tent. Had we been able to afford the best quality of +canvas duck, such an occurrence would probably have been avoided. But we +solved the difficulty by using a tent fly; that is, a strip of canvas +stretched over the tent and spaced a short distance from it to break the +fall of the rain drops. + +[Illustration: Fig. 48. The Wall Tent with the Fly fastened on.] + + +TENT FLY. + +[Illustration: Fig. 49. The Fly Ridge Pole.] + +Again we had to visit the village storekeeper; this time we bought out +his whole remaining stock, sixteen yards of drill. This was cut into +four-yard strips, which were sewed together as before and the ends +turned up and hemmed. Tie strings were sewed to the ends of the strips +so that the fly could be tied to the wall ropes of the tent. At the +ridge the fly was supported about six inches above the tent rope by a +second ridge pole held by pegs in the top holes of the tent posts. + + +PROVISIONS AND SUPPLIES. + +The ten days before Uncle Ed arrived were busy indeed. We had to gather +together the necessary provisions and supplies. Our personal outfits +were very simple. Each member supplied himself with a change of +underwear, a bathing suit, a blanket and a toothbrush. A single comb and +brush served for the entire society, and was used on Sundays, the only +day we really dressed up. All the rest of the time we lived in our +bathing suits, except, of course, on cold rainy days. Our kitchen outfit +consisted of a large cooking pot, two kettles, a frying pan, a coffee +pot, a small oil stove, a half-dozen each of plates, cups, saucers, +knives and forks, a dozen spoons, two tablespoons, and, in addition, +several large plates and bowls for pantry use. We also took with us a +dish-pan and several dish-towels. For our larder we collected the +following: A bag of flour, ten pounds of sugar, two pounds of salt, +three pounds of coffee, four pounds of oatmeal, four pounds of butter, +two pounds of lard, six pound of beans, six pounds of rice, three pounds +of bacon, six cans of condensed milk, a dozen eggs, box of pepper, and +several jars of canned peaches and pears, and also a half dozen glasses +of jelly. + +It was Dutchy who suggested that we have a chicken yard, in connection +with our camp, to supply us with fresh eggs. It was a capital idea, and +by the dint of some coaxing we managed to secure the loan of a half +dozen hens and a rooster. + +Our miscellaneous list included a spade, pick and shovel, an ax, a +hatchet, two large pails, a barn lantern, a can of kerosene, a dozen +candles, a cocoa box filled with matches, a pair of scissors, needles, +buttons, pins and safety pins, a spool of white and another of black +cotton, fishing tackle, a roll of heavy twine, a coil of rope, and a set +of dominoes and checkers. But most important of all was a chest of tools +belonging to Reddy. These were all collected when Uncle Ed arrived. +Dutchy also contributed a large compass, which we found very useful +later on, for surveying the island. + + +CROSSBOW. + +Reddy had a shotgun which he wanted to bring along, but my father, and +Dutchy's as well, wouldn't let us go camping if there was to be any +gunpowder along, so we had to leave it behind. Of course we didn't miss +it at all when we got to the island, because there was so much else to +do; but we all agreed with Dutchy, that "it wouldn't be no sort of a +scientific expedition without takin' a gun along." As a substitute I +suggested a bow and arrow. They all laughed at such a "kiddish" idea; +all but Bill, I mean. + +[Illustration: Drifting down the Schreiners' Brook.] + +[Illustration: Paddling in the Old Scow.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 50. Binding the Bow.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 51. The Trigger.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 52. The Trigger Set for Firing.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 53. The Umbrella Rib Crossbow.] + +"It ain't such a bad notion," said he, "only a crossbow would be better. +I've seen them made out of umbrella ribs so they'd shoot like greased +lightning." Of course we had to have one of these wonderful weapons. +Down in the ash heap we found two broken umbrellas with 27-inch ribs. +Bill selected ten good ribs, from which he wrenched off the spreaders +with a pair of pliers. The ribs were then bound together by winding +stout twine around them. The winding was very evenly and closely done, +so that the cord completely covered the ribs, making a solid rod of +spring steel. But before winding we had laid in between the ribs a piece +of heavy twine, to which the bowstrings could be tied after the bow was +all wound. The stock of our crossbow was cut out of a board of soft wood +1 inch thick to as near the shape of a gun as we could get it. A hole +was drilled through the muzzle end to receive the bow, and then the +bowstring was tied fast. Along the upper edge of the barrel a V-shaped +channel was cut. The channel was not very deep, only enough to receive a +tenpenny nail with the head projecting half-way above the sides. A notch +was cut across the barrel, through this channel, at the trigger end, and +a trigger made of heavy iron wire, bent to the shape shown in Fig. 51, +was hinged to the gun by a bolt which passed clear through the stock and +through both eyes of the trigger. By using two nuts on the bolt, and +tightening one against the other, they were prevented from working loose +and coming off. When we wanted to fire the gun the bowstring was drawn +back, and held by slipping it into the notch, and a nail was laid in the +channel with its head against the bowstring. Then, on pulling the +trigger, the bowstring was lifted out of the notch, and sent the nail +off sailing. The long-grooved barrel insured a very good aim. + + +MEGAPHONE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 54. The Megaphone.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 55. Layout of the Megaphone.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 56. Brass Fastener.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 57. The Mouthpiece.] + +Another device we made in preparation for the expedition was a +megaphone. A sheet of light cardboard 30 inches square was procured. At +the center of one edge a pin was stuck into the cardboard, then a piece +of stout thread was looped over the pin and the two ends were knotted +together just 5 inches from the pin. Another knot was also made 29 +inches from the pin. Now, with a pencil hooked into the loop, and +resting first against the inner knot and then against the outer one, two +arcs were drawn on the paper, one of 5-inch radius and the other of +29-inch radius. A line was now drawn from the pin to the point where the +longer arc met the right hand edge of the paper, and a dotted line was +drawn from the pin to a point 1-1/2 inches from the edge at the other +end of the arc. From a point 1 inch to the left of the pin we then drew +a line to the left end of the arc. With a scissors we cut the cardboard +along the arcs and straight lines, all but the dotted line, leaving a +piece of the shape shown in Fig. 55. This piece was rolled into a cone +with the right edge lapped over the left edge and lying against the +dotted line. In this position it was held by means of several brass +fasteners of the kind shown in Fig. 56. + +A mouthpiece was formed out of a block of wood in which a large hole had +been drilled. The block was then cut away until the walls were quite +thin. The hole was reamed out at the top, as shown in Fig. 57, and the +outer surface was tapered so that the small end of the megaphone would +fit snugly on it. + +We planned to reach our camping grounds by way of the canal, and had +provided for that purpose a large scow, which we expected to tow up to +Lumberville and drag over to the river. + + +THE SCOW. + +[Illustration: Fig. 58. Side pieces of the Scow.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 59. Frame of the Scow.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 60. Nailing on the Bottom.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 61. Sockets for Rowlocks.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 62. Thole Pin.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 63. Nailing on the Decks.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 64. The Oar.] + +Our scow was made as follows: Two 3/4-inch pine boards, 12 inches wide +and 12 feet long, were selected from Reddy's father's lumber pile. These +were used for the side pieces of the boat, and we tapered them off at +the end to a width of 3-1/2 inches. This was done by making a straight +cut from the end to a point three feet back along the edge of the board +and then rounding off the edge with a draw-knife. When one board had +been shaped, it was used as a pattern for the other, which was thus cut +to exactly the same size. For the end pieces two strips, 4 inches wide +and 2 feet 10-1/2 inches long, were sawed out of a 1-inch board. Then +for the bottom we procured a number of 3/4-inch boards, 12 feet long and +8 inches wide, which we cut into 3-foot lengths. At Bill's suggestion, +before nailing the parts together, we secured some strips of flannel, +which were saturated with paint, and laid between the seams so as to +make the boat perfectly water-tight. The side and end boards were then +nailed together, with the strips of flannel between, the side boards +overlapping the end boards, as shown in Fig. 59. After planing down the +end boards until their edges laid flush with the edges of the side +pieces, the bottom boards were nailed on, strips of cloth being inserted +between them, as well as along the edges of the side and end boards. To +brace the bottom a 3/4-inch board was placed at the center, inside the +boat, and bent down against the floor, to which it was nailed with wire +nails. The nails were driven into the board from the outer side of the +boat and were clinched inside. Along the upper edges of the side boards +two strips 2 inches wide and 1 inch thick were nailed. Two notches were +cut in the inner side of each strip before it was nailed on. The notches +were 1/2 inch deep, 1-1/2 inches wide, 3 inches apart and about 5-1/2 +feet from the stern end. When the strips were nailed in place these +notches formed sockets to receive the rowlocks. A strip was also nailed +across the stern of the boat and formed with two central notches, to +receive the rowlocks for a steering oar. This strip, however, was 3 +inches wide, and projected 1 inch above the end board, so as to lie +flush with the deck boards, which were later applied. Six thole pins, +1/2 inch thick, 4-1/2 inches long and 2 inches wide, were cut out of an +oak board. The lower end of each pin was reduced to a width of 1-1/2 +inches for a length of 2 inches. The thole pins were then fitted snugly +in the notches. Two cleats, nailed to the side boards inside, 7 inches +below the upper edge, served to support a seat board 1 inch thick and 2 +feet 10-1/2 inches long. The aft edge of the seat was about 10 inches +forward of the rowlocks. The boat was completed by nailing on a couple +of deck boards at each end. The oars were made of 2-inch pine boards, 5 +feet long and 5 inches wide. They were blocked out at Mr. Schreiner's +sawmill and then shaped and smoothed down with a draw-knife and +spoke-shaved. They were 1-1/4 inches at the handle and 2 inches +immediately below, tapering down to a diameter of 1-1/4 inches at the +top of the blade. The blades were 18 inches long, 5 inches wide, and +planed down to a thickness of 1/4 inch along the edges. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +OFF TO THE ISLAND. + + +The morning of July 2d dawned bright and clear, but long before daybreak +the members of the S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I. were astir. The jolly red +sun peeping over the eastern hills witnessed an unaccustomed sight. Six +greatly excited boys were running back and forth from the barn to the +canal, bearing all manner of mysterious bundles, which were carefully +deposited in a freshly painted scow. Yes, all six of us were there. + + +A UNIQUE ALARM CLOCK. + +We hadn't expected to see Reddy Schreiner at such an early hour, for he +was always a sleepyhead, and no alarm clock would ever wake him. But +this was an exceptional day, and, besides, Reddy was quite an original +chap. He had taken one of the borrowed roosters into his room the night +before, and when, early in the morning, Mr. Chanticleer had mounted the +footboard of the bed, flapped his wings and given vent to his opinion of +a boy who persisted in sleeping at that late hour of the day, the noise +was too much for even Reddy's drowsy sensibilities. + +[Illustration: Fig. 65. Off to the Island.] + + +THE TRIP TO THE ISLAND. + +[Illustration: The Ledge below the Goblins' Platform.] + +[Illustration: The Camp at Willow Clump Island.] + +Our scow was not large enough to carry all the things we had to take +with us, but as Mr. Schreiner was going to take Uncle Ed up in his +wagon, we left the rest of our luggage for him to bring along. We boys +walked the eleven miles up the canal to Lumberville, towing the barge. +It was a tiresome task; but we divided the work into two-mile shifts, +two boys towing at a time and then each taking a mile ride as steersman +in the boat. It was about noon when we arrived at Lumberville, and then +we had to unload our boat before we could haul it out of the canal and +down to the river. The river on the Jersey side of the island was so +shallow that we waded across, pushing the boat ahead of us. The current +was too swift to permit of rowing, and it was rather hard for us to keep +our footing. But we managed to reach our destination finally without any +mishap. The island was thickly wooded, except for a small clearing where +we landed. The first thing we did was to unpack our eatables, and Jack, +the cook, soon had an appetizing pan of bacon and eggs sputtering on the +kerosene stove. + +[Illustration: Fig. 66. Dragging the Scow over to the Island.] + + +PRELIMINARY EXPLORATION. + +As no better position offered at the time we pitched our tent in the +clearing, pending a thorough search for a more suitable place elsewhere. +Around the tent we dug a trench about a foot deep to prevent water from +entering our quarters when it rained. It was about time for Uncle Ed and +Mr. Schreiner to appear with the rest of our luggage, so we did not have +time to do much exploring, but sauntered southward along the shore, +always on the lookout for their arrival. About a quarter of a mile from +the tent we came across the wreck of an old bridge, which had been +washed down by some freshet. This was a great find, and served us many +purposes, as will appear later. + +While we were examining the wreck we heard a distant "halloa" from the +mainland. There was Uncle Ed sitting on a pile of goods on the railroad +bank looking for all the world like an Italian immigrant. We answered +with a shout and scrambled back to the clearing. Then we ran splashing +through the water, pushing the boat before us. It didn't take us long to +load up and carry him back to the island. + + +A RUSTIC TABLE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 67. The Rustic Table.] + +Uncle Ed entered into our fun at once. He was as enthusiastic as a boy +over the surroundings, and when we told him of the old bridge he started +right off to investigate, taking the ax with him. Soon he had pried off +a number of the planks, which we used for a flooring to our tent. Then +he built us a table out of four forked sticks, driven into the ground, +and supporting two cross sticks, on which a pair of planks were laid. + + +THE SMALL FILTER. + +"Well, now, boys," said Uncle Ed, wiping the perspiration from his +forehead, "I am as thirsty as a whale. Where do you get your drinking +water? Is there a spring on the island?" + +We told him that we used the river water. + +[Illustration: Fig. 68. The Small Filter.] + +"What, river water! That won't do at all," he cried. "You'll all have +the typhoid fever. We must build a filter. I brought some charcoal with +me for this very purpose." + +Taking one of our pails he broke a hole in the bottom of it and stuffed +a sponge in the hole. A layer of small stones was then placed in the +pail, over this a layer of broken charcoal with the dust carefully blown +out, then a layer of clean sand, and finally a layer of gravel. Each +layer was about two inches thick. The pail was suspended from a branch +in a cool place and proved an excellent filter, the water trickling out +through the sponge being perfectly pure and sweet, no matter how dirty +it had been when poured in; but the capacity of the filter was too +small, and Uncle Ed said he would make us a larger one on the morrow if +no spring was discovered in the meantime. + +The sun was getting low in the west, and we therefore postponed the +exploration of our island until the following day. We had been up since +four o'clock that morning and had done some pretty hard work; so, +immediately after supper, we turned in and, lulled by the murmuring of +the river, were soon fast asleep. + + +THE BARREL FILTER. + +[Illustration: Fig. 69. The Barrel Filter.] + +Immediately after breakfast the next day we started out in two parties +to search the island. The only discovery of any moment was that made by +Dutchy's party, which found a small island separated from ours by a +narrow channel, through which the water ran like a mill-race. No spring +was discovered, so Uncle Ed had to construct his large filter. Bill and +I went over to Lumberville in search of a couple of cider barrels and a +pailful of charcoal. The barrels were placed one on top of the other +after cutting a large hole in the top of the lower barrel, and a smaller +one in the bottom of the upper one. The latter opening was covered by an +inverted saucer. Over this we spread a 3-inch layer of coarse sand, then +a 2-inch layer of charcoal, a 4-inch layer of clear, sharp sand, and a +2-inch top layer of gravel. The lower barrel was provided with a faucet, +through which we could draw off the filtered water as desired. In order +to keep the water cool we placed the filters in a shady place near the +river, and piled up earth around the lower barrel. + +"Now, boys," said Uncle Ed, "form in line there, and we will go through +a fire drill." + +He arranged us about five feet apart in a line extending from the filter +to the river. We had six pails, and these Dutchy filled one at a time, +passing them up the line to Reddy, who emptied them into the upper +barrel and then threw them back to Dutchy to be refilled. Working in +this way it did not take long to fill up the filter, and the burden of +keeping the barrels full, instead of falling on one person, was shared +alike by all. + +[Illustration: Fig. 70. Filling the Barrel.] + + +THE KLEPALO. + +Our camp outfit was further augmented by a dinner call. We discovered +the necessity of such a call on our very first day of camping. Dutchy +was so excited by his discoveries of the morning that he started out +alone in the afternoon to make a further search. The rest of us were +lazy after the noon meal, and were lolling around taking it easy during +the heat of the day, and discussing plans for the future. But Dutchy's +energetic nature would not permit him to keep quiet. He took the scow +and waded with it against the strong current to the deeper and quieter +water above the island. Then he rowed a long way up stream. He was gone +all the afternoon. Supper time came and still he didn't appear. The sun +was high, and I presume he didn't realize how late it was getting. +Finally, just at sunset, he came drifting down with the current, tired +and hungry, and ready for a large meal. But we had finished our supper +an hour before, and poor Dutchy had to be content with a few cold +remnants, because the cook had declared he wouldn't prepare an extra +meal for a fellow who didn't have sense enough to know when it was meal +time. + +Then it was that Uncle Ed bethought himself of the _klepalo_. + +"You ought to have some sort of a dinner call," he declared, "so that +any one within a mile of camp will know when dinner is ready." + +[Illustration: The _Klepalo_.] + +"Did you ever hear of a _klepalo_? No? Well, I was down in +Macedonia a couple of years ago inspecting a railroad, and I stopped off +for the night at a small Bulgarian village. The next day happened to be +a _Prasdnik_, or saint's day, and the first thing in the morning I +was awakened by a peculiar clacking sound which I couldn't make out. +Calling my interpreter I found out from him that it was a _klepalo_ +for calling the people to church. The people there are too poor to +afford a bell, and so in place of that they use a beam of oak hung from +a rope tied about the center, and this beam is struck with a hammer, +first on one side, and then the other. Sometimes an iron _klepalo_ +is used as well, and then they strike first the beam and then the iron +bar, so as to vary the monotony of the call. I found that the wooden +_klepalo_ could be heard for a distance of about one and a half +miles over land, and the iron one for over two miles. Now we can easily +make a wooden _klepalo_ for use in this camp, and then if Dutchy, +or any of the rest of us, keep within a mile and a half of camp there +won't be any trouble with the cook." + +So we built a _klepalo_, getting from Lumberville a stick of +seasoned oak, 1-1/2 inches thick, 6 inches wide and 4 feet long. A hole +was drilled into the stick at the center, and by a rope passed through +this hole the beam was suspended from a branch overhanging the camp. +Jack, the cook, regularly used this crude device to call the hungry +horde to meals. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +SURVEYING. + + +One of the first things we did after getting fairly settled in our new +quarters was to make a complete survey of Willow Clump Island and its +immediate surroundings. Our surveying instruments were made as follows: + + +THE SURVEYING INSTRUMENT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 71. Baseboard of the Surveying Instrument.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 72. Sighting Blocks on the Baseboard.] + +Out of a 1-inch board we cut a base 15 inches long and 4 inches wide. In +the center we sawed out a circular opening of about 3 inches diameter +and covered this at the bottom by a circular piece 1 inch thick and 5 +inches in diameter, thus forming a socket in which our compass fitted +snugly. A hole 1 inch in diameter was drilled through the center of this +circular piece to receive the pivot pin of a tripod. Across each end of +the baseboard we secured a block 4 inches long, 2 inches wide and 1 inch +thick. A 1-inch sight hole was drilled through each block at its center. +A ring of cardboard, on which Uncle Ed marked with radial lines the 360 +degrees of the circle, was placed over the compass socket, with the zero +and 180 degree marks pointing toward the sight blocks. The outer faces +of the end blocks were now wet with mucilage and a hair was stretched +vertically across the center of each sight hole. The hairs were then +adjusted by sighting through the holes and moving the nearer hair +sidewise until it was exactly in line with both the zero and the 180 +degree marks on the cardboard. Then a hair was stretched horizontally +across the center of each sight hole. Great care was taken to place the +hairs at exactly the same height above the baseboard. To protect the +hairs after they were adjusted, they were covered with a piece of glass, +which was secured in place by tacks driven into the wood with their +heads projecting over the edges of the glass. + + +SPIRIT LEVELS. + +From one of his pockets Uncle Ed produced two small bottles, the kind +used for holding homeopathic pills. These he filled nearly to the top +with water, corked them and wedged them into grooves cut lengthwise in +the baseboard at opposite sides of the cardboard ring. These grooves +were filled with putty, and to make sure that the bottles were level +with the baseboard the latter was floated on a bit of quiet water and +the bottles were pressed down at one end or the other until the bubble +within rested at the exact center. + + +THE TRIPOD. + +[Illustration: Fig. 73. The Tripod Head.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 74. The Tripod Leg.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 75. The Surveying Instrument Complete.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 76. The Protractor.] + +The tripod head was formed of a wooden disk 5 inches in diameter, with a +wooden pin projecting from its center adapted to engage the hole in the +circular piece above referred to. To the bottom of the tripod head were +nailed three blocks 2 inches long and 1 inch square in cross-section. +The tripod legs were made of light strips of wood, 3/8 inch by 1 inch by +5 feet long, which we secured from one of the mills at Lumberville. Each +leg was formed of two of these strips, nailed securely together to +within 20 inches of the top. At the upper ends the strips were spread to +receive the blocks on the tripod head. In this position they were held +by headless wire nails driven into the ends of the blocks and fitting +into holes drilled in the strips. For a plumb line we tacked a cord to +the center of the tripod head, and attached a good-sized sinker to its +lower end. In connection with this plumb line we occasionally used a +protractor consisting of a semicircle of cardboard 5 inches in diameter, +on which the degrees of the circle were marked off with radiating lines, +as illustrated in Fig. 76. By holding the straight edge of this +protractor against the base of the tripod, and noting the number of +degrees between the 90 degree mark and the plumb line, we could tell at +a glance at what angle from the horizontal the instrument was tipped. + + +SURVEYOR'S CHAIN. + +[Illustration: Fig. 77. The Surveyor's Chain.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 78. Forming the Links.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 79. A Double-Ringed Link.] + +We made a surveyor's chain of wire links, each 12 inches long, instead +of 7.92 inches, which is the length of a standard surveyor's link. The +wire we used was No. 16 galvanized iron, which was rather stiff and +difficult to bend. In order to make all the links of exactly the same +size and shape we used a form, around which they were bent. The form +consisted of a 1-inch board in which two 1/2 inch holes were drilled, +just 11-1/2 inches apart, measured from their centers. An oak pin, 1/2 +inch in diameter, was driven into each hole and projected about an inch +above the board. Two blocks of oak were secured to the baseboard, just +before each pin, as shown in Fig. 78. This form gave great satisfaction. +A groove was cut in the side of one of the pins to receive the ring of a +completed link, while the wire was passed through this ring and bent +around the peg to form the ring of the new link. After each link was +formed it was carefully measured, and, if too long, was shortened by +flattening the rings endwise, or, if too short, was lengthened by +pinching together the sides of the rings. There were fifty links in our +chain, and every tenth one was formed with a double ring at the end, so +as to distinguish it from the rest (see Fig. 79). + + +THE SURVEYOR'S ROD. + +[Illustration: Fig. 80. Cutting Out a Disk.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 81. The Sighting Disk] + +[Illustration: Fig. 82 Nut Fastened in Block.] + +We completed our outfit by making a surveyor's rod out of a straight +stick of wood about 6 feet long. A target or sighting disk was mounted +on the stick. This disk was 6 inches in diameter, and was sawed out of a +6-inch square board by making straight cuts across the corners and then +smoothing off the edge to a perfect circle with a draw-knife. The +thickness of the disk was only 1/2 inch. At the back of the disk we +fastened a block of wood with a slot cut in it to receive the rod, as +shown in Fig. 81. To hold the disk at different heights on the rod a +small bolt was used. The nut on this bolt was slipped into a hole on the +block at the bottom of the slot and held in place by driving in nails +about it, as illustrated in Fig. 82. The bolt was then passed through +the hole and threaded through the nut, with its inner end bearing +against the rod. The disk could thus be held at any desired position by +tightening up the bolt. A piece of white paper was now pasted over the +disk. The paper was marked off into quarters, and opposite quarters were +painted black so that it would be easy to sight, from a distance, the +exact center of the target. + + +A SIMPLE METHOD OF SURVEYING. + +Of course, none of us had studied trigonometry, but Uncle Ed devised a +very simple method by which we could determine distances quite +accurately without much figuring. + +"If you will tell me the length of one side of a triangle and the angles +it makes with the other two sides," said Uncle Ed, "I'll tell you the +length of the other two sides and the size of the third angle. This is +how I will do it: + +[Illustration: Fig. 83. Diagram of Our First Lesson in Surveying.] + +"Say the line is 6 inches long and one angle is 35 degrees, while the +other is 117 degrees. Let us draw a 6-inch straight line. This we will +call our base line. Now we will place the base edge of our protractor on +the base line with its center at the right hand end of the line. At the +37 degree mark we will make a dot on the paper so, and draw a line from +the right hand end of the base line through this dot. Now we will do the +same thing at the opposite end, making a dot at 107 degrees from the +line, and draw a line from the left hand end of the base line through +this dot. + +"If we extend these lines until they intersect, we will have the +required triangle, and can measure the two sides, which will be found to +be about 12 inches and 8 inches long, and the third angle will measure +just 26 degrees. It doesn't make any difference on what scale we draw +the triangle, whether it be miles, yards, feet, inches or fractions of +an inch, the proportions will be the same. If the base line had been 6 +half-inches, or 3 inches long, and the same angles were used, the other +two lines would measure 12 half-inches, or six inches, and 8 +half-inches, or 4 inches. If the base line were 6 quarter-inches long, +the sides would be 3 inches and 2 inches long. + +[Illustration: Fig. 84. Determining the Distance to the Tree.] + +"Now, for example, I am going to measure the distance to that tree over +there. Get out your chain and measure off a straight line 10 feet long. +Now, I'll set the surveying instrument with the plumb-bob right over the +end of this line, and sight through the two sight holes until I bring +the two vertical hairs in line with each other and the tree. Look at the +compass needle. It points to the 173 degree mark on the cardboard ring. +Now, Bill, you hold the rod at the other end of our base line while I +swing this instrument around and sight it. There, the needle points to +92 degrees, and subtracting this from 173 the difference, 81 degrees, is +the angle at the right end of our base line. We'll do the same thing at +the other end of our line. See, the compass needle points to 189 +degrees, and now sighting to the pole at the other end of the line we +find that the needle points to 268. The difference, 79 degrees, is +therefore the size of the angle at the left end of our base line. Now we +will draw this out on paper, as we did our first triangle, using +quarter-inches to represent feet. Our base line was 10 feet long, and we +will therefore draw a line 10 quarter-inches, or 2-1/2 inches long, on +our drawing board. On this line we will construct the triangle, using +the angles 81 and 79 degrees. There, that's how our triangle looks, and +the right hand side measures 7-1/4 inches, while the left hand side +measures 7-5/16 inches. That is, 29 quarter-inches for one side and +29-1/4 quarter-inches for the other. As each quarter-inch represents a +foot, you will find that the tree is about 29 feet from the right end of +our base line and 29 feet 3 inches from the left hand end. Of course, +our instrument is not perfect, neither is our drawing; but if you +measure it off with the chain you will see that I am not very far from +correct." + + +MAPPING THE ISLAND. + +Most of our surveying was done by actual measurement, the surveying +instrument being used only to determine the exact direction of the +measurement. However, there were some measurements which we could not +make directly with the chain. For example, we wished to know just how +far it was from our tent to the Jersey shore of the river. We measured +off a base line along our shore 400 feet long and sighted to a point +directly across the river from our tent. The angle in front of our tent +was 90 degrees, and at the other end of the base line was 73 degrees. +When we drew out our triangle on the scale of 100 feet to the inch we +found that the shorter side directly in front of the tent was almost +exactly 13 inches long. This meant that the river at this point was +1,300 feet wide, nearly a quarter of a mile. On the other side of the +island we found, in the same way, that the river at its narrowest point +was about 500 feet wide. This portion of the river we named Lake Placid, +as the water was very still and quite deep. This was due to a sort of +natural dam formed at the lower end of our island. The small island that +Dutchy found was kite-shaped, with a tail of boulders which extended +almost all the way across to a rocky point on the Pennsylvania shore. +The channel between "Kite Island," as we called it, and Willow Clump +Island was not more than fifteen feet wide in some places, and through +this the water swept with a swift current down past a narrow neck of +land to join the main current. This narrow stretch of land we named the +Tiger's Tail, owing to its peculiar shape. It was in the hook at the end +of this tail that we discovered the old bridge wreck above referred to. +From the tip of the Tiger's Tail to Point Lookout, at the extreme upper +end of Willow Clump Island, it was a little under a half-mile. The shore +all along Lake Placid was very steep, except near Point Lookout. At one +place there was a shallow bay which we called the lagoon. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +SWIMMING. + + +[Illustration: Fig. 85. The Diving Tree.] + +Lake Placid was a favorite swimming place for us. We used to plunge in +from the branches of a tree which overhung the water a little ways above +the lagoon and made a natural springboard. We could all swim like ducks, +except Dutchy, who couldn't do anything but paddle. However, Uncle Ed +was an expert, and he took Dutchy in hand and soon made a pretty good +swimmer out of him. He also taught us some fancy strokes. Of course I +took no record of these lessons. You would hardly expect me to sit on +the bank with a book in hand jotting down notes while the rest were +splashing around in the cool water having the best of fun in the world, +and even if I had, I wouldn't republish the notes here, because whoever +heard of a boy learning to swim while reading a book on the subject? A +beginner had better leave books alone and plunge right into the water. +He will soon learn to keep himself afloat and can then practise any +fancy strokes that he sees others try. Then, again, don't try to learn +in shallow water, because you will never do it. Of course it doesn't pay +to jump into water that is over your head unless there is a good swimmer +near by to help you out. But you will never learn to swim until you have +become accustomed to putting your head under water. You can not swim +with a dry face. The first time we went swimming, we couldn't persuade +Dutchy to try it. The water was deep right up to the very bank and he +had never been in over his head. Instead he sat up in the diving tree +swinging his feet and trying to hide the fact that he was having a dull +time. + +"Say, we've got to douse that fellow," said Reddy. + +"You're right; he needs a wash," said Jim. "Let's sneak up behind him +and chuck him in." + +They landed a little ways up the stream behind a large bush and then +crept down stealthily on their victim. But Dutchy had his suspicions +aroused and saw them coming. He scrambled out of the tree in a jiffy and +tore off into the woods as fast as his legs could carry him. + + +SWIMMING ON A PLANK. + +[Illustration: Fig. 86. Swimming on a Plank.] + +We didn't expect to see him again that afternoon, for the pace he was +leading should have carried him miles in no time; but while he couldn't +swim, Dutchy had his own ideas of fun on the water. It was about twenty +minutes later that we saw him coming down-stream lying full length on +one of the 2-inch planks taken from the bridge wreck. He was paddling +himself along with arms and legs hung over the sides of the plank. We +all gave him a cheer, and then started out to have some fun with him. We +tried to pull him off his raft, but he stuck on like a leech. It was +only when we made his craft turn turtle that Dutchy got his head under +water. But it wasn't a moment before he scrambled back on top again, +gasping and sputtering to get the water out of his nose and mouth. + +Uncle Ed all this time had been sunning himself on the bank, when +suddenly he uttered a shout of warning. We were right at the mouth of +the mill-race. For the moment we forgot about Dutchy, and swam out for +shore. Before we realized it Dutchy was caught in the current, and was +being swept full tilt down the stream. My but wasn't he scared. I can +see him yet clinging for dear life to the plank, his face the color of +ashes and his eyes bulging out in terror. First he tried to make for the +bank, but the water was so swift that when the front end of the board +struck land the rear end swung around in a circle, carrying him on +again, but backward this time, before we could reach him. Two or three +more times the plank struck the bank and turned him around, while we +raced along the high bank, scrambling down to catch him every time he +headed for shore, but each time just missing him. Then he swung out past +the Tiger's Tail into the open river just above the rapids. Fortunately +he was going along headforemost this time, and Uncle Ed, who had just +arrived, panting and breathless, from running, shouted to him to keep +his head and steer for a narrow opening between two jutting boulders. I +don't know whether Dutchy did any steering or not, but the raft shot +straight through the opening, and was lost in a cloud of spray. In a +moment he reappeared below the rapids, paddling like mad for a neck of +land on the Pennsylvania side of the river. + +Dutchy would never own up that he was afraid. He never told a lie under +other circumstances, but when it came to a question of courage he had +the habit of stretching facts to the very limit. Even in this case, he +said that he started out with the idea of shooting the rapids, and if we +hadn't flustered him so, he would not have bumped into the bank and +turned about so many times. Dutchy was a very glib talker. He nearly +persuaded us that it was all done intentionally, and his thrilling +account of the wild dash between the rocks and through the shower of +spray stirred us up so that we all had to try the trick too. + + +SHOOTING THE RAPIDS. + +The next day, while Uncle Ed was taking a nap, we stole off to the upper +end of Lake Placid, each one towing a plank. We needn't have been so +afraid of Uncle Ed, for we found out later that he intended to try a +plank ride through the rapids himself next time he went in swimming. +Down Lake Placid we paddled in single column to the mill-race. In a +moment the current had caught us and we were off. I shall never forget +the thrilling ride down the swirling mill-race, the sudden pause as we +shot out into the open river, the plunge between the boulders and the +dive through the spray. It was all over too soon. Something like +coasting--whiz, whiz-z-z, and a half-mile walk. Were it not for the +trouble of hauling the planks back by the roundabout course along the +Pennsy shore we would have thought shooting the rapids a capital game. + + +RESTORING THE DROWNED. + +[Illustration: Fig. 87. Pressing the Water out of the Stomach.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 88. Expanding the Chest.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 89. Squeezing out the Air from the Lungs.] + +It was on the second day after Dutchy's exploit of the rapids that Bill +came so near drowning. He probably would have drowned if Uncle Ed hadn't +been on hand to work over him. Bill was a fine swimmer, but even the +best of swimmers will sometimes get a cramp, so it is never safe for any +one to go into the water without some one at hand to help him out in +case of accident. In the present case Bill was doing some fancy strokes +by himself over near the Pennsy shore, while the rest of us were +watching Uncle Ed give Dutchy a lesson in swimming. All of a sudden Bill +threw up his hands and sank. I happened to glance up as he did it. We +thought he was fooling at first, but soon made out that he was in +genuine trouble. Uncle Ed dropped Dutchy to my tender care, and raced +over with a powerful stroke to the spot where he had last seen his +nephew. He failed to find him on the first dive, but the second time was +successful and he carried the lifeless body to the Pennsylvania shore. +In the meantime I had landed Dutchy and with the rest of the boys had +crossed the lake. Uncle Ed first laid Bill on his back and hastily wiped +dry the mouth and nostrils. Then he pried his jaws apart, holding them +open with a piece of wood wedged in between the teeth. After which he +turned him on his face over a log which was placed under his stomach. By +stomach I do not mean the bowels, but the real stomach, which lies just +under the ribs in front. Then he pressed with a good weight on the back +directly over the log for nearly a minute, causing the water to flow out +of the mouth. Dutchy had by this time rowed across in the scow, in which +fortunately there happened to be some of Uncle Ed's clothing. This he +took and rolled into a bundle, then Bill was laid on his back over the +roll of clothing, which was arranged to raise the pit of his stomach +above the rest of his body. Uncle Ed now wrapped a handkerchief around +his forefinger, and with it wiped out Bill's mouth and throat. Reddy, +who was the least excited of the lot, was told to draw Bill's tongue +forward so as to prevent it from falling back and choking the windpipe. +This he did with the dry part of the handkerchief, drawing the end of +the tongue out at the corner of the mouth, and holding it there while +Uncle Ed and I started the pumping action, which produced artificial +respiration. I was directed to grasp Bill's arms just below the elbows, +and swing them vertically in an arc until the hands met the ground again +above the head. This expanded the chest. Uncle Ed at the same time stood +over the body with his elbows on his knees and hands extended, as +illustrated in Fig. 88. Then I swung the arms up and back to the sides +of the body, but just before the hands touched the ground Uncle Ed +seized the body in both hands just below the ribs, and as soon as I +touched the arms to the ground he swung forward with all his weight on +his hands, squeezing the waist and pushing upward so as to force out the +air in the chest. Then he slowly counted, one, two, three, four, all the +time steadily increasing the pressure, until at the signal four, with a +final push, he shoved himself to the first position, shown in Fig. 88. +At the same signal I drew the arms up again over the head, and held them +there while Uncle Ed again counted four; then I returned the arms to the +sides, and Uncle Ed repeated the squeezing process. These movements were +continued for about three minutes, and then Bill gave a short, faint +gasp. We kept on with the artificial respiration, assisting the gasps, +which gradually grew stronger, until they had deepened into steady +breathing. Then we stripped off the wet bathing suit, and wrapping Bill +in Uncle Ed's clothing, laid him in the bottom of the boat. While Dutchy +hurried the boat across, Uncle Ed rubbed the patient's arms and legs. +The rest of us swam over and ran for blankets from the tent. Bill was +wrapped in one of the blankets and the other was used as a stretcher, on +which we carried him to the tent. Then one of us was sent post-haste +across to Lumberville for some whiskey, which was diluted in hot water +and given the patient a teaspoonful at a dose, every fifteen minutes at +first, and then at less frequent intervals. Uncle Ed kept Bill in bed +all the next day for fear of congestion of the lungs. He told us that +unless the patient kept perfectly quiet for a couple of days, he was +liable to be seized with a sudden attack of hard breathing that might +choke him to death in a short time. To stop such an attack he told us +that the best plan was to apply a mustard plaster to the chest, and if +the patient commenced to gasp, to start pumping the arms and squeezing +the waist so as to help him breathe. After Bill had come around and was +himself again Uncle Ed gave us a thorough drill in methods of restoring +the drowned. He laid down on the grass and made us practise on him the +various directions which he gave us. + + +HOW TO WORK OVER A PATIENT ALONE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 90. Working alone over a Patient.] + +"If you boys hadn't been so excited," he said, "I would have made you +rub Bill's body and limbs while we were pumping the air into him, but I +knew you would get in the way, and be more of a bother than a help. You +must learn to be calm in any accident; excitement doesn't pay. Keep +steadily and slowly at your pumping, for you might have to do it for +four hours before the patient comes to." He taught us just how to swing +the arms and squeeze the ribs to best advantage, and how to hold the +tongue without getting in the way of the arms as they were pumped back +and forth. There was also a special way of rubbing the arms and legs. +The limbs were always rubbed upward, or toward the body, with the bare +hands, or a dry cloth if there was one at hand, but this all had to be +done without interfering with the pumping action. "If the patient +doesn't come around in five minutes," he said, "turn him on his face +again over the roll of clothing, or any other suitable substitute, and +press out the water from the stomach, rolling him first to one side and +then to the other; be sure to get all the water out." When we had +learned our lesson well, Uncle Ed took Dutchy for his patient, and +proceeded to show us how a man could work over him alone. First he went +through the operation of squeezing the water out of him, and drying his +nose and mouth, much to the patient's discomfort; then he drew Dutchy's +tongue out of the corner of his mouth, holding it there by closing the +jaws on it, and holding the jaws together by passing a handkerchief over +his chin and lapping it over his head. After that he began to pump, +seizing the patient's arms and swinging them up over the head and back, +as before. Just as the arms were dropped back to the sides of the body, +he squeezed them in against the ribs, at the same time drawing upward +toward the head and counting four each time, as he had done before. But +the lesson was abruptly interrupted by Dutchy, whose imagination was +worked up to such a pitch that I actually believe he thought he had been +drowning. Anyway, he squirmed out of Uncle Ed's grasp, and wouldn't play +patient any longer. For several days after that we couldn't persuade him +to venture near deep water. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +BRIDGE BUILDING. + + +Willow Clump Island was, for the most part, a trackless wilderness, and +as soon as we had made our map we laid out roads to the different +important points. Our main highway ran from Point Lookout to Tiger's +Tail. This road was made rather winding, to add to its picturesqueness, +and from it a number of shorter roads branched off. + + +SPAR BRIDGE. + +[Illustration: Figs. 91 and 92. Frames for the Spar Bridge.] + +[Illustration: Fig 93. The Spar Bridge.] + +We ran a bridge across the mill-race at its narrowest point. This bridge +was made of trees which we had cut down in making our road. It was quite +a piece of engineering, built under Uncle Ed's guidance. Two frames were +made of the shape shown in Figs. 91 and 92. The side sticks were 15 feet +long and spaced about 10 feet apart at the base by crosspieces. At the +upper end one frame was made 6 feet wide and the other 5 feet wide. The +side and cross spars were mortised together and secured by lashing a +rope around them. To make the frames more rigid we braced them with +diagonal braces nailed on. When completed we set the frames up on +opposite sides of the stream and with ropes carefully lowered their +upper ends until they interlocked, the side spars of each frame resting +on the cross spars of the other. In the angles formed by the crossing +side spars a center spar was laid, and a number of floor beams or spars +were stretched to this from the opposite shores. On these a flooring was +spread made of saplings, cut and trimmed to the right size. A rustic +railing on each side of the bridge completed the structure. + + +THE ROPE RAILWAY. + +[Illustration: Fig. 94. The Swing Seat.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 95. Tying the Ropes to the Seat.] + + +The mill-race was crossed further down by a rope line on which we rigged +a traveling carriage. A light manila rope was used, anchored to a tree +at each side about fifteen feet from the ground. A pulley block with a +wheel or sheave 4 inches in diameter was mounted to travel on the rope. +Suspended from this block by means of fall and tackle was a swing seat. +This, as shown in Fig. 94, was merely a board fastened with four rope +strands to the ring of the tackle block. A single rope was used, with +the ends tied firmly together. The loop thus formed was passed through +the ring of the tackle block and the opposite ends were twisted over the +ends of the seat board in the manner illustrated in Fig. 95. The tackle +blocks were quite small, having 2-inch sheaves, and they, together with +the large pulley or "traveling block," as we called it, cost us about +$2.50. Two light ropes were fastened to the large traveling block, each +rope long enough to reach across the stream. The ropes extended to +opposite anchorages, where each was passed over a branch of the tree and +belayed on a cleat within easy reach. A fellow could draw himself up +clear of the ground by pulling on the free end of the fall, as a painter +does; then tying the swing fast in this position, he would pull himself +across the stream by means of the rope stretched to the opposite +anchorage. The swing could be drawn back by the next one who wanted to +cross. We also used this aerial line for transporting loads from one +island to the other. + +[Illustration: Fig. 96. The Rope Railway.] + + +SUSPENSION BRIDGE. + +[Illustration: Fig 97. Barrel-stave Flooring.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 98. The Suspension Bridge.] + +Our aerial railway didn't last long. We soon tired of it, and instead +utilized the materials for a rope suspension bridge. We procured from +Lumberville half a dozen old barrels and used the staves as a flooring +for the bridge. The staves were linked together by a pair of ropes at +each end woven over and under, as indicated in the drawing Fig. 97. +Notches were cut in the staves to hold the ropes from slipping off. The +flexible flooring thus constructed was stretched across the river and +secured to stakes driven firmly in the ground. A pair of parallel ropes +were extended across the stream about three feet above the flooring, +with which they were connected at intervals of five feet. The bridge was +25 feet long, and while rather shaky, owing to the fact that there were +no braces to prevent it from swaying sidewise, still it was very strong +and did excellent service. + + +PONTOON BRIDGE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 99. The Pontoon Bridge.] + +At the head of the mill-race, where the channel was fifty feet wide, we +built a pontoon bridge. We were fortunate in securing six good cider +barrels at low cost, also a quantity of "slabs" from one of the sawmills +of Lumberville. "Slab" is the lumberman's name for the outside piece of +a log which is sawn off in squaring up the sides. We made a raft of +these materials and floated them down the river to Lake Placid. The +bridge was made by anchoring the barrels in the channel about eight feet +apart, and laying on them the floor beams, which supported a flooring of +slabs. The floor beams were narrow planks 1 inch by 4 inches, taken from +the bridge wreck, and they were placed on edge to prevent sagging. Of +course we had no anchors for securing the barrels, but used instead +large stones weighing about 100 pounds each, around which the anchor +lines were fastened. We found it rather difficult to sink these +improvised anchors at just the right places, for we were working at the +very mouth of the mill-race, and were in constant danger of having our +scow sucked down into the swirling channel. Once we were actually drawn +into the mill-race and tore madly down the rushing stream. By Bill's +careful steering we managed to avoid striking the shore, and just as we +were off the Tiger's Tail Reddy succeeded in swinging a rope around an +overhanging limb and bringing us to a sudden stop. A moment later we +might have been dashed against the rocks in the rapids below and our +boat smashed. Shooting rapids in a scow is a very different matter from +riding through them on a plank. + + +THE KING ROD TRUSS. + +Our bridge building operations were not entirely confined to the island. +Two of them were built on the Schreiner grounds at Lamington. Reddy +Schreiner's home was situated a little distance above the town where +Cedar Brook came tumbling down a gorge in the hills and spread out into +the Schreiners' ice pond. Thence it pursued its course very quietly +through the low and somewhat swampy ground in the Schreiners' back yard. +Over this brook Reddy was very anxious to build a bridge. Accordingly, +before returning to school in the fall Bill made out a careful set of +plans for the structure, and after we had gone the rest of the society, +under Reddy's guidance, erected the bridge. + +[Illustration: Fig. 100. The King Rod Bridge.] + +The structure was a cross between a suspension bridge and a spar bridge. +The banks of the stream were so low that, instead of resting the floor +of the bridge on top of the inclined frames, as we had done over the +mill-race, it was suspended from the spars by means of wires. The +crossing ends of the spars were nailed together and their lower ends +were firmly planted about four feet apart in the banks of the brook. A +stick nailed to the apex of each pair of spars served temporarily to +brace them apart. The center cross beam of the bridge was now suspended +from the spars by means of heavy galvanized iron wire (No. 14, I should +say). The beam was hung high enough to allow for stretch of the wire, +making the roadway incline upward from both sides to the center. Aside +from carrying the floor of the bridge, this beam was used to brace the +inclined spars when the temporary crosspiece was removed. The ends of +the beam projected about thirty inches beyond the bridge at each side, +and they supported braces which extended diagonally upward to the +crossing ends of the spars. When this was done the temporary crosspiece +above referred to was removed. As the span between the center cross beam +and the banks was a little too long to provide a steady floor, a couple +of intermediate cross beams were suspended from the inclined spars. The +floor beams were then laid in place and covered with a flooring of +slabs. + + +STIFFENING THE BRIDGE. + +The bridge was a pretty good one, except for a slight unsteadiness +between the center and either end. When Uncle Ed saw it he showed us at +once where the trouble lay. Our intermediate cross beams were hung from +the center of the spars, and consequently made them bend, because the +strain came across their length, while at the center of the bridge there +was no chance for the spars to bend, because the strain was exerted +along their length, that is, it tended merely to push the ends of the +spars deeper into the banks. To remedy the trouble he proposed propping +up the center of each spar with a brace running from the center +crosspiece. The dotted lines in Fig. 100 show how these braces were +applied. They made the floor perfectly solid throughout, and gave the +bridge a much better appearance. Uncle Ed told us that the structure +might be called a "king rod truss," except that in place of rods we had +used wires. + +[Illustration: The King Rod Bridge.] + +[Illustration: The Bridge over Cedar Brook Gorge.] + + +THE KING POST BRIDGE. + +The other bridge on the Schreiner property was built in the following +summer, just before we started on our second expedition to Willow Clump +Island. It spanned the brook at the gorge, and was therefore a more +difficult engineering feat. Mr. Schreiner himself asked us to build it, +and we felt greatly honored by the request. A search was made in the Van +Syckel library for a suitable type. At last we found one that seemed +properly suited to the requirements. It was called a "king post truss," +and was very similar to the king rod bridge. While the design of the +bridge was simple, yet it required some ingenuity to put it together. In +setting up the other bridge the scow had been anchored in the center of +the stream and used as a working platform, from which it had been an +easy matter to put the various parts together. In this case our scow was +obviously of no use, so we laid a couple of long logs across the chasm, +and a few slats were nailed across them to provide a temporary bridge or +working platform. The platform sagged considerably at the center, +because the span was fully eighteen feet; but the logs were large, and +we knew they were strong enough to support our weight. However, as an +extra precaution, we tied the ends to stakes driven in the ground, so +that they could not possibly slip off the banks. + +[Illustration: Fig. 101. The King Post Frame.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 102. The King Posts Set in Position.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 103. The Permanent Cross Beam Made Fast.] + +First we set about constructing the king posts, which were made as shown +in Fig. 101. Two stout posts 7 feet long were connected at the top by a +tie stick, which spaced them 4 feet apart. To make a secure fastening +they were notched together and strengthened with diagonal braces. Each +king post was notched on opposite sides, at about thirty inches from the +top. A temporary tie piece was also nailed across the lower ends of the +king posts. The frame thus formed was set up at the center of the span +and temporarily held by nailing the lower tie piece to the working +platform. Four stout spars were now cut, each about fifteen feet long. +Taking a pair at a time, we planted their lower ends firmly in the +opposite banks and sawed off their upper ends until they could just be +hammered into the notches in the king post. This required careful +fitting, but by making the spars a little too long to start with, and +then shaving them down with a draw-knife, we managed to make fairly good +joints. A couple of long wire nails in each spar made the structure +perfectly secure. The king posts were now sawed off just above the +temporary tie piece, and the permanent cross beam was fastened to these +ends with straps of heavy wire wound tightly about them. The working +platform sagged so much that we were able to lay this cross beam above +it. From the ends of the cross beam diagonal braces extended to the king +posts (Fig. 103). Our working platform was now removed and replaced with +the permanent floor beams, which were firmly nailed to the center cross +beam and to the inclined spars at the shore ends. The floor beams were +quite heavy and needed no support between the king posts and shore. A +rustic floor was made of small logs sawed in two at Mr. Schreiner's +sawmill. Light poles were nailed to the flooring along each edge, giving +a finish to the bridge. We also provided a rustic railing for the bridge +of light poles nailed to the king posts and the diagonal spars. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +CANVAS CANOES. + + +Like all inhabitants of islands, we early turned our attention to +navigation. Our scow was serviceable for transporting materials back and +forth across the strips of shallow water between our quarters and the +Jersey shore. We never attempted to row across, because progress would +have been entirely too slow, and we would have drifted down to the +rapids long ere we could reach the opposite side. But on Lake Placid +matters were different. Although there was no settlement near us on the +Pennsylvania shore, to occasion our crossing the water for provisions +and the like, yet the quiet stretch was admirably suited to boating for +pleasure, and mighty little pleasure could we get out of our heavy scow. + + +UNCLE ED'S DEPARTURE. + +Owing to a sudden business call Uncle Ed left us after he had been with +us nearly three weeks. But, before going, he explained carefully to Bill +just how to construct a canvas canoe. Jack, the cook, who was anxious to +lay in a second supply of provisions, accompanied Uncle Ed as far as +Millville, the next town below Lamington. Here Uncle Ed bought five +yards of canvas, 42 inches wide, several cans of paint and a quantity of +brass and copper nails and tacks. These supplies, together with the food +provisions that Jack had collected, were brought to us late in the +afternoon by Mr. Schreiner. Mr. Schreiner also brought the necessary +boards and strips of wood for the framework of our canoe. + + +A VISIT FROM MR. SCHREINER. + +We invited Mr. Schreiner to spend the night with us, and this he did +after fording with some difficulty the swift-running river. In the +morning we showed him our quarters, our filter, the roads we had built, +the spar bridge across to Kite Island, our surveying instrument and the +chart we had made of the vicinity. He was greatly pleased with our work, +and it was then that he gave us an order for the bridge over the gorge. +From that day on he became our staunchest ally, so that when my father +and Mr. Van Syckel complained that we were loafing away a lot of time +which could be more profitably spent in study or work, Mr. Schreiner +stood up for us and declared that our experiences on the island were +doing us far more good, both physically and mentally, than any other +work that they could conceive of; that before condemning us they should +pay us a visit and see how we were employing our time. + + +THE SAILING CANOE. + +[Illustration: Exploring the River in the Indian Canoe.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 104. Stern Post of the Canoe.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 105. Stern of the Canoe.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 106. Center Form.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 107. Bulkheads.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 108. Center Braces.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 109. Top View of the Canoe Frame.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 110. Side View of the Canoe Frame.] + +Immediately after Mr. Schreiner's departure we started work on the +canoe. A strip of spruce 1 inch thick, 3 inches wide and 12 feet long +served as the keelson. At the stern a post 1-1/2 inches thick, 3 inches +wide and 13 inches high was secured to the keelson with brass screws. +This was braced as indicated in Fig. 104. At the bow a stem piece was +attached to the keelson. This stem was cut to a somewhat semicircular +form, as shown in Fig. 105. The outer edge was tapered with a draw-knife +to a thickness of 1/4 inch and a brace was nailed to the inner edge. Our +next work was to cut out three forms, one of the shape shown in Fig. 106 +and two like that shown in Fig. 107. The first form was set up on the +keelson midway between the stem and stern, and the other two were spaced +about four feet each side of the center form. The center form was used +only for shaping the frame of the boat, and was not intended to be +permanently affixed to the canoe. Therefore, we fastened it to the +keelson very lightly, so that it could be readily removed. The other two +forms, however, were made permanent parts of the frame, serving as +bulkheads. The gunwales were now secured in position. These were of +spruce 3/4 inch thick and 2 inches wide. The ends were beveled off so as +to neatly fit the stem piece and the stern post, to which they were +fastened by brass screws. Then we applied the longitudinal strips, or +rib bands, which were of 1/4-inch thick spruce 1 inch wide. Ten of these +bands were used, equally spaced apart on the center form, to which they +were lightly tacked; but they were nailed securely to the bulkheads and +the stem piece and stern post. The cross ribs were made of barrel hoops +which we had soaked in water for a day or so to render them pliable +enough to be bent into place. These hoops were split to a width of 1/2 +inch, and secured first to the keelson, then to the longitudinal strips +and finally to the gunwales. Copper tacks were used for nailing the ribs +in place, and these were long enough to be passed through the rib bands +and clinched on the outside. Forty cross ribs were nailed on, and at the +center of the canoe they were spaced about three inches apart. The +center form was then removed and cut along the dotted lines shown in +Fig. 106. The semicircular pieces thus obtained were now strengthened +with strips on their inner edges, and wedged in between the keelson and +the gunwales, to which they were nailed, as shown in Fig. 108. A pair of +cleats nailed to the cross ribs served as supports for the seat of the +canoe. The frame of the boat was completed by nailing in place two deck +beams of 1/2-inch square pine and four corner pieces between the +gunwales and the bulkheads, so as to make an elliptical well hole or +deck opening. Before laying on the canvas covering the edges of the +gunwales, keelson, deck beams, stem and stern posts were smoothed down +with sandpaper. + +[Illustration: Fig. 111. Lacing the Canvas on the Frame.] + + +STRETCHING ON THE CANVAS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 112. Tacking the Canvas to the Keel.] + +The frame was laid in the center of the canvas and the latter drawn +around it. Then with a large needle and strong twine we sewed both edges +of the cloth together with long stitches, lacing the canvas over the +frame as a shoe is laced over a foot. This done, the boat was turned +deck downward and the canvas was tacked to the keelson. In each case, +before driving in a tack a daub of white lead was applied, to +water-proof the spot. At the stem and stern a gore (narrow triangular +piece) was cut out of the canvas so as to make it lie smooth on the +frame, and white lead was painted in between the overlapping edges. The +canoe was then turned deck upward and the lacing tightened, while we +carefully worked out all wrinkles in the cloth. After tacking the canvas +along the gunwales on the outside, it was trimmed off, leaving +sufficient margin to be brought over the gunwales and tacked inside. Two +triangular pieces were cut out for the decks, and these were lapped over +the outer canvas and tacked to the gunwales. A narrow molding along the +edge of the boat served to cover the tack heads and added a certain +finish to the canoe. A keel plate 2 inches wide and 1 inch thick was +attached to the outside of the boat, and then, after wetting the canvas, +it was given a coat of white lead and oil. When this was perfectly dry +it was sandpapered and the second coat applied. + + +THE RUDDER. + +[Illustration: Fig. 113. The Rudder.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 114. The Rudder Hinge.] + +The canoe was now complete except for the rudder, which was cut from a +1/2-inch board to about the shape shown in Fig. 114. Strips 1-1/2 inches +wide and 1/2 inch thick were nailed to each side of the blade, forming a +post, to the top of which a crosspiece or tiller was fastened. A cleat +nailed to the pillar at each side of the rudder post served to greatly +strengthen the joint. The rudder was hinged to the canoe by a rod, which +passed through four brass screw eyes, two threaded into the rudder and a +corresponding pair screwed into the stern. For convenience in steering +we ran our tiller rope clear around the boat, through screw eyes in the +gunwales and a pulley at the stem, so that the steersman could guide his +craft from any point in the canoe. + + +THE DEEP KEEL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 115. Bottom of Canoe, Showing Deep Keel.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 116. End View, Showing Deep Keel.] + +We planned to use our canoe as a sailboat, and had to provide a deep +keel, which, for convenience, was made detachable. This keel was 6 +inches wide, 1/2 inch thick and 6 feet long, and was fastened at the +center of the canoe. Screw eyes about twelve inches apart were threaded +alternately into opposite sides of the keel plate. Corresponding hooks +were attached to the keel in position to hook into the screw eyes, and +thus hold the keel firmly in place. + + +CANOE SAILS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 117. The Mast Step.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 118. The Mainsail.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 119. The Mizzen Sail.] + +Our boat was fitted with two masts, a mainmast and a mizzen or dandy +mast. The former was 6 feet long and the latter 4 feet long, and each +measured 1-1/2 inches in diameter at the base, tapering to about 1 inch +diameter at the upper end. They were held in brass bands, or clamps, +bent around them and secured to the bulkheads, as shown in Fig. 117. The +sails were of the lanteen type. The mainsail measured 8-1/2 feet along +the boom, 9-1/2 feet along the yard and 10 feet at the leach. The +dimensions of the mizzen sail were: along the boom, 5 feet; along the +yard, 5-1/2 feet; and at the leach, 6 feet. The boom was attached to a +strap of leather on the mast, and was thus given freedom to swing around +in any desired position. The yard was similarly attached, and was raised +by a cord, which passed through pulleys at the top and at the base of +the mast and extended to a cleat within easy reach of the occupant of +the boat. A double paddle was fashioned from a board 1 inch thick, 6 +inches wide and 6 feet long. The blades were shaved down to a thickness +of 3/8 of an inch at the edges. + +It will be observed that we used no iron in the construction of this +boat. Uncle Ed has warned us not to, because iron rusts out so easily +and is apt to damage both the canvas and the wood with which it is in +contact. + +[Illustration: Fig. 120. The Double Paddle.] + +A canoe is rather a tipsy thing to sail in, as we soon learned, and it +was lucky that we could all swim, else our vacation might have ended +very tragically; for the very first time Bill and I tried the boat an +unexpected gust of wind struck us and over we went. We were very poor +sailors at first, but it didn't take us long to catch on. + + +LEE BOARDS + +One thing that bothered us greatly in sailing was the keel of our canoe. +It was forever getting twisted, particularly when we tried to make a +landing. There were only a few places along the island where the water +was deep enough to permit our coming right up to shore without striking +the keel. The fastening was not very strong, and every once and awhile +it would be wrenched loose. The matter was made the subject of a special +letter to Uncle Ed, and in due time his answer was received. As usual, +he offered a first-class solution of the difficulty. "Don't use a keel," +he wrote; "lee boards are much better." Then he went on to explain what +was meant by lee boards: "The leeward side of a boat is the opposite of +the windward side; that is, that side of the boat which is sheltered +from the wind. Lee boards, then, are boards which are hung over the lee +side of a boat to prevent it from drifting to leeward, and they serve to +take the place of a keel or centerboard." + +[Illustration: Fig. 121. A Lee Board.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 122. Section of the Canoe, Showing Lee Board.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 123. The Lee Boards in Use on Canoe.] + +Following Uncle Ed's direction we fastened a strip of wood across the +canoe about six feet from the bow, nailing it firmly to the gunwales. +This provided a support to which the lee boards were secured. The lee +boards were paddle-shaped affairs of the form and dimensions shown in +Fig. 121. Each paddle near the top was hinged to the end of a board +three inches wide and a foot long. The paddle was held at right angles +to the board by means of a hook. Each board was fastened with door +hinges to a baseboard which extended the width of the boat and was +attached to the crosspiece of the canoe by means of a couple of bolts. +The bolt heads were countersunk, so that the hinged boards could lie +flat over them. To the top of each lee board two ropes were attached, +one passing forward around a pulley and thence back to a cleat within +easy reach of the occupant of the canoe, and the other passing directly +back to this cleat. By pulling the former rope the lee board was lifted +out of the water, while the latter rope was used to swing the board into +working position. When tacking to port (left), the board on the left +side of the canoe was lowered and the other was raised, as shown in Fig. +123, and when tacking to the starboard (right) the board on the right +side was lowered, while the left one was raised. + +[Illustration: The Indian Canoe Fitted with Lanteen Sail and Lee Boards.] + + +THE INDIAN PADDLING CANOE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 124. Center Form.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 125. Intermediate Form.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 126. The Stem Piece.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 127. Skeleton Frame of Canoe.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 128. Section at Center of Canoe.] + +Our sailing canoe proved such a good one that we decided to build a +second. This was to be much lighter, for paddling only, and of the true +Indian shape, with wide, bulging sides and raised stem and stern. The +dimension of the forms used are given in Figs. 124 and 125. These forms, +it will be observed, were notched to receive the keelson and gunwales. +The keelson was formed of 1-inch spruce 3 inches wide and 10 feet long. +The stem and stern, which were both of the same shape, were cut from a +12-inch board to the form shown in Fig. 126, and were firmly secured to +the keelson. This made the boat 12 feet long. The forms were then set in +place on the keelson, one at the center and the others three feet each +side. The gunwales were formed of 3/4-inch by 2-1/2-inch spruce, and the +twelve rib bands used were of the size used in our first boat. As none +of these forms was to remain in the boat, nails were driven very lightly +into them, with heads projecting so that they could easily be withdrawn +when it was time to remove the forms. The cross ribs were passed under +the keelson inside of the rib bands and outside of the gunwales, as +shown in Fig. 128. After they were set in place and firmly secured with +copper tacks, a band was nailed to the keelson to form the keel. To +produce the raised stem and stern, four wedge-shaped pieces were nailed +to the tops of the gunwales, as indicated in Fig. 129. The forms were +then removed and were replaced with cross sticks braced between the +gunwales. The center cross stick was provided with two corner pieces, as +shown in Fig. 130, adapted to fit under the gunwales and against the rib +bands. The canvas was then applied in the manner described before, but +was tacked to the upper edge of the gunwale instead of the outer side, +and the tacks were covered by a half-round molding which extended around +the entire boat. After the lacing was cut the edge of the canvas was +secured to the under edges of the gunwales. The canoe was then completed +by fastening on a 1-inch square keel and treating the boat with two +coats of paint. The paddle was a duplicate of the one described in +connection with the sailing canoe. + +[Illustration: Fig. 129. Wedge Pieces at the Ends.] + +I remember that we eventually equipped our paddling canoe with a sail +and a pair of lee boards, though no record of this fact appears in the +chronicles of the society. + +[Illustration: Fig. 130. The Cross Braces.] + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +HOUSE BUILDING. + + +One afternoon Fred, who had waded over to Lumberville after some +provisions, came splashing back holding aloft a large square envelope. +It was from Uncle Ed and contained a photograph of a group of Wichita +Indians building a large grass lodge. In a brief explanatory letter +Uncle Ed suggested that we build a similar hut on our Island. + + +THE GRASS HUT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 131. Making the Frame of the Straw Hut.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 132. Doorway of the Hut.] + +The grass lodge appealed to us as very picturesque, and we set to work +immediately on its construction. We made our hut much smaller, however, +only 12 feet in diameter, and 8 or 9 feet high. First we procured two +dozen light poles between 10 and 12 feet long. These we set up about 18 +inches apart in a circle like a stockade, the sticks being buried in the +ground to a depth of 12 inches. At one side a space of 3 feet was +allowed for a doorway. Inside the stockade we erected a working platform +of planks supported on barrels, and standing on this we took two +opposite poles, bent them inward and lashed their upper ends together. +Then a second pair of opposite poles were similarly bent inward and +tied, and so we proceeded until the entire stockade had been converted +into a dome-shaped cage. Around these poles we laid lighter sticks, or +bands, tying them at the points of intersection. At the doorway two +posts were set firmly in the ground, projecting upward to a height of 4 +feet. A lintel nailed across the top of the posts completed the door +frame. Sticks were nailed to the lintel and to the side posts, extending +to the main frame of the hut, to which they were tied. We were now ready +to thatch our hut. Reddy and Dutchy went over to Lumberville for several +bales of straw. We tied the straw in bunches and applied it to the +frame, copying, as best we could, the process illustrated in the +photograph. + +But for its location the hut would have proved a very serviceable +habitation. In order to have a good, dry dwelling without laying down a +board flooring, we had selected for its site the sandy shore at Point +Lookout. This part of the island was not sheltered with trees, and the +hot sun beat down on our hut so strongly that we found the quarters very +uncomfortable indeed. It was this fact that led to the construction of a +tree hut--a building that would be perfectly dry and yet shaded and +cool. Bill had read of such houses in the Philippines and felt confident +that we could build one. We couldn't decide at first where to locate our +hut until Dutchy moved that we build it in the gnarled oak tree +overlooking the "Goblins' Dancing Platform." Immediately the motion was +seconded and unanimously carried. + + +THE GOBLINS' DANCING PLATFORM. + +Just above the town of Lumberville there was a cliff which rose sheer +200 feet above the level of the river. So perpendicular was the cliff +that a stone dropped from the overhanging ledge at the top would fall +straight down to the railroad track below without touching a twig in its +course. Back of this broad ledge there was a very peculiar formation. A +column of stone rose abruptly 40 feet higher and was topped with a large +slab about 12 feet in diameter. This was known all over that region as +the Goblins' Dancing Platform. The only possible way of gaining the +summit of the column was by climbing a scraggly oak tree which grew on +the high ground back of the pillar, crawling out on an overhanging limb, +and then dropping down to the platform below. It was in this oak that we +decided to build our house. It was a very inaccessible spot, and to +reach it we had to make a wide detour around the back of the hill, and +through the fields of a cranky farmer, who more than once threatened to +fill us with bird shot for trespassing on his property. How were we to +carry all our building materials up to this great height? One would +think that the difficulties would be enough to discourage us, but not so +with the S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I. Nothing daunted us. + + +DUTCHY TAKES A DARE. + +Our first task was to try some other approach to the top of the cliff. +At one side of the overhanging ledge there was a fissure in the rocks +which ran from the base of the pillar to the foot of the cliff. Down +this zigzag crevice Dutchy had scrambled, one afternoon, on a dare. We +were rather frightened when he started, because it was a very hazardous +undertaking, and we watched him anxiously, peering over the edge of the +precipice. By bracing his back against one of the walls of the rock, and +digging his feet into the niches and chinks of the opposite wall, he +safely made his way to a shelf about half-way down, where he paused to +rest. From that point on the fissure widened out, and a steep, almost +vertical incline, sparsely covered with vegetation, led to the railroad +track below. I think he must have become rather frightened at his +position, because he hesitated long before he resumed his downward +course, and when he finally did make the attempt his foot slipped upon +the moss-covered rocks and down he fell, scratching and clawing at every +shrub within reach. Believing him to be killed, we rushed down the hill +and around to the foot of the cliff. It probably took us about fifteen +or twenty minutes, though it seemed ages before we came upon our +venturesome comrade coolly trying to pin together a rent of inconvenient +location and dimensions in his trousers. + +"Say, Dutchy, are you killed?" cried Bill, breathlessly. + +"Killed, nothing," he replied, with scorn. "I suppose you fellows think +I had a fall. Well, I didn't." + +"You didn't, eh? We saw you slip." + +"Oh, go on. I came down that way on purpose. There was no use in picking +my way down like a 'fraid cat, when I could just as well take a smooth +and easy toboggan slide on the bushes all the way down." + +Smooth and easy toboggan slide! Well, you should have seen the hillside. +The course was well defined by the torn and uprooted shrubs and the pile +of branches and vines at Dutchy's feet. Whether the hare-brained Dutchy +really imagined he could glide easily down on the shrubbery, his frantic +movements on the way certainly belied his story, and when, the next day, +we proposed that he repeat the trick, somehow he didn't seem to be very +enthusiastic on the subject. + +[Illustration: Wichita Indians Building a Straw Hut.] + + +A PATH UP THE FISSURE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 133. The Jacob's Ladder.] + +It was up this fissure that we decided to haul materials for our tree +hut. Our first task was to build steps and ladders in the steepest +parts. We had no tool for cutting out niches in the rock, but wherever +natural depressions were formed we wedged in sticks of wood between the +side walls to serve as ladder rungs. If no such niches appeared for +considerable height, we would stretch a rope ladder to the next fixed +rung. In most places the natural formation of the rock was such as to +afford sufficient footing. + + +ROPE LADDERS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 134. Rope Ladder.] + +The rope ladders were made of two parallel side straps, tightly +stretched between the fixed sticks, and then at intervals of fifteen +inches we inserted the ends of the ladder rung between the strands of +the rope. Below and above each rung the rope was bound with cord. The +rungs were notched at the ends to prevent them from slipping out. + +[Illustration: Fig. 135. A Ladder Rung.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 136. The Derrick.] + +After providing a means for scaling the cliff (we called it the Jacob's +Ladder), we were still confronted with the problem how to cart our +building materials to the top. It was a very hard task and you couldn't +have hired us to do it under any other circumstances. First, Bill +planned out on paper just how the house was to be built, and we cut all +the pieces to the right size so as not to carry up any superfluous +matter. When all was ready the boards and sticks were loaded on the +scow, and ferried over to the cliff. Then we carried them on our backs, +three or four at a time, up the slanting hillside to the first ledge. +From there up, owing to the steepness of the ascent, we had to employ +different tactics. + + +THE DERRICK. + +[Illustration: Fig. 137. The Derrick in Use.] + +A derrick was constructed of two sticks 10 feet long, which were bolted +together at the top, and secured about five feet apart at the bottom by +a cross piece, as shown in Fig. 136. The derrick was then taken apart +and with some difficulty hauled piecemeal up to the next ledge above. +Here it was put together again. The fall and tackle used in our aerial +railway was attached to the apex of the derrick, and the latter was then +erected with the legs set into depressions in the ledge and the upper +ends slanting outward but kept from falling over the edge by a rope tied +to one of the fixed rungs set in the fissure. With this derrick we +hoisted up the boards in a few hauls. The job was a very ticklish one, +but Bill used the greatest care to prevent accident. The derrick, rope +and tackle were carefully tested before used, and as soon as the load +was attached to the lower pulley block the two who did the loading were +instructed to crawl back into the fissure so as to be out of danger in +case anything gave way. At one time a stick which had been carelessly +tied did fall, and it might have badly hurt some one had we not observed +this precaution. When we had raised the material to the second ledge we +transferred operations to the top ledge, and when the materials had been +hauled up to this point we finally rigged up our fall and tackle in the +old oak tree itself. + + +THE TREE HOUSE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 138. Main Girder of the Tree House.] + +[Illustration: Fig 139. Top View of the Platform.] + +The tree had two large limbs which extended out at a wide angle from the +main trunk. Across these two limbs, at about seven feet out, we laid our +first girder, nailing it securely in place. Then to the main trunk we +nailed the second girder on a level with the first. Diagonal braces were +extended from the trunk to support the ends of this girder, and a tie +piece was nailed to the braces, as shown in Fig. 138, to prevent them +from spreading. The girders were rough sticks about 4 inches in diameter +and 10 feet long. We cut flat faces on them at the points where they +were nailed to the tree, and then, to make them doubly secured, we +nailed cleats, or blocks of wood, to the tree under them. The floor +beams were then laid across and nailed to the girders. They were cut to +a length of 10 feet so as to project beyond the outer girder to provide +for a piazza overhanging the Goblins' Platform. Six floor beams were +used, spaced 20 inches apart. All branches projecting up between the +beams were then cut away and a flooring of slabs was laid on. To the +main trunk six feet above the flooring, a stick or (to use the technical +term), "wall plate," was nailed on, and its ends were supported by +upright posts resting on the platform. Thirty inches from the outer end +of the platform two more posts were erected eight feet high and secured +by sticks nailed across from the other posts, and also by a second wall +plate connecting their upper ends. Four more posts were erected, one +between each pair of the corner posts, and then we were ready to enclose +the framing. + +[Illustration: Fig. 140. The Frame of the House.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 141. Nailing on the Clapboards.] + +The sidewalls were first clapboarded, because we were afraid the roof +would not hold us until the framing had been strengthened by nailing on +the siding. Slab boards were used for this purpose. Beginning at the +bottom, the boards were laid on, each lapping over the one below, as +shown in Fig. 141, so as to shed water. In each side we cut a window +opening and nailed on a window casing of the type shown in Fig. 142, +which will be described in a moment. As soon as the clapboards were +applied, we nailed on the rafters and then applied the roofing. The same +principle was here used for shedding water. The lowest board was first +laid on, and then the others were successively applied, each lapping +over the one below. + +[Illustration: Fig. 142. The Window Casing.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 143. The Window Sash.] + +The window casings we used each consisted of a frame about 15 inches +square, but with the upper and lower pieces extending 12 inches beyond +one of the side pieces. On these extended pieces a slideway was formed +for the window sash by nailing on two strips of wood about 3/4 inch +square and over them a pair of wider strips projecting inward, so as to +overlap the edges of the sash. The window sash consisted of a frame +13-1/2 inches square, made of 3/4-inch square strips over which canvas +was tightly stretched and tacked. A spool was nailed on at one side for +a handle. These windows were closed only in rainy weather, to keep the +water out. + + +SLIDING DOORS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 144. Section of the Door and Frame.] + +We had two doors; one at the back of the house, from which a ladder +extended down to the ground, and another opening out onto the veranda, +from which we dropped a ladder down to the Goblins' Dancing Platform. In +order to save space we used sliding instead of swinging doors. The back +door frame was 5-1/2 feet high and the front door frame 6 feet high. The +doors were mounted on the outside of the building. The side posts of +each frame were 2-1/2 feet apart, and the lintel and sill extended 3 +feet beyond the side post at one side. The upper face of the lintel was +planed down perfectly smooth, and its edges were tapered off to make a +track for the rollers on the door. The rollers consisted of two spools, +which turned on tenpenny nails driven into the top of the door. At the +lower end two more spools were mounted, turning on nails driven in the +bottom edge of the door. The rims of the spools extended slightly beyond +the outer face of the door and rolled against the sill. To keep the +water from leaking in at the top a slanting board was fastened above it, +as shown in Fig. 144. The back door was similarly constructed. Our tree +house was completed by a running balustrade around the veranda. + +It strangely happened that just after our tree house had been built we +received a photograph from Uncle Ed of a Filipino tree house made of +bamboo. + +[Illustration: A Filipino Bamboo Tree House.] + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +TROUBLE WITH THE TRAMPS. + + +We were a proud lot when the house was finally completed. From the +veranda we had an excellent view up and down the river. We could see our +camp on the island and keep watch of our goods. Late one afternoon +Dutchy and I were lolling about on the Goblins' Platform, idly watching +a hawk soaring above us. The rest of the boys had returned to the island +in canoes an hour before and left the heavy scow for us to row back. It +was drawing near supper time and we had about decided to start for home, +when I chanced to see a scow up the river. It looked exactly like ours, +and in it were two men, evidently drunk, from the way they carried on. A +glance showed me that our scow was not at its moorings. How were we to +reach the camp? One of the men had evidently seen us and was pointing us +out to his companion. We rushed down the Jacob's Ladder, but by the time +we reached the river bank they were in midstream and heading rapidly +northward. Our shouts merely brought forth derisive laughter. We were +certainly in a predicament. First we ran back up the cliff, and tried +from there to gain the attention of the rest of the fellows. They +evidently saw us but couldn't make out what we wanted. Then we ran down +to a point opposite the island and called to them. But the wind was +against us and we couldn't make them hear, so we had to plunge in and +wade across. + + +A COUNCIL OF WAR. + +Immediately we summoned a war council. Dutchy and Jack were chosen by +lot to guard the camp, while the rest of us started in pursuit in +canoes. By the time we got under way the sun had dropped back of the +Pennsylvania hills and the shadows were climbing slowly up the Jacob's +Ladder. Swiftly we paddled up-stream, keeping close to the western +shore, where the water was very quiet. We didn't expect to go far, +because there were rapids less than three miles up, and we were sure +that no tramps would ever be ambitious enough to row a heavy scow +against the swift current at that point. As we rounded a sharp bend in +the river, we noticed a camp fire a few hundred feet further up, around +which five or six men were lounging, and there, just below them, was our +scow. What were four boys to do against six grown men? We were each +armed with a club, and could have made a pretty good fight if necessary, +but after a whispered consultation we decided it would be best to wait +until dark, when we could creep up quietly and steal away unnoticed with +our boat. + + +VENGEANCE. + +It seemed as if darkness never would come. It was scarcely dusk when our +patience gave out and we paddled up stealthily, hugging the shore. Bill +gained the scow unnoticed, but just as he was about to push off he +discerned the body of a man within. It was one of the tramps lying there +in a drunken stupor. What was to be done? Every moment was precious. A +yell from the fireside decided him. With a mighty push he launched the +boat out into the current, while we threw him a line and towed the boat +out to midstream. With a volley of curses the men sprang up and pelted +us with stones. But they were poor shots, and we escaped without serious +injury. Our prisoner, in the meantime, was snoring heavily in the scow +undisturbed. We took him down-stream and then unceremoniously picked him +up and dumped him overboard within a few feet of the shore. It was a +rude awakening, and nearly frightened the wits out of the man. But it +brought him to his senses, and in a moment we were dodging more stones, +sent with such good aim that we had to lie flat in the bottoms of the +boats until the current carried us out of reach. + + +A DOUBLE SURPRISE. + +It was now quite dark, and we had some difficulty in groping our way +back to camp. There was no moon and the stars were obscured by clouds. +Our only course was to follow the shore line until we got around the +bend, and then we steered for the beacon fire, which, by prearrangement, +had been kindled on Point Lookout. But the spirit of mischief was in us. +We thought we would have some fun with Dutchy. We could see him +silhouetted against the blaze. Jim and I hung back in the canoes, while +Reddy and Bill went on with the scow, splashing their oars and shouting +and singing in disguised voices, like drunken men. Dutchy was evidently +very much agitated. His "Hello, there! Boat ahoy!" was greeted with +derisive yells. + +[Illustration: Fig. 145. A Joke on Dutchy.] + +"Say, we'll lick the life out of you, the same as we did them other +kids," shouted Reddy. + +This was too much for Dutchy. He ran for all he was worth, yelling for +Jack to come quick. + +We had a merry laugh over the situation when suddenly the tables were +turned. Something whizzed past Bill's ear; I was stung on the arm with a +heavy nail; a large stone hit the scow; Reddy had his hat knocked off, +and Fred upset his canoe trying to duck out of reach of the invisible +missiles before we could make our assailants understand that we were +friends and not the tramps. The joke was on us after all. We hadn't +counted on Dutchy's accurate aim or Jack's skill with the crossbow. + + +TRAMP-PROOF BOAT MOORING. + +[Illustration: Fig. 146. A Tramp-proof Mooring.] + +Around the camp fire that night we discussed our adventures and made +plans to prevent their recurrence. It was evident, for one thing, that +we would have to moor our boats off shore in such a way that they would +be out of reach of meddlesome persons, and yet could be drawn in toward +shore by any one who knew how. This was the way we did it. A pair of +galvanized iron ring bolts were procured on Jack's next trip to +Lamington for provisions, also a light rope about forty feet long. The +ring bolts were screwed into a pair of stout anchor stakes about two +feet from their lower ends. The rope was passed through the rings and +the ends were joined by tying them to a galvanized iron link. Then it +was soaked for a while to shrink it before it was set in place. After +the rope had shrunk sufficiently, the two stakes were driven into the +bed of the river, one close to the bank and the other far enough out to +hold the rope belt clear of the bottom. Both stakes were sawed off under +water, just above the ring bolts, so that they were hidden from sight. +When we wanted to moor our boats we secured their anchor ropes or +"painters" to the link. A large stepping stone marked the spot were the +inner stake was driven, and standing on this stone we were able to reach +down and haul in on the lower strap of the belt to draw the boat out a +safe distance from shore, and then when we wanted to use our boat again +we would haul in the upper strap to draw the boat in toward shore. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +WIGWAGGING AND HELIOGRAPHING. + + +Our tramp adventure was really quite a blessing to us, for it taught us +the necessity of a good signaling system between the Goblins' Platform +and the island and led to our learning how to wigwag, and later to the +construction of a heliograph. Uncle Ed, when he read of our experience, +sent us the U. S. Army "Manual of Signaling." Fred, the tailor of our +camp, made us two white flags with red centers. Each flag was two feet +square and was fastened to a light staff about five feet long. Then we +got out the manual and practised sending signals, at first within +shouting distance, until we got to be quite expert. + + +WIGWAG SIGNALS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 147-150. Ready, First Movement, Second Movement, +Third Movement.] + +There were only three different movements that could be made with flags, +but in the book different combinations of these movements were given to +represent each letter of the alphabet and the numbers from 1 to 0. All +these movements were begun and ended by holding the flagstaff upright, +directly in front of the body, as shown in Fig. 147. The first movement +was to swing the flag down to the right and back (Fig. 148), the second +to the left and back (Fig. 149), and the third forward and back (Fig. +150). The following table gives the different combinations used for +various letters: + +The Wigwag Alphabet. + +A 22 J 1122 S 212 +B 2112 K 2121 T 2 +C 121 L 221 U 112 +D 222 M 1221 V 1222 +E 12 N 11 W 1121 +F 2221 O 21 X 2122 +G 2211 P 1212 Y 111 +H 122 Q 1211 Z 2222 +I 1 R 211 tion 1112 + +Numerals. + +1 1111 4 2221 8 2111 +2 2222 5 1122 9 1221 +3 1112 6 2211 0 2112 + 7 1222 + + +[Illustration: Fig. 151. The Signal for Letter "B."] + +The numbers 1, 2 and 3 indicate respectively the first, second and third +movements. For instance, A was represented by the combination 22, which +means that the flag must be swept to the left and back twice. B is +represented by the combination 2112, that is, a sweep to the left, two +sweeps to the right and a final sweep to the left, as shown in Fig. 151. +The end of a word was represented by a sweep forward and back; the end +of a sentence by two sweeps forward and back, and the end of a message +by three sweeps forward and back. It will be noticed that the same +combinations are used for 2 and Z, 3 and _tion_, 4 and F, 5 and J, +6 and G, 7 and V, 9 and M, and 0 and B. The following abbreviations were +given in the Manual: + +Abbreviations. + +a after n not ur your +b before r are w word +c can t the wi with +h have u you y yes + +These abbreviations saved a lot of time, for when we wanted to signal +the word _after_ instead of spelling it out--22-2221-2-12-211-3--we +used the signal for A--22--followed by 3 to signify that it was the end +of the word. Before was represented by 2112-3, _your_ by 111-211-3, +etc. It took quite a little practice to learn the different +combinations. Fred and Reddy soon became experts, and could flash the +signals back and forth at a great rate. + + +WIGWAGGING AT NIGHT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 152. Wigwagging at Night.] + +At night we used a torch in place of a flag. The torch consisted of a +roll of dried birch bark tied with wire to the end of a staff. It was +found necessary to place another torch on the ground directly in front +of the signaler so as to fix a central point and enable one to determine +whether the moving torch was swung to the left or right. A later +improvement was to use three lanterns, one in each hand and one attached +to the waist to fix the central position. It was quite an advantage to +have a lantern in each hand, for it saved changing over from one to the +other when a second movement followed a first or a first movement a +second. + + +THE HELIOGRAPH. + +The book that Uncle Ed sent us had in it a description of a heliograph, +that is, an instrument for sending signals with flashes of sunlight. +Although our wigwagging system was good enough for our requirements, yet +we thought it would be more scientific to use the sun instrument, and +besides, the latter could be used for signaling many miles. + + +THE SINGLE MIRROR INSTRUMENT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 153. Trunnion for Mirror.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 154. The Single Mirror Instrument.] + +The first thing we did was to procure a small mirror about 4 inches +square, mounted in a wooden frame. Then we got a pair of small square +head bolts about 1/4 of an inch in diameter and 1 inch long, also two +strips of brass 1/2 inch wide and 3 inches long. In the center of each +brass strip we drilled a hole just large enough to admit the shank of +one of the bolts, and then the strips were fastened with screws tight +against opposite edges of the mirror frame, with the heads pressed +against the frame and the shanks sticking out at each side, as shown in +Fig. 153. These projecting shanks served as "trunnions" (that is, +pivots) for the mirror to turn on when it was mounted in place. After +the trunnions had been set in place we made a peep hole in the center of +the mirror by cutting out a piece of the wooden back of the frame and +scratching away the silver from the back of the glass. Only a very small +hole was required, about 1/8 inch in diameter. Great care was taken to +have the unsilvered spot exactly on a line with the trunnions and just +half-way between them. This done, we took two sticks of 3/8-inch wood, 1 +inch wide and 3-1/2 inches long. In the upper end of each stick a slot +was cut 1/2 inch deep and 1/4 inch wide. Into these slots the trunnions +of the mirror were placed, and then the nuts were screwed tightly on, +clamping the sticks against the sides of the mirror. The sticks were now +connected by nailing a 1/2-inch strip at the bottom, and braced by a +couple of corner pieces. This formed a swiveled frame for the mirror, +which was clamped to the base of the instrument by means of a bolt 1-1/2 +inches long. The bolt passed through the bottom board of the frame, +squarely under the peep hole of the mirror and through the baseboard of +the instrument near one end. The baseboard was 2 inches wide, 10 inches +long and 3/4 inch thick. + + +THE SIGHT ROD. + +[Illustration: Fig. 155. The Sight Rod.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 156. Nut Set in Baseboard.] + +At the end opposite to where the mirror frame was swiveled we mounted a +sight rod, which was merely a round stick of wood 1/2 inch in diameter +and about 8 inches long. We cut the stick from one of the rounds of an +old broken chair. The upper end of the rod was whittled to a point and +one side was flattened as shown in Fig. 155. Out of a piece of heavy +white cardboard we cut a round disk about 1/4 inch in diameter, with a +shank 1 inch long sticking out at one side. This was fastened with a +single tack to the flattened end of the rod in such a position that the +point lay exactly against the center of the disk. The disk could then be +turned up or down, to cover or uncover the point of the rod, as desired. +The rod was fitted snugly into a hole in the baseboard, and could be +raised or lowered to any extent desired, but we had to provide some sort +of an arrangement for making it stay where it was put. A small hole was +drilled from the edge of the baseboard through to the hole in which the +rod was fitted. A square socket was chiseled out around the small hole +to receive a nut. The nut was firmly wedged in and held in place by +driving in nails along the edges. A bolt or machine screw was threaded +through the nut, so that its inner end pressed against the sighting rod. +By tightening this screw the rod could be secured at any height desired. + +The instrument was mounted on a tripod similar to the one used for our +surveying instrument. To this it was attached by means of a bolt, which +passed through the center of the baseboard and the tripod head. + + +THE SCREEN. + +[Illustration: Fig. 157. Section through Shutter.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 158. General View of Screen.] + +The screen, or shutter, of the heliograph was mounted on a separate +tripod, so as to prevent shaking the mirror when it was operated. It was +made something like a window shutter. We cut out two slats, each 2-1/2 +inches wide and 6 inches long. They were made of hardwood 3/8 inch +thick. The upper and lower edges were tapered down to a thickness of +3/16 inch. Light nails were driven into the slats at the ends, and the +nail heads were then filed off so that the projecting ends formed +trunnions for the slats to turn on. The slats were linked to a +connecting rod with double point tacks. A small double point tack was +driven into the upper edge of each slat about 1/2 inch from the right +hand end. Then through each of these tacks we hooked a second double +point tack and drove it into the rod. The tacks on the rod were placed +just 2 inches apart. A substantial frame was then made of 3/4-inch stuff +1-1/2 inches wide. The frame was square, with an opening that measured 6 +inches each way, into which the slats were fitted. Before nailing the +frame together we drilled holes in the side pieces for the trunnions of +the slats to turn in. These holes were just 1-3/4 inches apart. After +the slats had been set in place, the frame was fastened together and +then nailed to a baseboard, which was fastened by a bolt to the tripod. +The shutter was operated by a key something like a telegraph key. It was +made of a narrow stick of wood hinged at one end to the lower strip of +the shutter frame, and a spool sawed in two was fastened to the other +end to serve as a handle for the key. A string connected the key with +the connecting rod. The slats were kept closed by a spring, which was +fastened at one end to the connecting rod and at the other to the top of +the frame. At first we used a rubber band for this purpose, but it soon +wore out, so we then made a spiral spring out of stiff spring brass wire +by wrapping it around a pencil. When the key was pressed down the slats +would be turned open, as shown in Fig. 159; but as soon as the key was +released the spring would pull them back again. + + +FOCUSING THE INSTRUMENT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 159. The Heliograph in Operation.] + +We were now ready to commence operations with our instruments. The +heliograph was set up on the ledge at the top of the cliff. First the +disk was turned down, uncovering the point of the sighting rod. Then +Bill sighted through the unsilvered spot in the mirror and shifted the +rod up and down until the tip end came squarely in line with the door of +our straw hut, where Jack was seated, notebook in hand, to take down our +message. Reddy stood by him with his wigwag flag to answer back. When +the instrument was properly sighted the shutter was set up directly in +front of it and the sighting disk turned up to cover the point of the +sighting rod. Then came the rather troublesome task of focusing the +mirror. The mirror reflected a square panel of light, in the center of +which there was a small shadow spot made by the unsilvered peep hole. +The object was to get this shadow to fall on the center of the sighting +disk. We knew that then the mirror would reflect the sunlight squarely +on the straw hut. We found it quite easy to direct this shadow spot to +the disk by holding a sheet of paper in front of the mirror six or eight +inches away, and following up the spot on the paper until it reached the +disk. + + +HELIOGRAPH SIGNALING. + +[Illustration: Fig. 160. Top View, showing position of Mirror and +Shutter.] + +When at last we succeeded in properly focusing the mirror Bill pressed +the key down three times, sending three quick flashes to Jack as a +signal that he was ready to begin. Reddy wigwagged back O. K., and then +the first heliographic message was sent from the ledge to the island. It +was a rather mixed-up message, and kept Jim and Reddy wigwagging back +and forth very strenuously to straighten matters out. It was my duty to +keep the mirror focused. As the sun moved across the sky the shadow spot +would move off the disk, and I had to keep shifting the mirror to bring +the spot back where it belonged. We used the International Telegraph +Code, which we had been studying every evening for a week, but it was +many weeks before we learned how to use it correctly, even slowly. The +International Telegraph Code is as follows: + +A .- B -... C -.-. D -.. +E . F ..-. G --. H .... I .. +J .--- K -.- L .-.. +M -- N -. O --- +P .--. Q --.- R .-. +S ... T - U ..- V ...- W .-- +X -..- Y -.-- Z --.. +1 .---- 2 ..--- +3 ...-- 4 ....- 5 ..... +6 -.... 7 --... 8 ---.. +9 ----. 0 ----- + +The three short flashes Bill sent represented the letter S, which stood +for the word "signal." A was formed by a short flash followed by a long +flash; B by a long flash followed by three short ones, and so on. The +key was held down three times as long for the long flash as for the +short one. We found the best way of learning to send the signals +properly was to count 1 for each short flash, and for each pause between +parts of the letter, and 3 for each dash and for each pause between +letters. Between words we counted 6. Thus, for the letter A the key +would be down when we counted 1, up when we counted 2, down while we +counted 3, 4, 5, and up while we counted 6, 7, 8, for the pause after +each letter. It was rather a confusing code, I admit, but in time we +mastered it, all but Reddy and Fred, who never would learn, but instead +used the wigwag code, letting a short flash stand for 1, a long flash +for 2 and a double long flash for 3. + + +THE DOUBLE MIRROR INSTRUMENT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 161. The Double Mirror Instrument.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 162. Top View, showing position of the Two Mirrors +and the Screen.] + +Our heliographing instrument did excellent service sending flashes from +the cliff to the island, but we couldn't make it work very well sending +messages from the island to the cliff, because we had to face almost due +north, and then the sun was nearly always at our backs and couldn't +shine squarely on the mirror. This led to our building a double mirrored +heliograph the following summer. To begin with, we built an instrument +which was the exact duplicate of our first heliograph; then, in +addition, to fit in the socket of the sighting rod, we rigged up a +second mirror, which was mounted in exactly the same way as the first. +The second mirror was called the station mirror, and differed from the +other, or sun mirror, in having a small patch of white paper pasted at +the center instead of a peep hole. When using this instrument, we set it +up so that the station mirror faced the ledge, then by sighting through +the hole in the sun mirror at the reflection in the station mirror we +could see just what was in focus. The station mirror had to be moved +until the patch at its center hid the ledge from view. After that the +sun mirror was shifted until the shadow spot fell on the white patch of +the station mirror. When once the station mirror was focused, it could +be clamped tightly in place by screwing up the trunnion and swivel nuts. +But the sun mirror had to be constantly shifted to keep the shadow on +the patch. Another way of focusing the mirrors was to stand behind the +instrument with the head close to the station mirror, shift the sun +mirror until the entire station mirror was reflected in it, with the +white patch squarely over the unsilvered spot; then still looking at the +sun mirror, the station mirror was shifted until the reflection of the +distant station was brought squarely in line with the unsilvered spot on +the mirror. The station mirror was now firmly bolted and the sun mirror +adjusted until the shadow spot fell on the paper patch. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +ICE BOATS, SLEDGES AND TOBOGGANS. + + +As our vacation was drawing to a close, we began to make plans for the +Christmas holidays. Our previous Christmas vacation had been so +completely taken up with preparations for the trip to Willow Clump +Island that we had had no time for the trip itself. We resolved this +time to have everything ready beforehand, so that we could spend the +entire two weeks in solid pleasure. Our skate sails and snow shoes were +stored in the attic, ready for use. If we were to make a trip in the +snow we would need a sledge, and then, too, we wanted to make an ice +boat. It would hardly pay to build these on the island and then cart +them home, so it was decided to break up camp a couple of weeks before +school commenced. + + +BREAKING CAMP. + +Consequently, on the first day of September we gathered up our +belongings, corraled our chickens, packed our goods, and the next day +started for home. Mr. Schreiner, in response to a letter from the +secretary, came down with a large wagon in which the majority of the +things were packed. The rest of our luggage was stowed in the scow and +the canoes, and these were towed down the canal, as before. We reached +home late in the afternoon, tired and hungry. It was a treat to sit at +the table again and eat some of Mother's appetizing dishes. And say, +wasn't that pie great, though! My, how ravenous we were! And then a +soft, comfortable bed with spotless white sheets and pillow cases. How +soundly we did sleep that night! You can just bet we were all glad +enough to get back to civilization, though, of course, no one could have +dragged out the confession from a single one of us. + + +THE ICE BOAT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 163. The Backbone.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 164. Frame of the Ice Boat.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 165. Runner Shoe.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 166. The Rudder Shoe.] + +School commenced on the 20th of September that year, so we hadn't much +time to spare. Work was begun immediately on the ice boat. Our first ice +boat was rather a crude one. A 2 by 4 inch scantling 14 feet long was +used for the backbone of the boat. The scantling was placed on edge, and +to lighten it and improve its appearance it was tapered fore and aft +from a point 4 feet from the bow end. The thickness of the ends of the +backbone was but 2 inches, as shown in Fig. 163. To the under edge of +the backbone, 5 feet from the forward end, a crosspiece was nailed. This +crosspiece was a 1-inch board 6 inches wide and 9 feet long. Braces were +then run from the ends of the crosspiece to the forward and rear ends of +the backbone, and at the rear end several boards nailed across the +braces served as a seat for the boat. + +Our next task was to rig up the runners. For these we used skates, which +were so arranged that we could remove them whenever we wanted to. Three +blocks of wood were used for the runner shoes. Two of them were cut from +a 2 by 4 scantling and measured a foot in length. The third block was +only 1 inch thick, but was otherwise of the same dimensions. The skates +were laid face downward on the blocks with the clamping levers open; +then we marked the places where the clamping jaws touched the wood and +drilled holes at these points. The forward end of each block was also +tapered off to fit flat against the face of the skate. Then by inserting +the jaws in the holes and closing the levers, the skate was clamped to +the block, just as it would be to a shoe. The two 2-inch blocks were +bolted to the ends of the crosspiece, but the third block needed further +attention, as it was to be used for the rudder or steering runner. + +[Illustration: Fig. 167. The Tiller.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 168. Drilling the Mast Step.] + +The rudder post was shaped from a block of hardwood 3 inches square and +10 inches long. Two inches from the lower end saw cuts were made in the +side of the block to a depth of 3/4 inch. Then with a chisel the sides +were split off, forming a large pin with a square shank 8 inches long. +Next the corners of the shank were cut off, rounding it to a diameter of +1-1/2 inches. The runner block was fastened securely to the head of the +rudder post with screws. A 1-1/2-inch hole was now drilled into the +backbone at the stern end to receive the rudder post. A tiller was next +cut out of a 1-inch board to the shape shown in Fig. 167. A slot was cut +in the end of the tiller, and the latter fitted snugly over the top of +the post, where it was held in place by screws threaded in through the +sides. + +[Illustration: Fig. 169. The Mainsail.] + +The mast of our boat was a pole 8 feet long, tapering from a diameter 2 +inches at the base to 1-1/2 inches at the top. A step for the mast was +cut from a 2 by 4 block 8 inches long. A 2-inch hole was drilled into +the face of this block. We had no drill large enough to bore this hole, +but accomplished the same result by drilling eight 1/2-inch holes inside +of a 2-inch circle (Fig. 168), and then used a chisel to cut off the +projecting pieces. The mast step was firmly bolted to the backbone at +its thickest part, that is, just four feet from the forward end. The +mast was braced with stay ropes stretched from the top to the forward +end of the backbone and to the ends of the crosspiece. A 9-foot pole, +tapering from 1-1/2 inches to 1 inch in diameter, was used for the boom +of the mainsail, and for the gaff we used a 6-foot pole of the same +diameter. + +[Illustration: Fig. 170. Jaws of the Boom.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 171. A Cleat.] + +The dimensions of the mainsail are given in Fig. 169. For mast hoops we +used curtain rings. Five were attached to the sail along the luff, and +one was fastened with a piece of leather to the end of the gaff. We used +a different scheme for holding the boom to the mast. The forward end of +the boom was flattened at the sides and a couple of cheek blocks were +bolted on, forming jaws of the shape indicated in Fig. 170. The jaws +were whittled out to fit nicely around the mast, and were kept from +slipping off by a piece of rope passed around the mast and threaded +through the ends of the cheek blocks. Half a dozen small pulley blocks +were now procured, of the type used on awnings. A rope called the throat +halyard was strung from the throat or forward end of the gaff through a +pulley block near the top of the mast, and led down to the backbone, +where it was "belayed," or wrapped around a cleat. The cleat, which was +whittled out of a stick of wood, was made in the form indicated in Fig. +171. A short length of rope was strung through a pulley block and tied +with some slack to the upper end and to the center of the gaff. This +rope is called a "bridle," and to the pulley block on this "bridle" a +rope was attached called the "peak halyard." The peak halyard was passed +through a pulley block at the top of the mast, and belayed on a cleat at +the side of the backbone. For the main sheet (that is, the rope used for +guiding the mainsail) two pulley blocks were fastened to the backbone, +one just in front of the seat and the other a few feet further forward, +and two more were lashed to the boom, midway between these blocks. The +sheet was fastened near the aft end of the backbone and then strung +through the blocks in the order illustrated, the free end of the sheet +being brought back to the seat, where a cleat was provided, to which it +could be secured when desired. + +[Illustration: Fig. 172. The Jib-sail.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 173. The Ice Boat Completed.] + +The jib-sail was now cut out to the dimensions given in Fig. 172. The +foot of the sail was lashed to a jib-boom 3 feet 4 inches long. The +jib-boom was attached to the backbone at its fore end by means of a +couple of screw eyes. The eye of one of these was pried open, linked +through the other and then closed again. One of the screw eyes was now +screwed into the head of the jib-boom and the other was threaded into +the end of the backbone. The upper corner or "head" of the jib was tied +to a jib-halyard, which passed through a block at the top of the mast, +and was secured on a cleat on the backbone. On the jib we used two +sheets. They were attached to the end of the jib-boom and passed on +opposite sides of the mast through blocks on the crosspiece to the stern +of the boat, where separate cleats were provided for them. + +This completed our ice boat, and a very pretty little boat she was. It +was with great reluctance that we furled the sails, unstepped the mast, +and stowed away the parts in our attic until old Jack Frost should wake +up and furnish us with a field of smooth ice. + + +THE SLEDGE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 174. A Spacing Block.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 175. The Runners and Rails Spaced Apart.] + +Our sledge was patterned after a picture of one used by Peary in one of +his Arctic expeditions. First we got four strips of hickory 1 inch +thick, 1-1/2 inches wide and 8 feet long for the runners and side rails. +Beginning 18 inches from the ends, each stick was tapered gradually to a +thickness of 1/2 an inch. Then we made eight spreaders or spacing +blocks, each 1-1/2 inches thick, 2-1/2 inches wide and 11 inches long. +In each end a notch 1/2 inch deep was cut to receive the runners and +side rails. In the edge of each block, midway of its length, a slot 1 +inch deep was cut to receive the cross sticks of the sledge. First we +nailed the runners and rails to the blocks, fastening them with screws, +spacing the blocks 16 inches from the ends, and 20 inches apart from +center to center. Then we bent the ends of the rails and runners +together, fastening them with bolts, as in Fig. 175. Four crosspieces, +or floor beams, were cut out of a 1-inch board, each 2 inches wide and +30 inches long. These were fitted into the slots in the space blocks and +secured with screws. A cross stick was also fastened between the rails +and runners at the forward end. On the floor beams we nailed a flooring +of 1/2-inch slats, 2 inches wide and 6 feet long. At the rear end these +slats projected 8 inches beyond the last space block and over them a +cross slat was nailed. A stick of hickory 4-1/2 feet long was soaked in +hot water, as described on page 39, and was bent to an U-shape. The ends +were then fitted over the first cross stick, and under the first floor +supports, and securely nailed in place. Another stick of hickory 6 feet +long was similarly bent, and the ends slipped over the rear cross slats +and fitted against the rear space blocks, in which position the stick +was securely nailed. + +[Illustration: Fig. 176. The Sledge.] + +It was our intention to shoe the runners with strips of brass, but these +were not procurable in our village, and we had no time to go down to +Millville. However, the village blacksmith came to our rescue and shod +our sledge with sleigh runner iron. + +We had planned to make two more devices for our winter sports--a +toboggan and a peculiar looking contrivance called a "rennwolf," a +picture of which Dutchy happened to unearth in one of his father's +books. Unfortunately Bill and I had to return to school before either of +these was completed. However, the work was entrusted to Reddy, who was +quite handy with tools, and Jack, who was made secretary _pro +tempore_, took notes on the work. + + +THE TOBOGGAN. + +[Illustration: Fig. 177. Tying Down the Head Piece of the Toboggan.] + +The toboggan was made of light flexible hickory boards, 1/4 of an inch +thick, 6 inches wide and 8 feet long. Three of these boards were used, +and they were fastened together with cross sticks or battens, about 3 +inches wide and 1/2 an inch thick. There were six of these battens +spaced about 15 inches apart, and secured to the floor boards with +flathead screws introduced from the under side and countersunk so that +the heads would not project below the bottom of the toboggan. At the +forward end we screwed on a head piece of oak, 3/4 of an inch thick, +1-1/2 inches wide and 20 inches long. The head piece was fastened to the +under side of the boards, so that when they were curved up into a hood +it would lie on top. The ends of the head piece, which projected 1 inch +each side of the boards, were notched to hold the rope, which was tied +fast after the boards had been steamed. The boards were steamed by +wrapping them in burlap for a distance of 2 feet from the forward end, +and pouring boiling water over them, as was done with the snow shoes +(page 39). Before bending the boards we had fixed screw eyes in the ends +of each batten, except the forward one; a rope had been strung through +these screw eyes and the ends were now tied to the head piece and drawn +tight so as to bend the boards into a graceful curve. In this way the +ropes were of service not only for curving the front end into a hood, +but also for side rails, to hold on by when shooting swiftly around +curves. + +[Illustration: Fig. 178. The Toboggan.] + + +THE RENNWOLF. + +The runners of the rennwolf were made of hickory strips, 1 inch thick, 2 +inches wide and 8 feet long. At their forward ends these strips were +tapered down to a thickness of 1/2 an inch and curved upward. About 30 +inches from the rear end of each runner an upright post was nailed. The +post was 3 feet long and was braced by a diagonal brace 24 inches long, +as shown in Fig. 179. A tie bar was nailed to the post about 6 or 8 +inches from the bottom and connected with the forward curved end of the +runner. + +[Illustration: Fig. 179. Dimensions of Rennwolf.] + +The two runners were now placed parallel to each other about 18 inches +apart, and connected by four cross bars, one at the forward end, and +three on the upright posts, in about the positions illustrated. The +upper cross bar was extended 6 inches beyond the posts at each side, and +served as a handle for guiding the queer craft. An 18-inch square board +was used for the seat of the rennwolf. It rested on the second cross-bar +of the post about 12 inches from the runners, and the forward end was +supported on legs nailed to the tie bars. On each runner back of the +posts a loop of leather was nailed, large enough to receive the toe of +one shoe. + +When using this odd sled one foot would rest on the runner with the toe +in the strap, and by kicking out against the snow or ice with the other +foot the rennwolf would be made to spin along at a rapid rate. Of +course, when coasting both feet would rest on the runners and the sled +was steered by an occasional side push at the right or left. Owing to +the great length of the runners the rennwolf would easily ride over +uneven surfaces and thin spots in the ice. + +[Illustration: Fig. 180. The Rennwolf in Use.] + + +ICE CREEPERS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 181. The Ice Creeper.] + +In order to provide a better hold for the propelling foot, we fastened +around the toe a strap of leather, through which a number of long tacks +projected. Their sharp points would stick into the ice, and prevent the +foot from slipping. The seat of the rennwolf was convenient for carrying +a coat or any light luggage, and it was often used to give a friend a +very exhilarating ride. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE SUBTERRANEAN CLUB. + + +I am afraid we were not very glad to get back to school that fall. It +seemed very hard to give up the sport we had been having, and our heads +were brimful of new schemes which we could hardly wait to put into +practice. But we soon learned that there are many things that could be +done during recreation hours at school. We had intended building a cave +on our island that summer, but our vacation came to an end before we got +around to it. There seemed no reason why we shouldn't dig one in the +woods at the back of the schoolhouse. + + +A CAVE-IN. + +Bill had read somewhere that if you dig a cave under a tree the roots of +the tree will support the ground on top and make a natural and +substantial roof. It sounded very reasonable, we thought; in fact, we +never questioned the truth of the statement, because we had somehow +gotten the notion that books were never wrong, and that whatever was set +up in type must surely be so. But events proved that the man who wrote +that book had never attempted to build a cave in the manner he +described, at least not in the loose, sandy soil of south Jersey. A +large spreading cedar was selected as the tree which should support the +roof of our cave. It was situated on a mound at the edge of the woods. +First a passageway, or ditch, was dug at the bottom, and then we begun +tunneling in the side of the mound under the roots of the tree. For a +while the ground above held, and our tunnel had reached a length of +about four feet, when suddenly, without the slightest warning, the sandy +soil gave way and we were engulfed. Bill, who was furthest within the +cave, was almost entirely covered, while I was buried to the shoulders. +A crowd of boys came to our assistance and dug us out. Poor Bill was +almost smothered before they scooped the sand away from around his mouth +and nose. The boys made slow work of it, having to dig with their hands +and a couple of shingles, because the two spades we had were buried with +us at the bottom of the cave. + +Of course, this little episode gave us a scare, but it was only +temporary. We swore every one to secrecy, so that Mr. Clark, the +principal, wouldn't hear of the mishap and suppress any further cave +building. It was obvious that the only roof we could depend on for our +cave would be a wooden roof. If we had been at Willow Clump Island we +would have gotten any amount of slabs from the lumber mills across the +river. + +One of our schoolmates, a day scholar, came to the rescue. His name was +Chester Hill, a little bit of a chap, about the shortest for his age +that I have ever seen. His name was so at variance to his size that we +called him "Hillock," for short. Now Hillock lived on a farm about eight +miles from school, and used to drive in every day on a farm wagon. He +had helped us dig the cave under the cedar tree, and when he learned +that we would need some lumber to build a safe cave, he told us that he +had an uncle who owned a lumber mill on the Morris River, from whom he +was sure we could get all the slabs we wanted. Of course, we were +delighted, and laid our plans for an elaborate cave house. Hillock +promised to be on hand on the following Saturday afternoon with his load +of lumber. + + +EXCAVATING FOR THE CAVE. + +We immediately set out to make the necessary excavation. The side of a +bushy knoll was chosen as a suitable site. First we carefully +transplanted the bushes that grew in the square we had marked out for +the cave, and cutting the sod into squares, piled it all neatly to one +side. Then we shoveled away the top-soil and heaped it up for future +use. After that we dug away the sandy subsoil. The cave proper we +planned to make about 8 feet by 10 feet, with a passageway 2 feet wide +and 6 feet long, leading in from a large bush at the base of the knoll. +Our excavation was therefore somewhat T-shaped (see Fig. 182). At the +deepest part we had to dig down about 10 feet. + +[Illustration: Fig. 182. Excavation for the Cave.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 183. Framework of the Cave.] + +The digging was all done by Saturday, when Hillock pulled up with a big +load of slabs. Slabs are a very unsatisfactory kind of wood for most +purposes. Being the outside cut, they are usually very irregular and +weak in spots. In many places they are almost clear bark. Of course, had +our pocketbooks permitted, we would have used stout scantlings for the +corner posts of our cave house and substantial boards for the walls, +roof and flooring, but we had to be content with materials at hand. +Eight of the best slabs were selected for our corner posts; four of them +we cut to the length of 8 feet and the others to a length of 6 feet. The +long slabs were set up at the rear of the cave, two at each corner, one +flat against the rear wall, with its edge buried in the corner, and the +other against the side wall, with its edge tight against the rear slab, +as in Fig. 183. The same was done at the forward corners with the +shorter slabs. A couple of slabs were now set up on each side of the +passageway, and a corresponding pair against the rear wall. The upper +and lower ends of the uprights were then connected with slabs, called +stringpieces. + +[Illustration: Fig. 184. The Siding and Flooring.] + +The sides were now boarded up with upright slabs nailed to the +stringpieces. An opening 3 feet 6 inches high was left in the forward +wall for a passageway. Several slabs were now placed on the edge across +the bottom of the cave, to serve as floor beams, upon which a flooring +of slabs was laid. Next the rafters were set in place, one on each +upright slab. Slots were cut in the ends of the uprights to receive the +rafters, which were slabs placed on edge. As the forward uprights were 2 +feet shorter than the rear ones, the rafters were given a good slant, so +that the roof would properly shed any water that might soak in through +the ground above. + +[Illustration: Fig. 185. Notching in the Rafters.] + +The roof was laid on the same way that we had made the roof of our tree +house; that is, a slab was first nailed at the forward end of the +rafters with its edge projecting far enough to make a good eave; then +the second slab was nailed on, with its edge overlapping the first, and +a third with its edge overlapping the second, and so on with the rest. +At the rear end of the roof a hole was cut, into which we fitted a piece +of stovepipe. We didn't plan to have a fire in the house, but set the +stovepipe in place to provide the necessary ventilation. As the pipe had +an elbow in it, there was no danger of rain or dirt falling through it. +The upper end of the stovepipe was concealed among some rocks at the top +of the knoll. + +A suitable flooring was now laid in the passageway, and the sides were +boarded up to a height of 2 feet from the floor at the entrance to a +height of 3 feet 6 inches at the inner end. A roof of slabs was nailed +on, and then we were ready to cover our slab house with dirt. + + +COVERING THE CAVE. + +We avoided piling on the dirt very deep, because there was danger of +breaking in the roof with a heavy load. A thin layer of sand covered +with the top-soil brought up the level to about that of the rest of the +knoll. Then the sod was laid back in place and well watered, and the few +bushes planted back in their original positions. Our sodding should have +been done in the spring for best results. The frost soon killed the +grass, and the bushes withered away. But a few cents' worth of grass +seed was sowed in, and in time gave the knoll a very natural appearance. +A bush at the bottom concealed the entrance of the cave, so that no one +who was not in the secret would have suspected that beneath that +innocent looking knoll were gathered the members of the "Big Bug Club." + + +THE BIG BUG CLUB. + +[Illustration: Fig. 186. A Section through the Completed Cave.] + +Of course, we had to organize a secret society, to occupy our +subterranean dwelling. In that I fear we overstepped the rules of the +school. Of course, Mr. Clark knew of our cave, in fact he visited us +there once, lowering his dignity sufficiently to squeeze into the narrow +passageway, and playing Bill a game of chess at our club table. He +seemed quite pleased with our work, and complimented us very highly on +the masterful way in which we had built the underground house. We told +him that we had organized a club of the older fellows to play indoor +games and have occasional spreads, but we did not tell him that most of +our spreads were held at the dead of night, when there was no moon and +the stars were hidden by clouds. At 10 o'clock each night the bell rang +for us to turn out our lights, and after that the six members would +each, in turn, keep a half-hour watch, that is, first one would sit up +and try to keep awake for half an hour, after which he would waken the +next fellow, who at the end of a half hour would rouse the third, and so +on, until 1 o'clock, when the sixth watcher would wake up the entire +club. Then we would all creep out the back window in the hall, onto the +roof of the rear annex of the schoolhouse, and thence climb down a rope +ladder to the ground. + + +MIDNIGHT BANQUETS. + +I suppose we could have just as easily have tiptoed downstairs and out +the back door, but it would have spoiled the romance of it all. The +absolute stillness and the pitch-black darkness of the night were +awe-inspiring. The roll of a pebble or the crack of a twig under foot +would set us all atingle as we stole out to our cave house. Sometimes +the night was so black that we could hardly find the entrance of the +cave. Once inside, in the light of a few candles, the nervous tension +was relieved, and we reveled in a banquet of cold victuals and dainties, +purchased out of the monthly club dues. Our meetings in the cave lasted +scarcely half an hour. In fact, the meeting, and even the banquet, were +mere incidentals. The main enjoyment consisted in stealing out to the +cave and back again, always at the risk of getting caught. Usually when +we got to bed again we would be too excited to fall asleep right away, +and when we did finally drop off our sleep was so sound that several +times the breakfast bell caught one or more of us still napping. + + +THE CLUB PIN. + +[Illustration: Fig. 187. The Club Pin.] + +The only other charm our secret club afforded was the wearing of a +mysterious club pin. It was a silver beetle, with the letter G engraved +on the head and the letter B on the body, while down the center of the +back was the letter I (see Fig. 187). In public we called ourselves the +G. I. B.'s, but it was only the initiated members who knew that these +letters were to be read backward, and, with the beetle on which they +were engraved, signified the "Big Bugs." Of course, we had some secret +signs and signals, a secret hand grasp, a peculiar whistle as a warning +to run, another meaning "lie still," and a third signifying "all is +well." + + +THE COMBINATION LOCK. + +[Illustration: Fig. 188 The Notched Washers.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 189. Washers Fastened on Spools.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 190. The Combination Lock.] + +We found it necessary to close the entrance of our cave with a door +fastened with a padlock, so as to keep meddlers out. The entire school +had watched us build the cave house, and, of course, knew just where our +entrance lay. Then, in addition to the outer door, we put in another +one, half-way down the dark passageway. On this Bill rigged up a simple +combination lock which would baffle any one who managed to pick the +padlock. This inner door opened outward. It was hinged to the floor of +the passageway, and swung up against a frame set in the passageway. At +the top was a board whose lower edge lay flush with the edge of the door +when it was closed. For the combination lock we used a couple of spools, +each with one head cut off and the central hole plugged up with a stick +of wood. In the floor and the top board of the frame, holes were drilled +just large enough for the shanks of the spools to fit snugly in them. +Next we made a trip to a hardware store for a file and a couple of large +copper washers, about 1-1/4 inches in diameter. The washers were +fastened to the inner ends of the spools after they had been pushed +through the hole. The washer on the door came just to the edge of the +door, while the other extended below the door frame and lapped under the +door washer. Then in the edge of the washer on the frame a notch was +filed, while in the other washer two notches were filed, so as to leave +a tooth which fitted snugly into the notch of the first washer (see +Figs. 188, 189). The door was locked by turning both the washers until +the notch and tooth came in line with each other, then pushing the tooth +through the notch, and turning the washers so that the frame washer +hooked over the door washer. Then the door could be opened only when the +tooth and notch were brought in line. + +On the head of each spool we pasted a disk of white cardboard, the edge +of which was graduated, as in Fig. 190. Then we had a secret +combination, say 11-19, which meant that when the spools were turned so +that the number 11 on the door spool came in line with the number 19 on +the frame spool the tooth and notch would be in line, and the door could +then be opened. Of course, this combination was known to the members of +the club only, and any one outside who tried to open the door might have +tried for some time without bringing the tooth and notch into line with +each other. Occasionally we changed the combination by loosening the +screws which held the washers, and turning them so that the notch and +tooth came opposite different numbers on the dials. This was done so +that if any one should chance to learn our combination he could not make +use of it very long. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +SCOOTERS. + + +"Hello, Dutchy! What in thunder have you got there?" + +It was Bill who spoke. We were on our way home for the winter holidays, +and had been held up at Millville by Reddy Schreiner, who had informed +us that Dutchy was down by the river with the boat to give us a sail up +to Lamington. + +A vision of a fleet ice boat skimming up the river at express train +speed swam before our eyes. But the next moment, as we turned the corner +into River Street, we were surprised by the sight of our old scow just +off the pier at anchor, and in open water. It was rigged up with a jib +and mainsail, which were flapping idly in the wind. It had also been +altered by decking over the top, with the exception of a small cockpit, +evidently for the purpose of keeping out the water when she heeled over +under the wind. We were disappointed and quite annoyed at not finding +the ice boat on hand; furthermore, our annoyance was considerably +heightened by Dutchy's broad grin of evident delight at our +discomfiture. "The river wasn't all frozen over," he explained, "and we +couldn't bring the ice boat down, so we rigged up the scow and she came +down splendidly." + + +A SAIL IN THE SCOW. + +There was nothing to do but to jump in, though I, for one, would have +taken the train in preference had there been one inside of two hours. +Dutchy, however, seemed to be in a surprisingly good humor, and kept up +a lively chatter about things that the club had made in our absence. The +skis, which have already been described on page 42, had been built under +Reddy's guidance, and they had already used them on Willard's Hill, +coasting down like a streak and shooting way up into the air off a hump +at the bottom. Then there was the toboggan slide down Randall's Hill, +and way across the river on the ice. + + +OUR CRAFT STRIKES THE ICE. + +Dutchy talked so incessantly that we hadn't noticed the field of ice +which we were nearing. Just at this point Bill turned around with an +exclamation. + +"Here, Dutchy, you crazy fellow, where are you going to? Hard to port, +man--hard aport--or you will crash into the ice!" + +But Dutchy only grinned nervously. + +"I tell you, you will smash the boat!" Bill cried again, making a dive +for the steering oar; but just then the boat struck the ice, and both +Bill and I were thrown backward into the bottom of the boat. But the +boat didn't smash. + +[Illustration: A Sail on the Scooter Scow.] + +There was a momentary grinding and crunching noise, and, much to my +surprise, I found that the old scow had lifted itself clean out of the +water, and was skating right along on the ice. Then Dutchy could control +himself no longer. He laughed, and laughed, as if he never would stop. +He laughed until the steering oar dropped from his hands, and the old +scow, with the head free, swung around and plunged off the ice ledge +with a heavy splash into the open water again. Then Reddy, who was +almost equally convulsed, came to his senses. "Now you've done it, +Dutchy; you're a fine skipper, you are! How do you expect to get us back +to shore again?" The steering oar was left behind us on the ice, and +there we were drifting on the open water, with no rudder and no oar to +bring us back. + + +THE SCOOTER SCOW. + +[Illustration: Fig. 191. Scow with Runners nailed on.] + +The only thing we could do was to wait until the wind or current carried +us to the ice or land. In the meantime Dutchy, who had suddenly sobered +down when we took our water plunge, explained how he had rigged up the +scow to travel both on ice and on water. He called the rig a sled boat, +but the name by which such a rig is now known is a "scooter." It was +Dutchy's idea primarily, but Reddy had engineered the work. Along the +bottom of the scow two strips of hickory had been nailed to serve as +runners. The hickory strips had been bent up at the forward end, as +shown in Fig. 191. Each runner was shod with a strip of brass, fastened +on with flathead screws, which were countersunk, so that the heads +should not project below the brass. This virtually made a sledge out of +the old scow, and didn't spoil it for use on the water. + + +A SPRIT SAIL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 192. Mainsail of Scooter Scow.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 193. The Snotter.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 194. Jib-sail of Scooter Scow.] + +A sprit sail and jib were rigged up. The dimensions of these sails, +which were taken from a book in Mr. Van Syckel's library, are given in +the illustrations. A sheet of heavy muslin was made to measure 7 feet +square, as indicated by dotted lines in the drawing; then the corners +were cut off along the full lines shown in the illustration. The edges +were now hemmed all around, and the lower edge of the sail was lashed to +a boom, 7 feet 6 inches long. To the luff were attached a number of mast +rings, which were slipped over a stout mast projecting about 5 feet 6 +inches above the deck of the boat. The peak of the sail was held up by a +spar called a sprit. The sprit was sharpened at each end, and the point +at the upper end was inserted in a loop of heavy cord fastened to the +peak of the sail, while the lower point of the sprit rested in the loop +of a rope on the mast, called a "snotter." The snotter was a short piece +of rope with a loop at each end. It was wrapped around the mast, as +shown in the drawing, with one loop holding it in place, like a slip +knot, and the other supporting the end of the sprit. A single halyard +was used to raise this sail. It was attached to the boat and passed over +a block in the mast. When raising the sail it was first partly hoisted, +then the sprit was hooked in the loop and the snotter, after which the +throat halyard was drawn taut. Then the snotter was pulled up the mast +as far as it would go, flattening out the sail. The jib-sail was made +out of the large corner piece left when cutting the mainsail. The +dimensions of the jib-sail are given in Fig. 194. It was such a small +sail that no boom was used with it. In place of a rudder the steering +oar had to be used. This was made of a rake handle with a large trowel +blade fastened to the end of it. The sharp blade cut into the ice, and +so steered the scow when it was running as an ice boat, and in the water +the blade offered sufficient resistance to act as a rudder. + + +SCOOTER SAILING. + +But to return to our sail home to Lamington, we were not out on the open +water long before the current carried us back to the ice ledge. Reddy +jumped off and soon returned with the steering oar; then we proceeded on +our way homeward, now in the water and now on ice. Once or twice the +scow was unable to climb out of the water, because she had not +sufficient headway, and was clumsy and heavy with four boys aboard. Then +we had to push off until we could get a sufficient start. It struck me +that while Dutchy was quite clever to think of such a rig, yet it was +very clumsy and capable of much improvement. Bill wasn't saying very +much all this time, and I could see he was doing a lot of thinking. +Evidently he was planning some improvement, but Bill was a very +considerate fellow, and did not want to spoil Dutchy's pleasure just +then by telling him how much better a scooter he might have built. It +wasn't until after supper, when a meeting of the S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. +I. was called, that Bill came out with his scheme. + + +A MEETING OF THE SOCIETY. + +"Why not mount the sailing canoe on runners, instead of the scow? You +would have a very light rig then, and it would sail like a streak." + +"Mr. President," said Reddy, "your plan sounds first-rate, but how are +you going to fasten runners onto the canoe?" + +"I've thought all that out," replied Bill. "If we can only get hold of a +pair of sleigh runners it won't take long to rig up the sled boat." + +Dutchy, who had looked rather crestfallen at a suggestion of an +improvement on his pet invention, now suddenly brightened up. + +"I know where we can get the sleigh runners!" he exclaimed. "Dad has an +old ramshackle sleigh in the barn that is just falling to pieces with +dry rot. I'll ask him for it to-night." + +"Do you think you can get it?" inquired Bill. + +"I guess so," Dutchy answered, rather doubtfully. "But say, suppose we +send a delegation to see him about it?" + + +AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. VAN SYCKEL. + +This was agreed upon, and in the morning, as soon as breakfast had been +downed, the entire society marched in a body into Mr. Van Syckel's +library. I was appointed spokesman, with Bill to back me, while the rest +of the party were strung out behind, with Dutchy bringing up the rear. +Mr. Van Syckel was not the man to take much interest in boys' work, but +we happened to strike him at the right moment, and before our interview +was over we had told him all our experiences of the summer before and +all our plans for the future. Then we did a good turn for Dutchy, too. +Mr. Van Syckel had always considered his boy a "know-nothing," and was +very much surprised to find that he had invented the scooter scow. Why, +he actually seemed proud of his son, much to Dutchy's embarrassment. +After that there was no trouble about getting the sleigh runners, and +Mr. Van Syckel forgot the objections he had offered at first. + + +THE SCOOTER CANOE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 195. Runners of Scooter Canoe.] + +Naturally we were very much elated at our success, and straightway made +for the barn, where we began operations on the scooter canoe. The sleigh +was an old-fashioned affair, with rather broad wooden runners. First we +removed the body of the sleigh, and then the runners were cut down to a +height of about 15 inches. We spaced them apart about 28 inches, and +connected them with four crosspieces at the top. The runners were now +placed over our larger canoe, with forward ends about on a line with the +mast, and the crosspieces were fastened with screws to the gunwales. As +an additional security, a pair of crosspieces were now run under the +canoe at each end and fastened with screws to the keel. At the bow the +keel was shod with a strip of brass. The rudder was taken off the boat, +and an oar lock was fastened to the stern to hold the steering oar. In +place of lee boards we nailed a couple of thin boards over each runner, +as shown in the drawing. We were in a hurry to finish this, as our +vacation was short, so we used on the scooter canoe the sails that we +had made for our ice boat. This required a bowsprit, but as we had +little time to spare we used the jib-boom of the ice boat, nailing it to +the deck beam of the canoe. We decided that the jib-sail could be used +without a boom, as we had done with the scow. The mast was braced by +stays attached to the ends of the runners and bowsprit. This spread of +canvas was far greater than that originally provided for sailing the +canoe, but the heavy runners on each side helped to keep the boat on +even keel, and then to further balance the sail a board was nailed +across the aft end of the boat. This overhung the runners about 18 +inches each side, and in a strong wind we could sit out on the windward +end of this board, thus preventing the scooter from heeling over too +far. + +[Illustration: Fig. 196. The Scooter Canoe.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +AN ARCTIC EXPEDITION. + + +As soon as our scooter canoe was completed we prepared for the +long-planned winter expedition to Willow Clump Island. The weather +conditions were ideal. We had had ten days of steady cold weather, which +had followed a heavy fall of snow, so that we could tramp up the island +on snow shoes, or we could use our scooter canoe and scooter scow on the +river. It was out of the question to use our skate sails or the ice boat +on the river, and the canal would be serviceable only in case the wind +should blow from a southerly quarter. But we stowed them on the sledge +for use on Lake Placid. + +On the Tuesday morning following Christmas we made the start. Bill in +the scooter canoe and Dutchy in the scooter scow sailed up the river, +and the rest of us, on snow shoes, took the tow path of the canal, +hauling the sledge along. We carried provisions for a week and a good +supply of blankets. The island was reached without mishap, except that +Dutchy had to be helped several times in dragging the heavy scow around +the rapids. Bill reached the island long before we did, and after +unloading the canoe came racing back under a stiff breeze for a second +load. Then he took his turn at hauling the sledge, while Reddy sailed +the reloaded scooter canoe up to the island. + + +WILLOW CLUMP ISLAND IN WINTER. + +We brought no tent with us, as we expected to take up our quarters in +the straw hut. When we reached the hut we hardly recognized it. It was +almost completely covered with snow and looked like an Eskimo house. The +snow had drifted well up over the north side, completely closing the +entrance. We had to set to work at once with a shovel and open up a +passageway, and then we had to shovel out a large pile of snow that had +drifted into the hut from the open doorway. + + +KINDLING A CAMP FIRE. + +In the meantime Jack scoured the island for some dry wood. In this he +was not very successful, because everything was covered with snow, and +when he tried to kindle a fire in the open space in front of our hut he +found the task an exceedingly difficult one. Unfortunately we forgot to +bring the oil stove with us, and the prospect of something warm to eat +was exceedingly remote. We hadn't yet learned the trick of building a +camp fire in wet weather. After exhausting our stock of paper Fred and I +started over to Lumberville for several newspapers and a can of +kerosene. We went to old Jim Halliday's, who had befriended us on one or +two occasions the previous summer, and made known to him our troubles. + +"What! A can of oil to build yer fire with? Well, ye won't git it from +me. I know a man as got blowed up apourin' oil on a fire. Why, shucks, +boys, you don't need no oil ner paper nuther on that there island. Its +chuck-full of silver birch trees, and there ain't no better kindlin' +than birch bark." + +Birch bark! Why, yes, why hadn't we thought of that? We had used it for +torches the summer before and knew how nicely it burned. So back we +skated to camp, and then, peeling off a large quantity of bark from the +birch trees around us, we soon had a rousing big fire in front of the +hut. + + +THE OUTDOOR FIREPLACE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 197. An Outdoor Cooking Fire.] + +But there were more things to be learned about open fires. In our summer +outing Jack had done most of his cooking on a kerosene stove, and he +soon found that it was a very different matter to cook over an +unsheltered fire. The heat was constantly carried hither and thither by +the gusts of wind, so that he could scarcely warm up his saucepans. We +had to content ourselves with cold victuals for the first meal, but +before the next meal time came around we had learned a little more about +fire building. Two large logs were placed about 10 inches apart, and the +space between them was filled in with pieces of bark and small twigs and +sticks. The back of the fireplace was closed with stones. One touch of a +match was enough to kindle the fire, and in a moment it blazed up +beautifully. The logs at the sides and the stones at the back prevented +the wind from scattering the flames in all directions, and a steady +draft poured through the open end of the fireplace and up through the +heart of the fire. The side logs were so close together that our cooking +utensils could be supported directly on them. + + +A STONE-PAVED FIREPLACE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 198. A Stone-paved Fireplace.] + +The following summer we continued our open fireplace experiments. +Instead of using logs we drove stakes into the ground, forming a small +circular stockade about 2 feet high and 3 feet in diameter. A paving of +small stones covered the floor of the fireplace, and a lining of stones +was laid against the wall. The stakes were driven in on a slant, as +illustrated in Fig. 198, so as to better support the stone lining. A +break in the stockade at one side let in the necessary draft. Two of the +stakes on opposite sides of the fire were made extra long, and were +crotched at their upper ends. They served to support the cross stick +from which our kettles were hung. This form of fireplace was more +satisfactory for baking than the one in which logs were used for the +side walls, because the stone lining retained the heat much longer. To +bake biscuit, a pot of beans, or the like, the ashes would be drawn away +from the stone paving and the pot placed directly on the hot stones, +after which it was covered with hot embers and ashes. + + +A COLD NIGHT IN THE HUT. + +But to return to our experiences on the island. We found it very cold on +the first night in the hut. We were afraid to build a fire inside lest +the straw thatchings would catch fire, and so we huddled together in the +corner, rolled up tightly in our blankets. But it was cold, +nevertheless. We had no door to close the opening into the hut, and +instead had piled up branches of cedar and hemlock against the doorway. +But a bitterly cold northwest wind was blowing down the river, and we +couldn't keep warm, no matter what we did. Most of the boys were ready +to go right home, but we stuck it out until the morning, and then after +we had toasted ourselves before a blazing bright fire, and had eaten a +hot breakfast, we forgot much of the discomfort of the night and were +ready for more "fun." We thought we would spend the next night in our +tree house, and so, right after breakfast, we packed up our blankets and +some provisions and started for the Jacob's Ladder. + + +MOUNTAIN CLIMBING. + +Each fellow was provided with a pair of ice creepers of the same sort as +we had used in connection with the rennwolf (see page 170). In addition +to this each boy was provided with a home-made alpine stock, consisting +of a stout wooden stick in the end of which a large nail was driven and +the head filed off. Thus equipped we came to the foot of the cliff, and +much to our delight found it one mass of ice from top to bottom. Now was +our chance to try some Swiss mountain climbing. Bill took the lead, with +an old hatchet in his hand, to hack out any necessary footholds in the +ice wall, and the rest of us strung out behind him tied to a long rope, +each boy about 10 or 12 feet from the one ahead. Bill cautioned us to +keep our distance, holding the rope taut in one hand, so that if a +fellow stumbled he could be kept from falling either by the one in front +or by the one behind. + +"Besides," he said, "if the rope drags on the ice, it is liable to be +cut or worn so that it will break when any strain was put on it." + +Now, one would think from all these precautions that we were launched on +a perilous expedition. That was the impression we were trying to make on +ourselves, though, as a matter of fact, any one of us could have climbed +the cliff unaided and without any ice implements if he had used ordinary +care not to slip on the ice-clad ladder rounds or the snow-covered +ledges. + +[Illustration: Fig. 199. Winter Expedition to the Goblins' Platform.] + + +A POOR SHELTER. + +The climb was without mishap and we reached our tree house, only to find +it so badly racked by storm and weather that it was clearly out of the +question to attempt to spend the night there. The wind howled around the +house and whistled through dozens of cracks and chinks that had opened +in the walls. All that we could do, therefore, was to turn back to the +island and make the best of our straw hut again. On the way, however, we +stopped at Lumberville for some straw to be used for bedding. The +afternoon was spent sailing around on Lake Placid and the large smooth +stretch above the island. + + +A COSTLY CAMP FIRE. + +After supper Bill and Reddy went into the hut to arrange the straw +bedding, while the rest of us gathered wood for a huge bonfire in front +of the hut. The wind was blowing right down the river and we expected it +to carry the warmth of the fire into the hut. The fire was built some +distance in front of the doorway, so as to prevent the hut from catching +fire. But we had evidently miscalculated the strength of the wind, for +no sooner was the fire fairly started than a shower of flaming brands +was blown right into the hut. In a moment the straw blazed up, cutting +off all escape for Bill and Reddy. Fortunately the framing was not +strong and the frost had loosened up the foundations, so that a few +frantic kicks opened an exit in the rear of the hut just in time to save +our comrades from cremation. Once it was fairly started we were +powerless to put out the blaze until the hut was ruined. The snow that +covered the walls checked the fire somewhat, but the thatching burned +from the inside, melting the snow and dropping it suddenly into the +flaming straw bedding on the floor. As we sat in a gloomy ring about the +camp fire, watching the tongues of flame play about the charred ribs of +our hut, we had reason to be thankful that the wind had played its +pranks before we turned in for the night. What a risk we had run of +being all burned to death! It made me shudder to think of it. Well, our +hut was burned. What next? That was the question put before the society. + +[Illustration: Bill Gets Tangled up with His Skis.] + +[Illustration: Warming the Lunch on a Cold Day.] + +"Might build a snow hut," suggested Dutchy. + +"Now, be sensible," answered Reddy. "We can't build a snow hut in five +minutes." + +"The best plan," I volunteered, "would be to go over to Jim Halliday's +and ask him to let us sleep in his barn." + +Immediately the suggestion was acted upon. + + +A FRIEND IN TIME OF TROUBLE. + +Old Jim Halliday greeted us very gruffly. He said he wouldn't have us in +his barn. "You'll be amussin' up the hay so't wouldn't be fit fer the +horses to eat. Any boy that is fool enough to build a fire on a straw +bed ought to go right home to his mother, and he hadn't oughter be +trusted with matches, nuther. He might get his fingers burned." + +But I caught a twinkle in the old man's eyes and wasn't surprised to +have him end his lecture by taking us into the kitchen and seating us +around an old-fashioned log fire while "Marthy," his daughter, made us +some hot coffee to take the chill out of our bones. We didn't sleep in +the barn that night. The Hallidays had only one spare bed, hardly enough +for six boys, and the old man didn't want to be partial to any two of +us, but his daughter solved the difficulty by dragging down two large +feather mattresses and laying them on the kitchen floor in front of the +hearth. + +Before bidding us "good night," Mr. Halliday put on his sternest +expression and bade Marthy clear out all the matches from the room. + +"Jest as like as not they'll set fire to the house," he growled. "I +expect this is my last night on airth." And then, with a solemn warning +not to hang our clothes on the flames, and to "keep them feather beds +offen the embers," he left us to a comfortable night's rest. + +In the morning, after we had disposed of all the hot griddle cakes we +could eat, and had sincerely thanked our host and hostess for their +hospitality, we wended our way back to the island, silently packed up +our goods and started home for Lamington. + +"Well, this isn't going to happen again," was Bill's comment. "Next year +we'll have a log cabin on the island." + +[Illustration: Fast Asleep in a Sleeping Bag.] + +[Illustration: How the Pack Harness was Worn.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +TRAMPING OUTFITS. + + +Our winter expedition to Willow Clump Island filled us with a wholesome +respect for Arctic explorers. If we could find it so uncomfortable with +the thermometer only at 10 degrees above zero, what would it be to +endure a temperature of 40, 50 or even 60 degrees below zero? We were +interested to learn how they managed to stand it. This led to a study of +the subject in Mr. Van Syckel's library. + + +SLEEPING BAGS. + +In one of the books Dutchy came across the description of a sleeping +bag. It was made of reindeer's skin sewed into a large bag with the fur +side turned in. This bag was large enough to hold three or four +sleepers, and each man was covered with a pair of woolen bags, one bag +slipped inside the other. The woolen bags were made of blankets sewed +together and provided with flaps at the upper ends to cover the head of +the sleeper. + +Of course, we had to make a sleeping bag, too. The innermost bag was +made of an old quilt and the next one of a blanket that we were +fortunate enough to get hold of. But when it came to the reindeer skin +we were balked, until we happened to run across a piece of rubber +sheeting at the village store. This was a lucky find, for I doubt if one +country store in a hundred carries such stock. The piece was just large +enough to cover the blanket bag and allow for an ample flap to cover the +head. To be sure, this furnished a shelter for only one person, and +there were six in the society. It was clear that the treasury could not +afford the expense of six sleeping bags; but as such a device would be +useful only under very unusual circumstances we decided that two +sleeping bags would be all the society would need. We had been rather +curious to explore the country back of the hills on the Pennsylvania +side of the river, and with some light provisions and these sleeping +bags strapped to the back a couple of boys could make quite an extended +tour, unmindful of weather conditions. On real hot nights a fellow could +get into the quilt bag and sleep on the blanket and waterproof bag. In +cold weather the combination of all three bags provided sufficient +warmth. The rubber bag would protect the sleeper from any moisture in +the ground, and would also keep him thoroughly dry, even in a pouring +rain. + + +BILL'S "MUMMY CASE." + +[Illustration: Fig. 200. Bottom Piece of Sleeping Bag.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 201. Top Piece of Sleeping Bag.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 202. Headboards.] + +Our second sleeping bag was Bill's own design, and was, in many +respects, an improvement on the first, though it looked ridiculously +like an Egyptian mummy case. The inner bags were just like those of the +first sleeping bag, but as there was no more rubber sheeting in town we +had to make the outer bag of enameled cloth, such as is used for +carriage curtains. Out of this cloth Bill cut a piece of the shape shown +in Fig. 200 to serve as bottom, sides and ends of the sleeping bag. The +bag was sewed wrong side out; that is, the piece was laid with enameled +side up, and then the corners were sewed together after painting the +seams with white lead. Then a top piece was cut out, of the size +indicated in Fig. 201. The edges were hemmed over a piece of rope, which +thus formed a corded edge. Now, with the enameled side of the cover +piece turned inward, its edges were sewed to the edges of the first +piece. The bag was now turned inside out, so that the enameled surface +lay on the outside and the seams turned inward. The corded edge on the +cover piece lapped over the sides, forming a watershed. + +[Illustration: Fig. 203. The Mummy Case.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 204. Sleeping Bag in Use.] + +It was Bill's idea to rig up the flap in such a manner that it would not +lie against the face, so that the sleeper could have plenty of fresh +air, even in rainy weather. This required the use of two headboards, of +the form shown in Fig. 202. The headboards were connected at the bottom +by a thin board, and to this framework the sides of the bag were nailed. +To the end flap several cleats were nailed, adapted to fit into notches +cut in the headboards. The cleat at the end of the flap was laid on +edge, as shown, and fitted into deep notches in the headboards just +above the edge of the cover piece. This held the flap securely, +preventing it from flying open in a heavy wind. At the same time the +small space between the flap and the cover piece allowed for an ample +supply of fresh air. When using this sleeping bag, if there was any +indication of a shower, we took care to have the head pointed to +windward so as to prevent entrance of rain through this air space. + + +THE "A" TENT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 205. The "A" Tent.] + +In connection with the sleeping bags it may be well to describe here a +curious shelter Dutchy and I came across in one of our tramps. It was +just about dusk one day when we discovered a temporary camp at which a +couple of men were preparing dinner. They informed us that they were +naturalists on a two weeks' outing. At their invitation we joined camp +with them. They had a small "A" tent of balloon silk, under which they +kept their provisions. The tent had no ridge pole, but was supported +instead by a rope stretched between two trees (see Fig. 205). + + +A CAMP CHAIR. + +[Illustration: Fig. 206. The Camp Chair.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 207. Pockets in the Canvas Back.] + +The camp was also furnished with an easy canvas chair, made by driving a +couple of short posts in the ground for front legs and a pair of longer +ones for the back. A piece of canvas was hung over these posts, forming +both seat and back. The posts were driven into the ground on a slant, as +illustrated in Fig. 206, and the canvas was formed with pockets at the +corners which were hooked over these posts. This made a very comfortable +chair, though, of course, it was fixed to one spot. When the men moved +camp they would carry with them only the canvas piece, and at the next +stopping place new posts were chopped and used for legs. + +[Illustration: Waiting for a Bite.] + +[Illustration: Temporary Shelter under an "A" Tent.] + + +THE CAMP BED. + +[Illustration: Fig. 208. Canvas Bed.] + +But what interested us most was the form of bed they had. This, like the +chair, consisted of a piece of canvas arranged to be supported on posts +cut from the woods in the neighborhood of the camp. The canvas piece was +3 feet wide and 6 feet long, with a wide hem at each side, forming +pockets through which poles were passed, as in a stretcher. The ends of +the poles were supported on posts driven into the ground. The poles were +also propped up at the center, as shown, the pockets being cut away and +bound, so as not to permit any wear on the canvas. To prevent the posts +from leaning inward under the weight of the sleeper, they were braced +apart by cross sticks. + +[Illustration: Fig. 209. Bed Set up on Posts.] + + +THE CAMP BED IN A SHOWER. + +[Illustration: Fig. 210. A Poncho.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 211. Camp Bed in the Rain.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 212. Umbrella with Fly.] + +As a precaution against rain, a tall post was set up at the head and +another at the foot of the bed, and a rope was stretched over the posts +with the ends fastened to stakes driven into the ground. Over this rope +a rubber "poncho" was laid to keep off the rain. A "poncho," by the way, +is a blanket of rubber cloth about 4-1/2 feet wide and 6 feet long, in +the center of which is a slit through which you can put your head; then +the rubber cloth falls over you like a cape, as in Fig. 210, and makes a +perfect protection against rain. The ponchos these men had were not +quite long enough to cover the whole bed, so they fastened umbrellas to +the head posts, as shown in Fig. 212. During a shower in the woods the +rain comes straight down in large drops, caused by the water collecting +on the leaves. To prevent these large drops from splashing through the +umbrellas, they laid pieces of cloth over the umbrellas, which served, +like the fly of a tent, to check the fall of rain drops. + + +A NIGHTMARE. + +I slept in the mummy case that night and Dutchy in the first sleeping +bag. It must have been about midnight when I was awakened by a most +unearthly yell. It sent the cold chills running up and down my back. A +second scream brought me into action, and I struggled to throw back the +head flap, which had become caught. It seemed an age before I could open +it and wriggle out of the bag. Dutchy was sitting up in bed with a look +of horror on his face, and his whole body was in a tremor of fear. One +of the men dashed a glass of water in his face, which brought him back +to his senses. It was only a nightmare, we found. Dutchy dreamed he had +been injured in a railway accident and had been taken for dead to the +morgue. He tried to let them know that he was alive, but couldn't utter +a sound, until finally he burst out with the yells that roused the camp. +Then, as he awoke with the horror of the dream still on him, his eyes +fell on the two stretcher beds that looked like biers and the black +coffin-like sleeping bag. It was not much wonder that Dutchy was +frightened. The camp did certainly have a most ghastly appearance in the +vague moonlight that filtered through the trees, and it must have been +still more gruesome to see the coffin and biers suddenly burst open and +the corpses come running toward him. To prevent any further nightmare we +set Dutchy's sleeping bag under the "A" tent, where he would be saved +the horror of again waking up in a morgue. + + +PACK HARNESS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 213. Pack Harness.] + +In the morning our friends broke camp and started westward. Dutchy and I +watched them packing up their goods into a couple of very compact +bundles, which they strapped to their backs with a peculiar pack +harness. I took careful note of the way the harness was put together, +and when we returned to the island we made two sets for use on our +tramping expeditions. A canvas yoke was first cut out to the form shown +in Fig. 213. We used two thicknesses of the heaviest brown canvas we +could find, binding the two pieces together with tape. The yoke was +padded with cotton at the shoulders and a strap was fastened to each +shoulder piece. These were arranged to be buckled to a pair of straps +fastened to the back of the yoke and passing under the arms. Riveted to +these straps were a pair of straps used for fastening on the pack. The +yoke straps were attached with the rough side against the yoke, while +the pack straps were riveted on with the rough side uppermost, as +indicated in the drawing. + + +RIVETING. + +[Illustration: Fig. 214. Riveting the Straps Together.] + +The method of riveting together the leather straps may need a word of +explanation. A copper rivet was passed through a hole in the two straps; +then the washer was slipped over the projecting end of the rivet. This +washer had to be jammed down tight against the leather, and to do this +we drilled a hole of the diameter of the rivet in a block of wood, and +putting this block over the washer, with the end of the rivet projecting +into the hole, we hammered the block until the washer was forced down +tight against the leather. Then taking a light tack hammer we battered +down the end of the rivet onto the washer. Care was taken to do this +hammering very lightly, otherwise the end would have been bent over +instead of being flattened. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE LAND YACHT. + + +Only one thing of importance occurred between our Christmas holidays and +Eastertide: this was Bill's invention of the tricycle sailboat or land +yacht. We had returned to school with sailing on the brain. Our skate +sail served us well enough while there was any ice, but as spring came +on we wished we had our canoe with us, or even the old scow to sail on +the lakes near the school. Once we seriously considered building a +sailboat, but the project was given up, as we had few facilities for +such work. But Bill wasn't easily baffled, and I wasn't surprised to +have him come tearing into the room one day, yelling, "I've got it! I've +got it!" In his hands were two bicycle wheels, which I recognized as +belonging to a couple of bicycles we had discarded the year before. + +"What are you going to do with them?" I inquired. + +"I'm going to make a tricycle sailboat." + +"What?" + +"A tricycle sailboat, a land boat, or anything you've a mind to call it. +I mean a boat just like our ice boat only on bicycle wheels instead of +skates. We can sail all over south Jersey on the thing. Come on down and +help me build it." + + +THE FRAME OF THE YACHT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 215. The Backbone and Crosspiece.] + +I followed him to the shed at the back of the school and found that he +had already procured a couple of scantlings for the frame of the boat. +The sticks were 2 inches thick and 4 inches wide. The backbone was cut +to a length of 10 feet, and a 5-foot link was sawed off for the +crosspiece. The two pieces were securely nailed together about 3 feet +from the forward end of the backbone. The crosspiece was set on edge, +but a notch was cut in it about 1 inch deep to receive the backbone. We +might have braced the frame with wooden braces, as in the ice boat, but +we thought that this time we would vary the design by using wire bracing +instead, thus making the frame much lighter. I asked Bill how he +proposed to tighten the wire. Turnbuckles were the thing, but I knew +that they were rather expensive. + +"Just you leave that to me," said Bill. "I've a scheme that I think will +work out all right." + + +A SIMPLE TURNBUCKLE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 216. An Eye Bolt.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 217. Stretching the Guy Lines.] + +At the hardware store of the town we bought a pound of No. 16 iron wire, +eight large screw eyes and six eye bolts, with nuts and washers. Both +the screw eyes and eye bolts had welded eyes and the shanks of the eye +bolts were 6 inches long. A pair of screw eyes were now threaded into +the backbone at each side about 18 inches from the end, and at each end +of the crosspieces an eye bolt was fastened. I began to see Bill's plan. +He was going to draw the wire taut by tightening up the nuts on the eye +bolts. To get the best effect the hole for the eye bolt had to be +drilled in on a slant, so that the bolt would pull directly in the line +of the wire. To get just the right angle we ran a cord from the screw +eye on one side to the point where the bolt was to be inserted, and +traced its direction on the crosspiece. The hole for the eye bolt was +now drilled parallel with the mark we had traced. The same was done at +the other end of the crosspiece. A pair of screw eyes were now screwed +into the backbone at the fore end and a pair of eye bolts were set at a +corresponding angle in the ends of the crosspiece. The crosspiece was +notched at each side so that the nuts and washers on the eye bolts would +have a square seating. Then we stretched on the wire guy lines, drawing +them as tight as possible, with the eye bolts held in place by a turn or +two of the nuts, after which we screwed up the nuts as far as we could, +thus drawing up the wire until it was very taut. This done the second +nut was threaded onto each bolt against the first so as to lock it in +place and prevent it from jarring loose. + + +STEPPING THE MAST. + +[Illustration: Fig. 218 The Frame with Wire Braces.] + +Our next task was to step the mast. We found in the shed an old +flagstaff 15 feet long and 3 inches in diameter. The lower end of this, +for about a foot, we whittled down to a diameter of 2 inches, and drove +it into a hole in the backbone 12 inches from the forward end. The mast +was stayed by a wire stretched from the head to an eye bolt at the fore +end of the backbone. The end of the mast which projected below the +backbone was stayed with wire running forward to an eye bolt and aft to +a screw eye on the backbone, and also with a pair of wires running to +screw eyes threaded into the crosspiece near the ends. We couldn't very +well use eye bolts on these wires except at the fore end, but we +stretched the wires as tight as possible before the screw eyes were +screwed all the way in, and then, as we turned the screw eyes, the wire +was wound up on them and drawn fairly taut. Fig. 219 shows a side view +of the frame, and wires marked 1 and 2 are the same as illustrated in +Fig. 218, which is a top or plan view of the frame. + + +MOUNTING THE FRAME ON BICYCLE WHEELS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 219. Bracing the Mast.] + +We were now ready to mount the frame on the bicycle wheels. We used only +the front wheels of the bicycles with the forks in which they were +journaled. The shanks at the top of the forks were firmly driven into +holes in the crosspiece near the ends. For the steering wheel Bill took +the front fork and wheel of his new bicycle, letting the shank into a +hole at the stern end of the backbone. + + +THE TILLER. + +[Illustration: Fig. 220. The Tiller.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 221. The Seat.] + +For a tiller we used a piece of an old rake handle. A small hole was +first drilled into the handle and the end of the stick was then split +through the hole, permitting the projecting shank of the fork to be +driven tightly into the hole. The split wood was now tightly closed onto +the shank by means of a bolt (see Fig. 220). In the rubbish heap we +found an old chair. The legs were sawed off and the seat was then firmly +nailed to the backbone. The back of the chair was cut down so that it +just cleared the tiller. + + +A "LEG-OF-MUTTON" SAIL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 222. Leg-of-Mutton Sail.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 223. The Sailor's Stitch.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 224. Laying Out the Sail.] + +Everything was now completed but the sail. This was a triangular or +"leg-of-mutton" affair, of the dimensions given in Fig. 222. It was made +of light canvas, 30 inches wide, of which we bought 14 yards. Out of +this we took one strip 18 feet long, one 13 feet, one 8 feet, and one 3 +feet long. We had no sewing machine, and therefore had to sew the strips +together by hand. The selvedge edges of the strips were lapped over each +other about an inch and then they were sewed together sailor fashion, +that is, each edge was hemmed down, as shown in Fig. 223. The strips +were sewed together so that at the foot each projected at least 21 +inches below the next shorter one. This done, the sail was cut to the +dimensions given, allowing 1-1/2 inches all around for the hem. The hem +was turned over a light rope, forming a strong corded edge. At the clew, +tack and head loops were formed in the rope which projected from the +canvas, and at intervals along the foot the canvas was cut away, +exposing the rope so that the sail could be laced to the boom, as +illustrated. The boom was a pole 11 feet long attached to the mast by +means of a screw hook threaded into the end of the boom and hooked into +a screw eye on the mast, after which the screw hook was hammered so it +would close over the screw eye to keep it from slipping off. The sail +was raised by a halyard passing over a block at the top of the mast. The +sheet was fastened near the end of the boom, passed through a block on +the backbone, back of the tiller, and through another block on the boom, +and was led to a cleat within easy reach of the chair seat. + + +A SAIL THROUGH THE COUNTRY. + +[Illustration: Fig. 225. A Sail on the Land Yacht.] + +Our land yacht proved to be quite a successful craft in the flat country +around the school. Of course, we could not sail everywhere; a country +road is too narrow for any tacking when it comes to sailing against the +wind. We hadn't thought of that when we made our trial trip. A strong +east wind was blowing and so we ventured forth on a road that led due +west from our school. Off we sped before the wind for two miles, until +we came to a sharp turn in the road. Then we began to think of turning +homeward. But this was a very different proposition. The wind was dead +against us and to try to tack from side to side of the road was useless, +because we would hardly get under way on one tack before we had to swing +around on the other tack, losing all our momentum. It ended up by our +lowering sail and ignominiously trundling the yacht back to school. +After that we carefully selected our course, and never sailed away from +home before the wind unless we knew of a roundabout way that would lead +us back to port on a couple of reaches (long tacks). + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +EASTER VACATION. + + +Just before Easter that year Bill's Aunt Dorothy invited him to spend +Eastertide with her and bring along his roommate. I accepted the +invitation with alacrity. Bill had once spent a whole summer at his +aunt's home, and when we arrived there he had many old haunts to visit. +We spent the first day rambling through the woods, in the hills and back +of the house. + + +BILL'S CAVE. + +He introduced me to a cave which he believed was known to only two other +boys, both of whom had since moved to New York city. The mouth of the +cave was almost closed by a large boulder that had lodged in front of +it. We had to climb to the top of this rock, and then letting ourselves +down with a rope we slid down the sloping rear face of the boulder into +a crevice in the rocks. Then after squirming under a ledge we emerged +into a large chamber, which appeared to be as dark as night after our +sudden entrance from the outer light. + +[Illustration: Fig 226. Sliding Down into the Cave.] + +Bill lighted a candle which projected from a chink in the wall. By its +light I saw that there was a pool in the center of the cave fed from a +spring at one point. From the pool the water trickled off into a tiny +stream to the mouth of the cave, where it was lost in a crack in the +rocks. The water was ice cold and clear as crystal. Around the pool were +several chairs and a table made by Bill and his two friends. That was +evidently where Bill had gotten his idea of a subterranean club. + + +THE BARREL STAVE HAMMOCK. + +[Illustration: Fig. 227. The Barrel Stave Hammock.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 228. Tying the Staves Together.] + +Hanging between a couple of projecting rocks was a hammock made of +barrel staves. The hammock was a very simple affair, made by drilling a +1-inch hole in each end of each barrel stave. The staves were then +connected by two ropes on each side, woven alternately in and out +through these holes, that is, one rope would be passed down through one +stave, up through the next, down through the third, etc., and through +the same holes another rope would be threaded in and out but in the +opposite direction. The end staves of the hammock were provided with +double holes, as shown in Fig. 228, so as to make them lie flat, then +the ropes were threaded through them. + + +THE BARREL ARMCHAIR. + +[Illustration: Fig. 229. The Armchair Frame.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 230. Casters on the Chair.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 231. Tacking on the Straw Sandwiches.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 232. The Barrel Armchair.] + +Aside from the hammock and the rustic furniture there was a fine +armchair, made from a barrel that had been sawed off, as in Fig. 229, to +form the arms and back. The barrel was raised from the ground by setting +it on a couple of boards arranged in the form of a V. Then a caster was +fastened to the point of the V and another at each end, making a +three-legged chair of it. The chair was upholstered with ticking stuffed +with straw. First a piece of ticking large enough for the back was laid +on the ground and covered over with an even layer of straw. Over the +straw a second piece of ticking was laid, making what Bill called a +"straw sandwich." This was nailed to the chair back along the edge and +at the bottom, drawing the cloth as taut as possible. To make a better +finish for the chair, the ticking was covered with dark red denim. Then +strips of braid were laid on the chair back, crossing each other like a +lattice. At the crossing points of the braid brass-headed tacks were +nailed right through the sandwich into the wood, producing the padded +upholstered effect. Next a long, thin sandwich was made to run along the +edge of the back, and another one to run around the chair just below the +seat, also a couple of small sandwiches to cover the legs and the +brackets leading to them. These were all covered with denim before being +tacked to the chair and then they were bound with tape at intervals to +produce the padded effect. The rest of the woodwork was covered with +denim, and a neat ruffle made by Aunt Dorothy hung about the bottom of +the chair. A thick, round sandwich was now made to cover the seat board. +This was also given a padded effect by binding it with tape. The seat +board was not nailed to the chair, but rested on four cleats nailed to +the barrel on the inside. When the seat was lifted out it uncovered a +shallow chest in which various things could be stored. + + +THE SUMMER TOBOGGAN. + +[Illustration: Fig. 233. The Summer Toboggan.] + +Bill informed me that he and his two chums used to spend hot summer +afternoons in this cool place whittling out various ornaments and making +furniture for the cave. In one corner were a number of home-made +amusement devices, one of which struck me as rather odd. It consisted of +a pair of large barrel staves, hollow side up and connected with two +short boards, as in Fig. 233. Bill said it was a summer toboggan, to be +used on grass instead of snow. I had never heard of such an affair, and, +of course, had to have a demonstration. Bill went to the top of the hill +and from there coasted down the grassy slope in fine style. + + +TAILLESS KITES. + +"There's a better place over on the other side of the hill," he said, +and led the way to his favorite coasting spot. But here our attention +was diverted from coasting by the curious sight of a full-grown man +flying a kite. We found out afterward that he was a Professor Keeler, +who had made a great scientific study of kites. Professor Keeler was +very affable, and we soon got acquainted with him. His kite was way up +in the air, almost out of sight, and was pulling like everything. +Neither Bill nor I could hold it long. But the most remarkable part of +it all to me was the fact that the kite had no tail. I had heard of +tailless kites made like a box, but this one appeared to be very much +like the kites I had made in my younger days, and I well knew the +importance of a long tail to keep such a kite steady. We asked the +professor about it, and were informed that this kite was of the Malay +type, which is so designed that the cloth bellies out into pockets on +each side of the central stick or backbone, and these pockets balance +the kite while the backbone acts as a rudder. + +Finding that we were interested in the subject he gave us full +instructions for making kites from 5 to 8 feet long, and these I jotted +down for future use. In a 5-foot kite he said the stick should be 3/8 +inch thick and 1/2 inch wide, in a 6-foot kite 7/16 inch thick and 9/16 +inch wide, in a 7-foot kite 5/8 inch thick and 3/4 inch wide, and in an +8-foot kite 3/4 inch thick and 1 inch wide. On the following summer we +built a 5-footer and also an 8-footer. + +[Illustration: Fig. 234. Coasting in Summer.] + + +A FIVE-FOOT MALAY KITE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 235. Tying on the Cleats.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 236. Hook on the Vertical Stick.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 237. Double Hook.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 238. Connection at Corner.] + +For the 5-foot kite we used two sticks of hickory 3/8 of an inch wide, +1/2 an inch thick, and each 5 feet long. According to directions, one +stick was laid across the other at a point two-elevenths of its length +from the top. Two-elevenths of 5 feet is a little less than 11 inches, +and so we fastened on the cross stick 11 inches from the upper end of +the backbone. The sticks were not nailed together, because this would +have weakened the frame just at the point where it was under the +greatest strain. Instead we followed the professor's directions and tied +cleats to each stick, as shown in Fig. 235, so as to form sockets. Then +the sticks were laid across each other, each stick fitting into the +socket of the other, just like a mortised joint. A coat of shellac on +the bottom of each cleat glued it temporarily to the stick, after which +it was very tightly bound with fine cord. The stick and cleats were now +thoroughly shellaced. The end of each stick was tapered off to receive a +brass ferrule of the kind used on chisel handles. They can be bought at +any hardware store. At the end of the backbone we fastened hooks made of +brass, bent to the form shown in Fig. 236. The cross sticks were also +provided with hooks, but these were double, as shown in Fig. 237, so +that a hook lay on both the front and the rear side of the frame. + +[Illustration: Fig. 239. Bending the Cross Stick.] + +The frame was covered with a kind of cloth called "percaline." The cloth +was hemmed along each edge over heavy picture wire, and at each corner +the wire was twisted around a small solid ring of brass. The rings were +now slipped over the hooks on the frame and then the cross stick was +bowed back by fastening a wire to the rear hooks and drawing it taut. +Professor Keeler told us to tighten this bowstring until the distance +from the wire to the cross stick at the center was equal to one-tenth of +the length of the stick. As our sticks were each 5 feet long we +tightened the wire until the cross stick bowed out 6 inches, as in Fig. +239. The belly band of the kite was fastened at one end to the lower end +of the backbone and at the upper end to a wire hook at the juncture of +the two sticks. The hook was fastened to the cross stick by flattening +the ends and running them under the cord used for binding on the cleats +(see Fig. 240). A buttonhole was made in the cloth covering to let this +hook project through. The belly band was just long enough, so that it +could be stretched over to one end of the cross stick, as in Fig. 241, +and at this point, that is, 30 inches from the upper end of the belly +band, a brass ring was made fast, to which the main kite string was +tied. The kite possessed the advantage that it could be quickly taken +apart and folded into a small space. + + +AN EIGHT-FOOT MALAY KITE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 240. Belly Band Hook.] + +Our 8-foot kite was made in the same way only the sticks were 3/4 inch +thick, 1 inch wide and 8 feet long. The cross stick was fastened 17-1/2 +inches (two-elevenths of 8 feet) from the top of the backbone and it was +bowed back 9-1/2 inches (one-tenth of 8 feet). The wire in the hem of +the covering was a double thickness of the heaviest picture wire +obtainable. + +[Illustration: Fig. 241. The 5-foot Malay Kite.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 242. Malay Kite with Elastic Belly Band.] + + +THE ELASTIC BELLY BAND. + +An important change was made in the belly band of the kite. The lower +strand was made elastic by tying it fast to a number of heavy rubber +bands, as in Fig. 242. When flying the kite, if a sudden, strong puff of +wind struck it, the elastic belly band would give, tilting up the lower +end of the kite so that the wind passed under; but as soon as the gust +had passed the rubber bands would draw the lower end of the kite back +against the wind. The elastic belly band had the effect of making the +kite rise almost vertically. Sometimes it would even sail square +overhead. The 8-foot kite was a very powerful one. To hold it we had to +use a very strong cord, the kind used by upholsterers for tying down the +springs in a chair or a sofa. + + +PUTTING THE KITES TO WORK. + +Bill tested the strength of the kite once by hooking a spring scale to +the kite string. The scale was made to register weights up to 25 pounds. +But our kite yanked the pointer immediately past the 25-pound mark as +far as it would go. We judged from this that the kite would lift at +least 40 pounds. Such a pull as this it seemed a pity to waste, but how +to utilize the power was a problem until one day, when the kite was +soaring up on a south wind, Dutchy suggested that we tie it to one of +the canoes and go sailing up-stream. We tried the trick at once, but it +didn't work very well, because the canoe was too light. The kite would +drop unless there was a heavy pull on the string. We had better success +with the scow, however, which provided a sufficient drag on the kite, +and with the two kites to pull us we sailed a long ways up-stream, +drifting down with the current when we had gone as far as we cared to. + + +THE DIAMOND BOX KITE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 243. The Scow Towed by Kites.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 244. Cleat for Spreader.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 245. Corner Stick and Spreader.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 246. The Narrow Frame.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 247. Tacking on the Cloth.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 248. Forked End of Long Spreader.] + +Professor Keeler also gave us instructions for making a diamond-shaped +box kite, and though we never built one, it may not be amiss to publish +his instructions here. I quote from the chronicles of the S. S. I. E. E. +of W. C. I.: + +"Materials: Four sticks, 1/4 inch thick by 5/8 inch wide by 44 inches +long, for the corner sticks. Two sticks, 1/4 inch thick by 5/8 inch wide +by 15 inches long, for the short spreaders. Two sticks, 1/2 inch square +by about 38 inches long, for the long spreaders. Two strips of cloth 81 +inches long, hemmed at each edge to a width of 13 inches. Whittle out +twelve cleats to the form shown in Fig. 244. At the ends of the 15-inch +spreaders nail cleats on each side with long wire brads, so as to form +forks, as shown in Fig. 245, in which two of the corner sticks are held. +The short spreaders are fastened to the corner sticks, 7 inches from the +ends, with brads driven through the cleats, making the frame (as in Fig. +246). To prevent the frame from skewing off sidewise it should be braced +with wire running diagonally across from one corner stick to the other. +Ordinary soft stovepipe wire will do. Care must be taken to have the +spreaders meet the corner sticks squarely or at right angles. Now take +one of the cloth strips and sew its ends together to form a band. The +end should be lapped about an inch and fastened with the sailor stitch +(see Fig. 223). The same should be done to the other cross strip, and +then each band should be marked off with pencil lines at four points, +all equidistant from each other. The two bands may now be tacked to the +two ends of the frame with opposite pencil lines over the edges of the +corner sticks, as in Fig. 247. The two remaining corner sticks are then +nailed to the bands at the two other pencil lines. These corner sticks +will now be braced apart by the long spreaders, which are notched to the +right length to stretch the cloth taut. A cleat is nailed over each +notch, as shown in Fig. 248, forming forks to hold the corner pieces. +The long spreaders are now forced down until they meet the short +spreaders, to which they are tied with waxed string. The long spreaders +may be nailed to the corner sticks by driving brads right through the +cloth into the cleats and the sticks. The belly band may be fastened to +any one of the corner sticks at the spreaders, and from the points where +it is tied it should measure about 45 inches in length. The point where +the main string should be attached to the belly band may be best +determined by experiment." + +[Illustration: Fig. 249. The Diamond Box Kite.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE WATER WHEEL. + + +Summer found us again on Willow Clump Island with heads full of new +ideas. Bill had come across an old copy of Ewbanks' "Hydraulics" in the +school library. It was a book describing machines of the +ancients--principally devices for raising water. Rather dry reading, I +thought, even though it was a wet subject; but Bill seemed to find it +absorbingly interesting. I came in late one afternoon, after a glorious +game of baseball, only to find Bill poring over the yellowed leaves of +the "Hydraulics" as fascinated as most fellows would be over a detective +story. It exasperated me to note that he thought more of this old book +than he did of our baseball team. + +"Bill," I exclaimed, "what's got into you? I can't for the life of me +see what is so entertaining in that prehistoric book." + +"Oh, go way. Don't bother me," was the surly reply. + +But I wouldn't be put off that way. Quickly I snatched the book from his +grasp and threw it out the window. + +"Now, sir," I cried, "maybe you will kindly explain to me why you +persist in studying that old volume, to the neglect of our baseball +team." + +"Don't get so excited, old chap," he replied. "That book is all right. +I'm studying up some new schemes for next year's expedition to Willow +Clump Island. Why, there are lots of things in that old book that we can +make." And he proceeded to unfold his plans, sketching out some curious +designs of water wheels and pumps. + +By the time school closed for the summer Bill had thoroughly digested +that volume, and was ready to reconstruct many of the ancient machines. + + +THE WATER WHEEL. + +Our first work on reaching the island was to erect a water wheel, or +"noria," as it was called in the book, in front of the camp. It had been +a great nuisance to keep our filter barrel full. Every few days we would +have to form a bucket brigade, passing pails of water up the line until +the barrel was filled. Now Bill proposed to do away with all this bother +and let the river do the work for us. + + +SURVEYING FOR THE WATER WHEEL. + +We first determined the height of the upper filter barrel above the +level of the river. This was done with our surveying instrument, which +was set level with the top of the barrel. We sighted with the instrument +to a long pole that was held upright at the edge of the water. The pole +had been marked off into feet with white chalk marks, and on sighting +through the sight holes we found that the hairs came in line with the +eleventh chalk mark. The top of the filter was, therefore, 11 feet above +the level of the river. Bill figured that it would be necessary to +construct a wheel about 15 feet in diameter in order to raise the water +to the proper height. + +[Illustration: Fig. 250. Surveying for the Water Wheel.] + + +TOWERS FOR THE WATER WHEEL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 251. Frame for Large Tower.] + +First we built the towers to support the wheel. One tower was 16 feet +high and the other only 10 feet. The large tower was made something like +a very tall and narrow saw-horse. Two stout poles 17 feet long were +flattened at their upper ends and nailed together, with the ends +projecting about a foot, as shown in Fig. 251. At the bottom these poles +were spaced 8 feet apart by a cross bar, and about 9-1/2 feet from the +bottom a pair of boards were nailed to opposite sides of the pole to +serve as supports for the axle of the water wheel. Another pair of +17-foot poles was now similarly fastened together and then the two pairs +were spaced about 12 feet apart and connected at the top and bottom with +boards. + +[Illustration: Fig. 252. The Large Tower.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 253. V-shaped Trough.] + +At the top two smooth boards were used and these were nailed to the +inner sides of the projecting ends, which were tapered off. In this +manner a V-shaped trough was formed. The boards were firmly nailed +together at their meeting edges so as to prevent them from warping +apart. A diagonal brace at each corner made the wedge-shaped tower very +substantial. A number of cleats nailed to one of the poles provided a +ladder by which we could mount to the top of the tower. The shorter +tower was a three-legged affair, made of three 12-foot poles. At first +two of these were flattened and nailed together at their upper ends, and +they were braced at the top and bottom. The third leg was then nailed in +place and braced by cross bars connecting it with the other two poles. + + +THE WHEEL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 254. The Small Tower.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 255. The Hub.] + +We were now ready to make the wheel. From Lumberville four 1/2-inch +boards, each 3 inches wide and 15 feet long, were procured; also a bar +of iron 3/4 of an inch in diameter and 2 feet long. At the center of one +of the boards a block of wood 4 inches long and 4 inches in diameter was +nailed on for a hub. A 3/4-inch hole was now drilled through this hub +and the board. Holes were also drilled into the other boards at their +centers. Then they were all strung onto the bar and spaced like spokes +at equal angles apart. Bill had figured it out some way that the ends of +the boards should be just about 5 feet 10-1/2 inches apart. When the +boards were all arranged we nailed them together at the center, and +connected the ends with narrow tie boards, as indicated in Fig. 256. + + +THE BUCKETS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 256. The Water Wheel.] + +Eight large tomato cans were now procured and fastened to the spokes at +the ends on the inner side, that is, the side the hub was nailed to. We +couldn't very well nail on the cans, so we punched two holes in the side +of each can and then secured them to the spokes by passing bolts through +these holes and the boards. + + +THE PADDLES. + +[Illustration: Fig. 257. A Paddle.] + +Then we cut sixteen paddles of the form shown in Fig. 257. Eight of +these were 12 inches long, and the rest measured 18 inches. A slot 3 +inches deep was cut in each paddle of just the right width to slip over +the tie boards. The shorter paddles were fastened on just back of the +spokes, and the rest were secured half-way between each spoke. The +paddles were braced by stretching a wire from one to another all the way +around the wheel. + + +THE RECEIVING TROUGH. + +[Illustration: Fig. 258. How the Paddles and Cans Were Attached.] + +[Illustration: Fig 259. The Receiving Trough.] + +Our next task was to nail the receiving trough in place on the higher +tower. We set up the towers on land and mounted the wheel between them +with the axle resting in the crotch of the short tower and in a deep +notch cut in the cross boards of the larger one. The cans on the wheel +faced the larger tower, but the hub at the center and a block nailed to +the larger tower spaced the wheel far enough out so that the cans did +not strike the tower as they revolved. We carefully measured the +distance between the spokes and the larger tower, and then built a +square trough of a size to just fit into this space. This trough was +nailed across the end of the V-shaped trough on top of the tower, but a +notch was cut in the side so that the water would pour from the square +or receiving trough into this V-shaped one. The square trough was about +8 feet long and its sides were 12 inches high; but at the ends we had to +cut them down to a height of but 6 inches, so as to permit the cans to +pass without hitting them. + + +SETTING UP THE TOWERS. + +Our filter was located nearly 20 feet from the end of the river, and in +order to get a good current of water to revolve our wheel we had to +place it about 15 feet from shore. This necessitated building a trough +line 35 feet long. Ten feet of this line were already provided in the +top of the tall tower. This tower was now set up in place with the legs +firmly wedged into holes excavated in the bottom of the river. The legs +on the shore side were sunk a little deeper, so as to tilt the trough +slightly shoreward. The outer end of the trough was about 12 feet above +the level of the water. We needed but one more tower to support the +remainder of the trough line. This tower was built like the first one, +but was much shorter, as it was erected on land and the level of the +trough at the top had to be 5 or 6 inches lower so as to make the water +flow. We connected the towers by another V-shaped trough section. This +we nailed to the under side of the first trough and to the inside of the +second trough. The latter was then in the same way connected by a trough +section with the upper filter barrel. We now rigged up our shorter tower +about a foot from the taller one, wedging in the legs so that the top +came level with the slotted boards of the other tower. + + +MOUNTING THE WATER WHEEL. + +Then came the task of mounting our wheel in place. We were working in a +pretty strong current and found it no easy matter. In the first place, +the wheel was floated down to the towers, but there it got jammed and we +couldn't lift it up. One of the paddles was broken and a bucket wrenched +off before we could disentangle the wheel from the towers, and then the +wheel was carried quite a distance down-stream before we could drag it +in to shore. + +Our next attempt was more successful. This time we anchored the wheel so +that it just cleared the towers, then fastening a couple of long guy +ropes to it, we raised the wheel on edge, while a boy stood on each side +holding the ropes to keep the wheel steady. The anchor rope was now +slowly paid out and the wheel was rolled in between the towers. This +done, the wheel was lifted up and the axle rod was pushed in, with the +ends of the rod resting in slots of the boards on the tall tower and in +the crotch on the shorter one. To prevent the axle rod from working +endwise out of its bearings, we nailed pieces of wood across the crotch +and the slots against the ends of the rod. Then we cast off the anchor +rope and our wheel started work, the cans dipping up the water as they +were carried around by the wheel and pouring it out of the top into the +receiving trough, from which the water flowed down into the filter +barrel. + + +COOLING THE FILTER BARREL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 260. The Water Wheel in Action.] + +The trough line was very leaky and a great deal of water splashed out of +the buckets. But for all that, within a few moments our barrel was full +and overflowing. We hadn't figured on its filling so rapidly, but we +soon found a way of utilizing the surplus water. It was led to a +half-barrel in which we washed our dishes, and from there it flowed +through a ditch back to the river. The water for the wash barrel was +taken from the top of the upper filter barrel. But we let the lower +filter barrel flow over so that it would be kept wet on the outside. Our +filter was fortunately placed at a point where a good breeze struck it, +and we shoveled away the earth that had been piled around it so that the +wind playing on the wet barrel evaporated the moisture, making the water +inside very cool. + + +THE CANVAS BUCKET. + +[Illustration: Fig. 261. Bottom of Bucket.] + +This same trick was used for cooling our drinking water whenever we went +off on an expedition away from camp. We had a heavy canvas bucket, the +kind used on ships. We would fill this bucket with water and then hang +it up in the wind. The water seeping out of the pores of the bucket +would be evaporated by the wind, and this would, in a few moments, make +the water inside delightfully cool. Such buckets may be bought for $1.50 +to $2.00 apiece, but ours was a home-made affair, and made somewhat +differently from the store kind. The canvas used was the heaviest we +could find. A piece 9 inches in diameter was cut out for the bottom. A +ring 7 inches in diameter, made of heavy brass wire, was laid on the +canvas, and the cloth was turned over it and sewed down the inside of +the ring. For the sides of the bucket we cut a piece 14 inches wide and +23 inches long. The upper edge was strengthened by a piece of light rope +held in place by hemming the cloth over it. The lower edge was now sewed +to the bottom, just inside the wire ring and then the ends of the piece +were joined, completing the sides of the bucket. The bail of the bucket +was formed of a piece of rope fastened to the roped upper edge of the +bucket. + +[Illustration: Fig. 262. The Canvas Bucket.] + +But to return to the current wheel; the day after it was completed, when +I went over to Lumberville for the mail, I was met by old Jim Halliday, +who wanted to know what sort of a rig we had out on the river. I told +him, and after a dint of much persuasion, induced him to take a ride +back in the scow with me. He had never visited our camp and hadn't +realized how handy we were with the tools, because, with the exception +of the current wheel, all our work had been done on the opposite side of +the island. We made him a guest of honor, showing him over the whole +place. The bridges struck him as remarkably clever, but what pleased him +most was our current wheel. + +"I swan," he said. "Ef that ain't jest the thing I have been awantin' +for the past twenty year. What'll ye sell me the hull plant fer, boys?" + + +MR. HALLIDAY'S WATER WHEEL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 263. Mr. Halliday's Water Wheel.] + +We thought he was fooling at first, but when he had assured us that he +was in earnest, Bill told him that we needed our own plant, but we could +build him a similar and even better current wheel for any amount he +thought it was worth to him. The figure settled on was six dollars (a +dollar apiece) for our work, Mr. Halliday paying for the material. It +was not a large sum, but it seemed a lot to us, and considering the +scarcity of money in that region it was pretty generous pay. We built +Mr. Halliday's current wheel just like our own, except that the paddles +were much broader, and instead of using cans for the buckets Mr. +Halliday supplied us with small dinner pails. The method of fastening on +the pails is shown in Fig. 263. A stick was nailed across the end of +each spoke and the bail of the pail was held by a screw eye threaded +into this stick. The pails would hang straight, holding all the water +without spilling a drop until the receiving trough was reached. This +trough was fastened high enough to strike the bottom of the pails as +they went by, tipping them over and emptying them of their contents. +From the trough the water ran directly into a large cider barrel and +from here was carried through a pipe to Mr. Halliday's barn. A stopcock +was here provided so that he could turn the water on or off, as he +desired. The use of pails was a great improvement on tin can buckets. +Fully three times as much water was poured into the receiving trough, +because not a drop was spilled out on the way up. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE LOG CABIN. + + +Immediately after fitting out Jim Halliday with his water wheel we set +to work on our log cabin. As a model we had a photograph of a log hut +which Uncle Ed had sent us. As the cabin was designed particularly for +use in winter time, we decided that it should be located where it would +be sheltered from the northern winds and would be exposed to the sun. +The ideal spot seemed to be on the southern shore of Kite Island, which +was backed by a thick grove of trees but gave an unobstructed view in +front for a distance of about four miles down-stream. + + +FOUNDATION OF LOG CABIN. + +First we staked out the plan of the house. It was to be 12 feet long by +10 feet wide, so we leveled off a space of this area, and at the +corners, where the greatest weight of the building would come, large +rocks were embedded in the ground. + + +A LOGGING EXPEDITION. + +The logs for the house were cut from a tract of wooded land about five +miles up the river, belonging to Mr. Schreiner. To be sure we could have +cut the timber from our own island, but when Reddy had said something to +his father about our building a log cabin, Mr. Schreiner had warned us +not to cut down any of the trees without the owner's permission. All we +could learn about the owner was that his name was Smith, and that he +lived somewhere in New York city. It seemed unlikely that he would ever +have anything to say about our cutting down a few trees, but rather than +run any risk Mr. Schreiner advised us to make use of his woods for any +timber we might need. Accordingly we started out early one morning on a +logging expedition. We had no apparatus for handling any logs more than +6 or 8 inches in diameter, and Bill reckoned it out that we would have +to have about fifty logs of this size for the sides of the building +alone. This did not mean that fifty trees had to be chopped down, +because we could usually cut two logs from a single tree. As the logs +would have to overlap about a foot at each corner, we had to cut the +longer ones to a length of 14 feet and the others to a length of 12 +feet. Aside from these we had to have several 16-foot logs for the roof. +Only the straightest logs were chosen, and while Bill and Reddy wielded +the axes the rest of us hacked off the small branches with hatchets and +hauled the sticks down the river. Here we tied them together to make a +raft. + + +THE LOG RAFT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 264. Tying the Logs Together.] + +This was done by running a pair of ropes alternately over and under the +logs at each end (see Fig. 264). About fifteen were thus fastened +together, and then as an extra precaution a log was laid across each end +of the raft and tied fast. As soon as we had cut enough timber for our +first raft, we all ceased work, to take a ride down the river on the +logs. Two of us, armed with poles, were to do the steering. There was +one spot in the river of which we were rather apprehensive. That was a +bit of shallow, swift water three miles from camp. A line of rocks +jutted up from the river, forming a natural dam which was broken only at +the eastern end. The water swirled madly through this opening, and +veering off a huge rock which lay directly in front of the gap turned +sharply westward. As we neared this dam the river became deeper and +deeper, until finally we could no longer reach bottom with the poles, +and could not properly steer the boat. For some time we drifted +helplessly round and round in the still water above the dam. Then +suddenly the current caught us and we swept like a shot for the opening. +The gap was quite wide, and had we only thought to provide ourselves +with oars we could have steered the raft clear of the rocks below, but +we were entirely at the mercy of the current, and with a terrific crash +we were hurled head on against the boulder. + +[Illustration: Getting Dinner.] + +[Illustration: The Photo after which Our Log Cabin was Modeled.] + +Just what happened then I can not say. When I undertook to record the +incident in the chronicles of the S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I., I found +there were five entirely different versions of the affair besides my +own. I knew that immediately after the shock I found myself struggling +in the water just below the rock over which I must have been slung by +the force of the impact. Dutchy declared up and down that he had sailed +fifty feet in the air astride of a log. Bill had been almost stunned by +a blow on the head and was clinging desperately to a jagged projection +of the rock. The ropes that had held the raft together had parted, +scattering the logs in all directions, and I could see the rest of the +crew hanging on to them for dear life. + +Shouting to Bill to let go his hold on the rock. I swam over and caught +him as he drifted down, then I helped him ashore. Leaving Bill to +recuperate I rushed down the bank, shouting to the others to paddle the +logs over toward shore. Then I plunged in, and pulling myself up on the +nearest log, paddled shoreward as we had done on the planks when +shooting the rapids. In this way one by one we corralled the logs, and +after tying them together again resumed our voyage down the river. We +now had no swift water to fear and were able to guide the raft +successfully down to Lake Placid. But here we moored it, not venturing +to take it past the mill-race until we had gotten the oars from the scow +and nailed on oar locks at each side and the rear, so that we could +properly row and steer the raft safely to Kite Island. + + +THE SAIL-RIGGED RAFT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 265. A Sail-rigged Raft.] + +When we went up the river again we carried the oars with us, also the +sail and mast belonging to our ice boat, as there was a good breeze +blowing down-stream. Our second trip was more successful. The mast was +stepped in a small but solid box nailed to the logs. In the top of this +box a hole was cut for the mast to fit into and then the mast was braced +with guy lines. We came down the river in fine style, steering straight +for the opening in the dam, and just as we were about to shoot through +Reddy and I plied the oars for all we were worth on the port (left) side +so as to swing the raft around past the boulder. However, we didn't +escape entirely without accident, for the raft rode up on a submerged +ledge, dipping the starboard side clear under water and nearly tipping +us over. But in a moment the raft had righted itself and we had smooth +sailing for the rest of the way. + + +BUILDING THE LOG CABIN. + +[Illustration: Fig. 266. Foundation Logs Notched.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 267. Foundation Logs Fitted Together.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 268. A Corner of the Log Wall.] + +Our third expedition completed the number of logs we required for the +log cabin. Two large 12-foot logs were chosen for the foundation logs at +the front and rear of the building. The logs were flattened along the +bottom so that they would have a firmer bearing on the ground, and +particularly on the corners, where they rested on foundation stones. +Each log was now notched about a foot from the ends. The notches were 8 +inches long and about 2 inches deep. Care was taken to place those on +one log squarely opposite the notches on the other. A pair of 14-foot +logs were now laid across the foundation logs and rolled along them +until another half-turn would have dropped them into the notches (shown +in Fig. 266). Then notches were cut in the 14-foot logs to correspond, +so that when the final half-turn was given one notch would fit over the +other, making a mortise joint (Fig. 267). When the side logs were in +position notches were cut in their upper surface to receive a pair of +12-foot logs which were rolled onto them, notched and dropped into +place. Then another pair of side logs were laid on, and so the work +progressed. The notches in each log were cut to a depth equal to +one-quarter the diameter of the log; that is, if the log was 8 inches in +diameter the notch was made 2 inches deep, and if 6 inches in diameter +it was cut to a depth of 1-1/2 inches. When the logs were laid in place +no space intervened between them, as will be clearly understood by +reference to Fig. 268. + +We found, after a few logs had been set in place, that our cabin was +growing faster at one end than at the other. The trouble was that our +logs were not of uniform diameter throughout, and we had been laying the +butt ends, which were larger, all at one end of the building. So we had +to take down the logs and relay them with the butt end of the front +foundation log at one end and that of the rear foundation log at the +other. Then the cross logs were laid on with their butt ends on the +small ends of the foundation logs. The next end logs were laid with +their small ends on the butt ends of the cross logs, and so on, taking +care never to lay the butt end of one log across the butt end of +another. In this way the walls were built up evenly to a height of 3 +feet. + +[Illustration: Fig. 269. Piece Cut Out to Admit Saw.] + +We had planned to make a large open fireplace in the cabin, and this +necessitated cutting an opening in the rear wall. But we did not want to +cut the opening until the wall was built up to its full height lest it +might buckle while the remainder of the logs were being placed in +position. So we merely cut a piece out of the top log to make room for a +saw when we were ready to cut the complete opening. As our fireplace was +to be 5 feet in width, a 5-foot piece was cut out of the center of the +log. Then the ends were supported by cleats nailed on each side, as +shown in Fig. 269. This done the building was continued as before, but +as the walls grew we found it more and more difficult to raise the logs +to position. We could not lift them directly to the top of the wall, but +had to roll them up on "skids"; that is, on a pair of 14-foot logs which +were laid against the top of the wall. When the walls had reached a +height of about 5 feet above the foundation logs, a length 4 feet 9 +inches long was cut out of the top log to allow space for sawing out the +front door and window, and also a 30-inch piece was cut out for the side +window. Cleats temporarily held the sawed ends of the logs, while the +walls were carried on up to a height of a little over 6 feet from the +foundation logs. + + +THE ROOF OF THE LOG CABIN. + +[Illustration: Fig. 270. Skids] + +Then we started laying the roof. A 16-foot log was now notched in place +at each side, with its forward end projecting about 3 feet over the +front of the cabin to form a shelter in front of the building. A pair of +12-foot logs were then laid in position. The next pair of 16-foot logs +were laid about 20 inches in from the sides, and after a pair of the +cross logs had been set in place a third pair of logs were laid about 40 +inches from the sides. Finally, a single 16-foot log was set in place at +the center, to serve as the ridge beam of the roof. The roof logs were +all carefully tested to see if they were sound before we laid them in +place, because we did not want to run any risk of the roof falling in, +particularly in the winter time, when it would be heavily covered with +snow. A chalk line was drawn from the ridge beam to the lower roof beam, +and the cross logs were sawed off along this line, as indicated in Fig. +271. Several slabs were now procured and laid across the roof beams to +serve as rafters. These rafters projected about 18 inches beyond the +side walls of the cabin, so as to support the eaves. Over the rafters we +laid a roofing of slabs, starting with the bottom and lapping them, as +we had done on our tree house. + +[Illustration: Fig. 271. How the Roof Logs were Laid.] + + +THE DOOR AND WINDOW FRAMES. + +We were now ready to cut out and frame the doors and window openings. +The front window of the cabin was to be close beside the door, so we +merely widened the door opening at the top to include the window opening +as well (see Figs. 271 and 272). The door was made 2-1/2 feet wide, and +was cut down to the foundation logs. The window opening was cut to a +depth of 24 inches. Before sawing out the opening we wedged pieces of +wood between the logs along the line we were to follow with the saw, so +as to keep them in place. After the opening had been made a couple of +stout boards were nailed to the sawed ends of the logs at each side, to +hold them securely in place and make a suitable framing for the door. +The cleats were then removed. The foundation log and the one at the top +of the opening were flattened, to serve as the sill and lintel of the +door. Between the door and window a short post was wedged in place. This +post was flattened on opposite sides, so that the door jamb could be +nailed against it on one side and the window frame on the other. The +side window was next cut out and framed. After it had been framed it +measured 2 feet square. + +[Illustration: Fig. 272. The Finished Roof.] + + +THE FIREPLACE. + +Then came the task of building our fireplace. First we sawed out the +opening, cutting right through the rear foundation log. Then we gathered +from the river a large number of the flattest stones we could find. With +these we planned to build the three outer walls of our chimney. But the +question of getting mortar to bind the stones together bothered us for a +while. + +"If only we could find a bed of clay. Don't any of you know of one +around here?" queried Bill. + +But none of us remembered seeing any clay bed in the vicinity. + +"If we were in south Jersey now," I said, "we could use some of that red +mud they have down there. It sticks like the mischief to shoes and pant +legs. I bet it would hold those stones together." + +"Red mud? Why there's plenty of it over the hill, back of Lumberville," +said Reddy. "All the roads over there are red shale roads, and I saw +some red banks along the river when we went after the logs." + +That was just what we wanted. The banks Reddy referred to turned out to +be genuine red shale, and soon we had ferried several scow loads of the +stuff down to Kite Island. When the shale was wet it made quite a sticky +mortar. The foundations of the chimney were laid in a trench about 2 +feet deep, and the side walls of the chimney were carried inside of the +cabin and covered the ends of the logs at the chimney opening. The side +walls extended outward a distance of 3 feet, where they were joined by +the rear wall of the chimney. + + +THE PROPER WAY TO BUILD A STONE WALL. + +In making our chimney we could not rely on the red shale to hold the +stones as firmly as good lime mortar would, so we had to be careful that +each stone, as it was laid, had a firm bearing. The stones were embedded +in a thick layer of mud, and if they showed any tendency to teeter we +propped them up by wedging small stones under them until they lay solid. +Another thing that we were very careful about was to "break joints"; +that is, to keep the joints in each layer of the stones from coinciding +with those in the next layer, above or below. To make sure of this we +made it a point to lay a stone over each joint in the top of the wall +and then to fill in the space between the stones with smaller stones. In +this way the wall was made very substantial. + +[Illustration: Fig. 273. How to Build a Wall.] + +When the masonry had been carried up to the top of the chimney opening, +a heavy timber about 12 inches wide was laid across the walls close +against the wall of the building. This was to support the fourth wall of +the chimney, and so we flattened its upper surface. To prevent it from +catching fire it was covered with a thick plastering of mud, and then to +keep the mud from cracking and flaking off we procured a piece of tin +and tacked it over the log. The tin also extended over the top log of +the opening. Then we went on with the building of the chimney walls, +carrying them up about a foot above the ridge of the roof. Our chimney +was completed by paving the bottom with stones, well packed in mud and +nicely smoothed off to make the hearth. The hearth extended about 18 +inches into the cabin, and was framed with logs, as shown in Fig. 275. + + +THE FLOOR OF THE CABIN. + +A number of logs were now laid on the ground to serve as floor beams. +Slabs were used for the floor. We had some trouble in making the floor +perfectly even, because the floor beams were rather irregular, and a +great deal of time was spent in smoothing the logs off to a common +level. If we had the work to do over again we would have bought two or +three planks and laid them on edge to support the flooring. + +[Illustration: Fig. 274. Building the Chimney.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 275. Section through the Fireplace.] + + +THE DOOR HINGES AND LATCH. + +[Illustration: Fig. 276. The Door Hinges.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 277. The Latch Guard.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 278. Door Catch.] + +A door was now constructed by battening together a number of slabs. In +place of a hinge a hole was drilled into the sill and another into the +lintel directly in line with it. Two sticks of wood were then whittled +to fit snugly, but without jamming, into these holes. These sticks were +then nailed to the inner face of the door, with their whittled ends +projecting into the holes, forming pintles on which the door could turn. +A narrow strip of wood was nailed to the outer jamb for the door to +close against. The latch consisted of a stick of wood, fastened to the +door at one end with a nail. It hooked onto a catch whittled out of hard +wood to the form illustrated in Fig. 278, and nailed to the jamb. Then +to keep the latch from dropping too far when the door was open, and to +guide it when slammed against the catch, we whittled out a guard piece +to the form illustrated in Fig. 277, and nailed this to the door, with +the latch projecting through the slot of the guard. A string was now +fastened to the latch and passed through a hole in the door. A block was +tied to the end of the latch string to prevent it from slipping back +through the hole; but at night, when we did not want to be molested by +any intruders, we untied the block and drew in the latch string. + + +THE WINDOW SASH. + +[Illustration: Fig. 279. The Latch.] + +For our windows we made wooden sashes which fitted nicely into the +window openings. A small hole was drilled through the sash at each side +into the frame, and nails inserted in these holes held the sash in +place, and served also as hinge pins for the sash to turn on. The sash +could be taken out at any time by removing these nails. As we could not +afford to use glass for our windows, we covered the sashes first with +cloth, and later, when it occurred to us that in winter time it would be +difficult to keep the cold air out, we used oiled paper. + + +BUNKS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 280. Hinged Window Sash.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 281. Bunks.] + +Our next work was directed toward providing sleeping accommodations in +the log cabin. A large log was laid on the floor the full length of the +cabin, as far out as possible without interfering with the opening of +the front door. Stakes were laid across this log, with their opposite +ends wedged in between the logs of the wall. A nail or two in each slab +held it in place. This formed a sort of shelf 12 feet long, which was +divided at the center to form two bunks, each wide enough for two +persons. But as there were six of us in the society, we had to provide +two more berths. A stout post was set into a hole in the ground, and +nailed firmly at the bottom to the lower berth log and at the top to one +of the roof beams. This post supported a second berth log, which +extended the full length of the building at a height of about 3 feet +from the floor, and was wedged at the ends between the logs of the +house. Cleats were nailed to the walls under this berth log to make it +perfectly secure. Then slabs were nailed across it to form the two +bunks. + + +STOPPING UP THE CHINKS. + +The log cabin was completed by stopping up all the chinks between the +logs of the walls. Strips of wood and bits of bark plastered with mud +were driven into all the cracks and crevices until everything was made +perfectly tight. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +THE WINDMILL. + + +When our log cabin was completed we immediately transferred our camp +from the tent to the hut. But at the very outset we were confronted with +the problem of getting drinking water. We hadn't thought of that before. +It was easy enough to move the filter barrels, but when it came to +moving the water wheel we could find no suitable place for it anywhere +near the log cabin. The water of Lake Placid was too quiet, while the +mill-race and the rapids on the other side of Kite Island ran so swiftly +that we were afraid the water wheel would be swept away with its course. +The matter was carefully considered at a special meeting of the society. +It occurred to Bill that we might build a windmill in place of the water +wheel, and use it to pump water from a well which could be dug near the +hut. + +"We wouldn't have to use a filter, then," he said. + +"Why not?" I asked. + +"Why, because the sand of the island will strain out all the dirt in the +water. You see, the water in the well will have to soak in from the +river, and by the time it gets through all the gravel and sand between +the river and the well it ought to be filtered pretty clear." + + +DIGGING THE WELL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 282. Digging the Well.] + +That sounded logical, and so we adopted the plan at once. We chose a +spot quite near the hut for our well. When we had dug down about 6 feet +we struck water, but continued excavating until the water lay 3 feet +deep in the well. While making the excavation we shored up the sides +with planks, to prevent the loose soil from falling in on us and +smothering us, as it so nearly did when we were digging our first cave. +By "shoring," I mean we lined the walls with planks, which were driven +into the ground with large wooden mallets. The planks were braced apart +with sticks at frequent intervals. As the well hole grew deeper we had +to rig up a bucket to haul the dirt out. Our bucket was a soap box +attached to a rope, which passed through a pulley at the top of the +well. The pulley was supported by a tripod made by firmly lashing +together the upper ends of three stout poles and spreading their lower +ends far enough apart to straddle the mouth of the well, as shown in +Fig. 282. After the well had been carried down to a sufficient depth, we +began laying the stone wall, which was to form the permanent lining. We +knew that the wooden walls would not do, because they would soon decay. +Our stone wall, which was built up of flat stones like the chimney of +the log house, was not very strong, I fear, and had not the soil around +it been pretty firm it would probably have caved in. However, if it +served no other purpose, it formed a fairly good finish for the well. + + +THE WINDMILL TOWER. + +[Illustration: Fig. 283. Frame for the Tower.] + +The mouth of the well was carefully covered with planks while we +constructed the windmill above it. For the tower of the windmill we +chose four long sticks. They must have measured about 16 feet in length, +and were from 4 to 6 inches in diameter. With them we made two frames of +the form given in Fig. 283, using slabs to brace them apart. These +frames were now set in position, with their lower ends firmly planted in +holes in the ground, and the tower was completed by nailing on a number +of diagonal braces. A couple of boards were nailed across the upper ends +at opposite sides, and holes were drilled through them to provide +bearings for the wind wheel shaft. + + +THE CRANK SHAFT. + +[Illustration: Fig. 284. The Crank Shaft.] + +The shaft was a piece of heavy iron rod which we procured from the +blacksmith at Lumberville. Under Bill's direction the blacksmith +hammered a U-shaped bend at the center of the shaft, so as to form a +crank, and then he flattened the rod near the ends (see Fig. 284). When +the shaft was set in its place these flat spots lay just outside of the +bearing boards, and then, to keep the shaft from sliding back and forth +in its bearings, we fastened on two clamps over these flattened parts. +The clamps were made of pairs of hardwood blocks bolted together in the +manner indicated in Fig. 285. + + +THE WIND WHEEL. + +[Illustration: Fig. 285. A Clamp.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 286. Wedge for Wind Wheel.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 287. Spokes of Wind Wheel.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 288. Wind Wheel Blade.] + +Our next task was to construct the wind wheel. First we procured three +boards, each 3 inches wide and 3-1/2 feet long. A 1/2-inch hole was +drilled in the center of each board, and then, with these holes +coinciding, the boards were nailed together, with their ends projecting, +like spokes, equally distant from each other. Six wedges were now made +of the size indicated in Fig. 286. These were made of a 2 x 4-inch +scantling, sawed diagonally in two and then planed down to the given +dimensions. The wedges were now nailed firmly to the spokes, as shown in +Fig. 286. For the blades we used six thin boards, each about 4 feet +long. Each blade measured 10 inches in width at the outer end, and +tapered down to a width of 3 inches at the inner end, as illustrated in +Fig. 288. The blades were now securely nailed to the wedges, and their +outer ends were braced together by means of wires stretched from the +forward edge of each blade to the rear edge of the next one ahead. The +wheel was then fitted onto the shaft and nailed to one of the clamps. In +this way it was practically keyed to the shaft. + +We did not make any vane for our windmill. It did not need any. The wind +nearly always blew either up or down the river, more often up the river, +for the prevailing summer winds in that part of the country are +southerly. But, aside from that, east and west winds could not very well +reach us on account of the hills on both sides of the river. The wheel +was set facing the north, because the strongest winds came from that +direction, and as an extra brace against these winds we stretched wires +from the projecting end of the shaft to the center of each blade. + + +A SIMPLE BREAK. + +[Illustration: Fig. 289. The Wind Wheel.] + +A brisk northerly wind was blowing when we set the wheel in place, and +it began to revolve at once, before we could nail it to the clamp. To +stop it we nailed a stick of wood to the tower, so that its end +projected in the path of the blades and kept the wheel from turning +around. This brake was swung up to the dotted position illustrated when +we were ready to have the wheel revolve, but it could be thrown down at +any time to stop it. + + +THE PUMP. + +[Illustration: Fig. 290. Side View of the Wind Wheel, showing Brake.] + +Our pump was made of a galvanized leader pipe; that is, a pipe used to +carry off rain water from the roof of the house. The pipe was only about +8 feet long, and so we had to piece it out with a long wooden box pipe. +A block closed the lower end of this box, and the leader pipe fitted +snugly into a hole in the block (Fig. 291). A spout was set into the +upper end of the box pipe to carry the water to the cask, which was to +serve as our water reservoir. + + +THE PUMP VALVES. + +[Illustration: Fig. 291. The Box Pipe.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 292. The Lower Valve.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 293. The Piston Valve.] + +We plugged the bottom of the leader pipe with a block of wood, in the +center of which a large hole was drilled. The hole was covered with a +piece of leather nailed at one side, so that it could lift up to let +water into the pipe. The piston was made of a disk of wood of slightly +smaller diameter than the inside of the pipe, and over it was fastened a +piece of leather just large enough to fit snugly against the walls of +the pipe. This piston was fastened to a wooden rod long enough to reach +from well within the pipe to the wind wheel shaft. A strip of brass was +bent over the crank, or U-shaped bend in the shaft, and its ends were +fastened to the rod. + +[Illustration: The Old Windmill at Work on a Lumberville Farm.] + + +ACTION OF THE PUMP. + +[Illustration: Fig. 294. Connection of Rod and Crank.] + +It was rather a crude pump, but it did all the work we required of it. +As the wheel went around the crank shaft would move the piston up and +down. Whenever the piston went down, the air in the pipe would press up +the edges of the leather disk and squeeze past (see Fig. 295). Then when +the piston came up again, the leather disk, being backed by the wooden +disk beneath it, was kept flat, so that no air could force its way back +into the pipe. This made a partial vacuum in the pipe, and the water +from the well rushed up through the valve at the bottom to fill it (see +Fig. 296). When next the piston went down the bottom valve closed and +more air forced its way past the piston. Then on the next upward stroke +more water flowed into the pipe, until, after a number of strokes, all +the air was pumped out and the water which took its place began to force +its way up past the piston and eventually to flow out of the spout into +the cask. + +Our old windmill was sold to a farmer near Lumberville when we broke +camp that fall. We carted it over and set it up for him. A number of +years later I saw it still faithfully at work pumping water for his +cattle. The original pump had been worn out and a new one substituted, +but otherwise the old windmill remained just as we had first rigged it +up. + +[Illustration: Fig. 295. Fig. 296. Action of the Pump.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE GRAVITY RAILROAD. + + +"About all we lack now," said Dutchy, when the windmill had been +completed, "is a railroad." + +"Then suppose we build one," was Bill's unexpected rejoinder. + +We all thought he was joking, but he wasn't. + +"I don't mean a steam railroad," he said, "but a gravity railroad." + +"A what?" + +"A gravity railroad. Oh, you know what that is--a roller toboggan--the +kind they have down at Coney Island." And he went on to explain how we +could rig up a simple roller toboggan on our island. + +His plan was to build an inclined trestle on the high ground just below +the lagoon, and then run wooden tracks along the shore down to the +pontoon bridge, and across the mill-race to Kite Island. We started +first to dig a road down to the bridge, because the bank was quite high +at this point. The task was rather greater than we anticipated, but we +kept steadily at it until we had cut a fairly good road through the +bank, though the grade was rather steep. + +Before proceeding with the trestle and track we thought the best plan +would be to build our car, and then we could use it as a gauge to +determine how far apart the rails should be set. + + +THE CAR. + +[Illustration: Fig. 297. Putting the Car Body Together.] + +First we got a 2 x 4-inch scantling, and cut from it two lengths, each 4 +feet 6 inches long. These were laid on edge just 30 inches apart, and +then a number of boards were nailed across from one scantling to the +other and sawed off flush with their edges. The floor thus formed was +now turned over so that the scantlings lay uppermost and the sides of +the car were then nailed on with their edges overlapping the ends of the +floor boards. The sides, which were about 18 inches high, were each made +of two boards firmly battened together. Great care was taken to securely +nail both the flooring and the sides to the scantlings, because these +scantlings were to carry the wheels of the car. The car body was +completed by nailing on the end pieces which overlapped both the +flooring and the side walls. + + +THE FLANGED WHEELS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 298. The Car Wheel.] + +Next we sawed out the wheels of our car. From a board of hardwood 3/4 of +an inch thick four disks, 12 inches in diameter, were sawed out. Then +from a board 1 inch thick four 9-inch disks were sawed out. We cut these +disks in the same way as we had made the disks for our surveying rod +(see page 78), by making cuts across corners and finally smoothing off +the angles with a draw-knife. A half-inch hole was now drilled in the +center of each disk. Then on each large disk a smaller one was placed, +with the center holes of the two coinciding and the grain of one lying +across the grain of the other. In this position they were firmly nailed +together, making a wheel like those used on a railway car, with the +small disc forming the tread of the wheel and the large disk serving as +a flange. + + +THE CAR AXLES. + +[Illustration: Fig. 299. Car Body with Axles in Place.] + +For the car axles we bought four 1/2-inch bolts, 6 inches long, with two +washers and two nuts for each bolt. In each side of the car, about 8 +inches from the ends, we nailed face blocks; that is, blocks of wood for +the wheels to bear against. These face blocks were only 1/2 inch thick. +Then in these blocks holes were drilled which were carried clear through +the scantling. The holes were just large enough for the bolts to fit +snugly in them. The bolts were inserted from the inside, so that their +threaded ends projected out at each side of the car. A patch of wood was +nailed to the scantling over each bolt head to prevent the bolt from +slipping back into the car. Then the wheels were mounted on these bolts, +which served as axles. + + +MOUNTING THE WHEELS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 300. Section Showing How to Fasten on the Wheel.] + +First a washer was placed on the axle, then the wheel was applied, with +the larger or flange disk against the face block, after which another +washer was slipped on. A nut was screwed against this washer just +tightly enough to keep the wheel snugly in place, and yet let it turn +freely on its axle. Then to keep this nut from shaking loose a second +nut was screwed on against it. While one fellow held the first nut from +turning, another screwed the second nut against it as tightly as he +could. The second nut is technically known as a "jam nut," or "lock +nut." The car was completed by laying a couple of boards across from one +scantling to the other to serve as seats. + + +THE RAILWAY TRACK. + +[Illustration: Fig. 301. The Inclined Trestle.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 302. Joints of the Track.] + +The trestle was now begun. First we erected a level platform, which was +to be the starting point of the railway. This was made very substantial +by planting the corner posts firmly in the ground and then bracing them +together with diagonal braces. A couple of planks leaning against the +platform at one side provided a convenient means for mounting to the +top. From the platform the trestle ran down at an easy incline to the +ground. It was made of 2 x 4-inch scantlings supported at intervals on +posts driven into the ground. The opposite posts were firmly braced with +boards fastened diagonally across them. The scantlings were to serve as +rails, and so we fastened them at the proper distance apart with ties +nailed to the under side. But to be sure that the rails were not too far +apart or too close together, the car was rolled over the track and the +rails were set to keep the tread disks of the wheels on them and the +flange disks just clear of their inner edges. The ends of the rails were +cut off at an angle, making a slanting joint, as shown in Figs. 301 and +302. They were fastened firmly together by nailing a piece of board on +the bottom and also on the outer side. + + +THE CARPENTER'S MITER BOX. + +[Illustration: Fig. 303. Carpenter's Miter Box.] + +To make sure that the ends were all cut to the same angle, we made a +carpenter's "miter box." Two sideboards were nailed to a baseboard, +making a trough large enough for the scantling to be set in it. Then we +sawed through the sides of the trough at an angle of 45 degrees. When we +wanted to cut the end of the scantling at an angle it was placed in the +trough, and with the saw set in the saw cuts, as a guide, we were sure +that they would all be cut at the same angle. + + +LAYING THE TRACK. + +[Illustration: Fig. 304. How the Track was Anchored.] + +From the bottom of the inclined trestleway we continued the track down +the slope to the river; but for the sake of economy, instead of using 2 +x 4-inch scantlings for the rails, we bought a number of 2-inch planks +at Lumberville, and had them sawed up into strips 2 inches wide. These +2-inch square rails were fastened together with slabs nailed on at +frequent intervals. To maintain the proper gauge the car was rolled over +each pair of rails, which were nailed first at the ends and center. To +anchor the track we drove short posts into the ground so that their +upper ends lay flush with the surface. A post was provided under each +joint and one under the center of each rail, and then the slab ties were +nailed securely to these posts. In imitation of a full-sized railway, we +made it a point to "break joints" on our track; that is, to make the end +of one rail come in line with the center of the opposite rail, as shown +in Fig. 302. Our track was continued across the pontoon bridge and ran +around the west shore of Kite Island. The track was straight as far as +the shore of Kite Island, whence, by an easy curve, it was carried +around to the log cabin. + + +THE FIRST RAILWAY ACCIDENT. + +Dutchy was the first one to try the railway. He sneaked back to the +platform while the rest of us were putting a few last touches on the +track. The first we knew the car came tearing down the track at full +speed, with Dutchy yelling at the top of his voice for us to get out of +his way. Bill was on the bridge when the car came along and he had no +time to run for shore, but with great presence of mind he jumped into +the water and clung to one of the barrels. But the joke of it all was +that Dutchy himself got a wetting too. The track at the middle of the +bridge was not quite true to gauge. It was this very spot that Bill was +fixing up when Dutchy came along. The end of a rail was bent in far +enough to catch the flange of one of the car wheels, and in a moment +Dutchy, car and all, was slung head over heels into the mill-race. +Fortunately no serious harm was done. Dutchy landed a little ways +down-stream, and Reddy, by quick work, managed to rescue the car just as +it was floating off under the suspension bridge. The car was undamaged +except that the flange of a wheel was split off. + +Of course, Bill was as mad as a hornet at Dutchy, and expressed his +feelings in no mild terms. But his anger was somewhat tempered by the +fact that Dutchy received as bad a punishment as he had inflicted. + +[Illustration: The Start of the Gravity Railroad.] + + +TESTING THE TRACK. + +We had to cut a new flange disk for the broken wheel, and to prevent the +flanges from splitting off again we nailed a batten across the inner +face of each wheel extending down to the very edge of the flange disk. +This batten was fastened on across the grain. When everything was +completed the car was started down the track empty to see if it would +keep the rails. It went beautifully as far as the bridge, but was too +light to run much beyond. The next time we loaded it up with stones and +had the pleasure of watching it sail down hill, across the bridge and +vanish out of sight around the shore of Kite Island. That was +demonstration enough. We knew it would carry us safely and it did. The +next time we tried it four of us piled into the small car, and in a +moment we were off on a most thrilling ride, which ended right in front +of the log cabin, where the car came to a sudden stop after riding off +the end of the rails and plowing through the sand for a short space. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +THE CANTILEVER BRIDGE. + + +There is one more piece of work done by our society which yet remains to +be described, and that is the cantilever bridge. This we all voted to be +the greatest of our achievements on the island. To be sure, it was Uncle +Ed's design, but I think we justly deserve credit for the masterful way +in which it was erected. In our search for types of bridges before +building the king post bridge, we came across a simple cantilever bridge +that didn't look very difficult to construct. To be sure, none of us +knew a thing about stresses and strains, and ingenious though we were, +Bill realized that the task of designing a cantilever bridge was far +beyond him. Nevertheless, we were sure we could build one if only we had +a good set of plans. A letter was therefore mailed to Uncle Ed, asking +him for the required details. The answer came promptly from Western +Australia, asking us to send him the exact width of the water we wished +to span, the depth of the water, the distance from the top of one bank +to the top of the other, and the exact height of the banks above water +level. We decided we would build the bridge across the mouth of the +lagoon. The distance here between the two banks measured a little over +60 feet. The banks were very precipitous, and rose 13-1/2 feet above the +level of the water. All these details, together with soundings of the +bottom, all the way across, were sent to Uncle Ed, and on the day after +our railway was completed quite a bulky package was received in answer. +It contained complete directions for building the bridge of wooden +frames, which were so designed that they needed merely to be hooked +together to form the bridge, though to make the structure perfectly safe +Uncle Ed cautioned us to tie the frames together wherever they met. + +I am half afraid to tell my readers how to build this bridge, as it +required the utmost care, and had to be built just so to avoid disaster. +Bridge building is a serious business, and I would not advise any one to +attempt building this, of all bridges, who does not propose to follow +instructions implicitly. Uncle Ed told us that if we built it properly, +and with sound timbers, we would find the bridge strong enough to +support a dozen boys, but he warned us not to crowd more than that +number on it. + + +FRAMES FOR THE CANTILEVER BRIDGE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 305. A Frame (make four).] + +[Illustration: Fig. 306. B Frame (make four).] + +[Illustration: Fig. 307. C Frame (make four).] + +[Illustration: Fig. 308. D Frame (make four).] + +The frames with which the cantilever bridge was built were made of +saplings from 3 to 4 inches in diameter. We procured them from Mr. +Schreiner's lands up the river. In making the frames the sticks were +fastened together with 1/2-inch bolts 6 inches long. It was quite a +strain on our pocketbooks to buy these bolts, but Uncle Ed had written +that nails or spikes would be useless to stand the strains of so large +a bridge, and that if we could not get any bolts we had better give +up the idea of building a cantilever bridge. To make sure that we +made no mistakes, Uncle Ed had made a drawing of each different +size of frame we would need, designating each with a different +letter, and then these same letters were marked on a general +view of the bridge, so that we would know exactly where the +frames belonged. These drawings are reproduced here in Figs. 305 +to 316 and 318. We had to make four frames each, of the _A_, _B_, +_C_ and _E_ sizes, two each of the _F_, _G_ and _L_ sizes and +one each of the _H_, _I_, _J_ and _K_ sizes. Of the _D_ frames +two were made with the ends cut away on the outer half, as illustrated +in Fig. 308, and two were cut away at the inner side, the reason for +which will appear presently. When fastening the timbers together we cut +notches in each stick, as shown in Fig. 317. The depth of each notch was +just one-quarter the diameter of the stick; that is, the notch was 3/4 +of an inch deep in a 3-inch stick and 1 inch deep in a 4-inch stick. +Care was taken not to exceed this depth, for fear of weakening the +sticks. In the case of frame _D_, the sticks were not notched or +mortised together. It will be noticed that the measurements are given to +the inner edges of the sticks in some cases, and to the outer edges in +others. The reason for this, as Uncle Ed explained it, was because +the thickness of our sticks would vary considerably, and it was +important that many of the measurements be exact, otherwise the +frames would not fit into each other as they should. Another +thing to which he called our attention was the fact that frames +_A_, _B_, _E_, _F_, _H_, _K_ and _L_ were stiffened with cross +braces, while the rest were not. The braced frames, he wrote, were those +which would be under a compression strain, while the others would be +under tension; that is, when any weight was placed on the bridge it +would push against the ends of the braced frames, trying to crush them, +but would pull on the unbraced frames, trying to tear them apart. In +fact, the bridge would have been just as strong had we used heavy iron +wire in place of the unbraced frames, and the only reason Uncle Ed did +not recommend our doing so was because we had no simple way of +stretching the wire taut. + +[Illustration: Fig. 309. E Frame (make four).] + +[Illustration: Fig. 310. F Frame (make two).] + +[Illustration: Fig. 311. G Frame (make two).] + +[Illustration: Fig. 312. H Frame (make one).] + +[Illustration: Fig. 313. I Frame (make one).] + +[Illustration: Fig. 314. J Frame (make one).] + +[Illustration: Fishing off the Cantilever Bridge.] + +[Illustration: The Cantilever Bridge in Reddy's Back Yard.] + + +ERECTING THE TOWERS. + +[Illustration: Fig. 315. K Frame (make one).] + +[Illustration: Fig. 316. L Frame (make two).] + +[Illustration: Fig. 317. Notching the Sticks Together.] + +We built the complete set of frames before attempting to erect the +bridge. Then we began by building the towers. Two _A_ frames were +set on end and spaced 4 feet apart at the top and 5 feet apart at the +bottom, measuring not from the inner but from the outer edges of the +frames. In this position they were connected by short spars, notched in +place. The notches for these connecting spars will be seen in Fig. 305 +on the main or vertical timbers of frame _A_, just below the upper +and middle cross sticks and above the lower cross sticks. The upper +connecting spars were wedged tightly under the cross sticks, and served +as an additional support for them. Diagonal braces were nailed from one +frame to the other, as illustrated in Fig. 318. The towers were built on +opposite banks, at the mouth of the lagoon, and when completed we +lowered them carefully down the banks into the water. According to +directions they were to be set just 30 feet apart, measuring from the +center of one tower to the center of the other. The water was quite +shallow where the towers rested, but the bottom was pretty firm. Holes +were dug in the bottom for the legs of the tower to set into, and then +large stones were piled around each leg to provide a firm foundation for +the towers. + + +SETTING UP THE FRAMES. + +[Illustration: Fig. 318. View of Part of the Bridge, with Letters +Indicating the Various Frames.] + +A _B_ frame was now hauled out to one of the towers and lifted by +its narrower end, with fall and tackle, until its lower tie piece rested +on the projecting ends of the center crosspieces of the tower. The upper +end of the frame was held against the top of the tower, while a _C_ +frame was hooked over the upper ends of the tower legs; then frame +_B_ was allowed to swing outward until its smaller end locked with +the outer end of frame _C_. It will be observed in Fig. 306 that +the upper crosspiece or tie piece of frame _B_ was fastened to one +side of the vertical sticks and the lower tie piece to the other side. +This was done purposely, so that when the frame was set in position the +bottom tie piece would be on the lower side of the frame and the top +piece would lie on the upper side, as shown in Fig 318, or, better +still, in Fig. 319. The rest of the frames were all arranged to be set +in place with their tie pieces on the lower side, or facing the towers, +as will be clearly understood by examining the illustrations. As +soon as the _B_ and _C_ frames were set up on one side of the +tower, another pair of _B_ and _C_ frames was set up on the other +side of the same tower. A cantilever bridge must always be built +out on both sides of the tower at the same time, otherwise it +will be overbalanced on one side and topple over. After the +_B_ and _C_ frames were in place we took two _D_ frames, with +oppositely cut ends, and rested their tie sticks on the top of the +tower, just under the ends of the _C_ frames. The ends of the two +_D_ frames overlapped at the center of the tower, and, as one was +cut away at the outer side and the other at the inner side, they fitted +neatly together and were fastened with bolts. The _D_ frames were +supported near their outer ends with _E_ frames, which rested +on the _B_ and _C_ frames. Fig. 319 shows an _E_ frame set +in position on the landward side of the tower, while two of the boys +are climbing out on the opposite _B_ and _C_ frames preparatory to +setting up the other _E_ frame. A cross stick was now bolted to +each _D_ frame, just beyond the upper ends of the _E_ sticks. +This done, the frame _F_ was hooked in between the ends of _B_ +and _C_, at the shoreward side of the tower, and its outer ends +were supported by frame _G_, which was hooked over frame _D_ +and the upper ends of frame _E_. The frame _L_ was then rested +on the ends of frame _F_ and _G_, and supported the shore end +of frame _D_. A stick nailed across frame _D_ on each side of +the upper ends of frame _L_ served to hold the latter in place. + + +BINDING AND ANCHORING THE STRUCTURE. + +[Illustration: Fig. 319. Preparing to Put an E Frame in Place.] + +As the different frames were coupled together, we bound the overlapping +ends with soft iron wire. The place where frames _B_, _C_, +_E_ and _F_ came together was quite a vital point, and we took +pains to make the wire binding at this place doubly strong. As soon as +the _L_ frame was in place we anchored the bridge to shore by +running wires from the ends of the _D_ frame and the ends of the +_G_ frame to stakes driven into the banks. The frames on the second +tower were now similarly erected and anchored, after which we were ready +to put in the center panels of the bridge. + + +THE CENTER PANELS OF THE BRIDGE. + +First, the frame _H_ was wedged into place and thoroughly fastened +by a liberal winding of wire. Next the frames _I_ and _J_ were +set in place, and in order to do this we had to remove the upper tie +pieces of these frames. Then one frame was hooked in the other, and the +two were carried out on the scow under the center of the bridge. Ropes +were tied to the ends of the two frames, and they were lifted together, +like a wide _V_, to the position shown in Fig. 318, after which the +tie pieces were bolted on again, resting against the ends of the +_E_ frames. As an additional security, two sticks were bolted to +the under side of the frame _H_, one at each side of the _I_ +and _J_ frames. The bridge was then completed by wedging the frame +_K_ under the ends of the _D_ frames, and also placing a stick +across each tower under the joints of the _D_ frames. We planned to +run our gravity railway across this bridge, moving our platform and +trestle to the opposite bank; so instead of flooring our bridge with +slabs, we fastened ties across at intervals of 15 or 18 inches. These +ties were sticks 3 inches in diameter, which were secured to the +_D_ frames. + + +A SERIOUS INTERRUPTION. + +[Illustration: Fig. 320. A General View of our Cantilever Bridge.] + +We were just preparing to lay the tracks across the bridge when we met +with a serious interruption. Mr. Halliday had told us that a few days +before our arrival that summer Mr. Smith, the owner of the island, and +another man had paid a visit to the place. Jim Halliday himself had +rowed them over, and learned from their conversation that Mr. Smith was +trying to sell the island, and that the stranger, a Mr. Gill, was a +prospective purchaser. All summer long we had been dreading the return +of this customer, though, as time passed without his putting in an +appearance, we almost forgot the incident. But now, at the end of +August, just as we had about completed our cantilever bridge, who should +arrive but this very man Gill and three other men with a large tent and +camping outfit. It was a sorrowful crowd of boys that watched the wagon +with their belongings ford the shallow water over to our island. We felt +that the island was ours by right of discovery and occupation, but we +were powerless to force our claims. And what if they did not insist on +our leaving the island? It would not be the same place with strangers +around to meddle with our things. + + +DISPOSSESSED. + +But the new owner of the island was even more of a boor than we had +anticipated. As soon as he landed he wanted to know what we were doing +on his property, and peremptorily ordered us off. Bill answered that we +were camping there, and politely asked if we couldn't stay out the +summer. But Gill would not listen to the idea. We must get off the +island that very day or he would see to it that we did. + +I tell you it made us boil. We were just itching to give the pompous +little man the sound thrashing he deserved, but knew that we would stand +a very small show against his three powerful companions. At any rate, we +were determined not to leave at once. Instead, we repaired to Kite +Island, taking our belongings with us. Then we cut away the suspension, +spar and pontoon bridges, so that we would not be annoyed by any of the +Gill crowd. We were resolved that they should not benefit by any of the +things we had built. + +At the dead of night we paddled back to Willow Clump Island, crept past +the slumbering intruders and waded out to the old water wheel. After a +good deal of exertion we managed to dislodge the smaller tower, letting +the wheel drop into the river and float away. Then we made for the +cantilever bridge. It didn't take us very long to cut away the wire +bindings, unhook the frames and drop them into the lagoon. But the task +was quite a perilous one, as the night was pitch black. Finally, nothing +remained of the bridge but the two towers, which were left as monuments +to mark the spot where our last piece of engineering on the island was +done. + +[Illustration: Building the Cantilever Bridge over Cedar Brook.] + + +FAREWELL TO WILLOW CLUMP ISLAND. + +We spent several days on Kite Island, knowing that we were safe from +intrusion, because the Gill crowd had but one boat, and that was on the +Jersey side of the island. We felt confident that they would not take +the trouble of wading around Point Lookout with their boats, as we had +done; nevertheless, to prevent a surprise, we kept a sentry posted on +the Lake Placid side of the island and gathered a pile of stones for +ammunition. But our fun was spoiled, and we finally decided to break +camp and bid farewell forever to Willow Clump Island and its vicinity. +Our goods were ferried over to Jim Halliday's farm, where we were given +shelter. The windmill, as I have already stated, was sold to a farmer at +Lumberville, and we were kept busy for several days carting it over and +setting it up in place. When everything had been done we stole back to +Kite Island and set fire to the log cabin. The next day Mr. Schreiner +took us home in a couple of his wagons. Thus ended our "investigation, +exploration and exploitation of Willow Clump Island." The work of two +summers was practically all destroyed in a few days. + + +REDDY'S CANTILEVER BRIDGE. + +I believe I have given a careful account of everything that was recorded +in the chronicles of the society. We were too discouraged to undertake +anything new in the two weeks before school opened. I presume I might +mention here Reddy's cantilever bridge, which, however, had really +nothing to do with the S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I., because our society +was formally disbanded the day before Bill and I returned to school. +About a month after leaving home I received a letter from Reddy +inclosing three interesting photographs, which are reproduced herewith. +Reddy certainly had the bridge fever, because soon after we had left he +started to work, with the rest of the boys, on a cantilever bridge +across Cedar Brook. The brook was entirely unsuited to such a structure, +because the banks were very low; but he made the towers quite short and +built an inclined roadway leading up to the top of them. The legs of the +towers were driven firmly into the bank, making them so solid that he +thought it would be perfectly safe to build the frames out over the +brook without building them at the same time on the shore side. But +he had made a miscalculation, for when a couple of the boys had +crawled out on the _B_ and _C_ frames to set up an _E_ frame the +structure commenced to sag. The trouble was remedied by propping up the +tower with a stout stick driven into the river bottom and wedged under +the upper tie piece of the tower. The towers were really too short to +make a well proportioned bridge, for the panels had to be made very long +and narrow, so as to reach across. But on the whole it was a very +creditable structure when completed, though it had only half as long a +span as our cantilever bridge over the lagoon. + + + + +INDEX + +A + "A" tent, 207 + Abbreviations, wigwag, 146 + Accident, railway, the first, 290 + Ainu snow shoe, 41 + Alarm clock, a unique, 63 + Alphabet, wigwag, 145 + Alpine stock, 198 + Anchoring cantilever bridge, 303 + Annex, the, 50 + Arctic expedition, 193 + Armchair, barrel, 227 + Axles of railroad car, 285 + +B + Bags, sleeping, 203 + Banquets, midnight, 179 + Barrel armchair, 227 + Barrel filter, 68 + Barrel hoop snow shoe, 36 + Barrel stave hammock, 226 + Barrel stave snow shoe, 36 + Bat's wings, 33 + Bed, a camp, 209 + Bed in shower, 210 + Belly band, elastic, 235 + Bending wood, 39 + Bicycle wheels, mounting frame on, 219 + Big Bug Club, 177 + "Bill," 17 + Bill's cave, 224 + Bill's skate sail, 21 + Binding cantilever bridge, 303 + Blades of wind wheel, 278 + Boat, ice, 159 + Boat mooring, tramp-proof, 142 + Boat, scow, 59 + Box kite, diamond, 236 + Box, the black walnut, 19 + Brake for wind wheel, 278 + Bridge building, 95 + Bridge, cantilever, 292 + Bridge, king post, 105 + Bridge, king rod, 102 + Bridge, pontoon, 101 + Bridge, Reddy's cantilever, 308 + Bridge, spar, 95 + Bridge, stiffening, 104 + Bridge, suspension, 99 + Bridge wreck, 66 + Bucket, the canvas, 251 + Buckets for water wheel, 246 + Bunks, 270 + +C + Camp bed, 209 + Camp bed in shower, 210 + Camp, breaking, 158 + Camp chair, a, 208 + Camp fire, a costly, 200 + Camp fire, kindling, 194 + Canoe, Indian paddling, 121 + Canoe lee boards, 119 + Canoe rudder, 115 + Canoe, the sailing, 111 + Canoe sails, 117 + Canoe, scooter, 190 + Canoe, stretching on canvas, 114 + Canoes, canvas, 109 + Cantilever bridge, 292 + Cantilever bridge, anchoring, 303 + Cantilever bridge, binding frames, 303 + Cantilever bridge, center panels, 304 + Cantilever bridge, frames for, 293 + Cantilever bridge, Reddy's, 308 + Cantilever bridge, setting up frames of, 300 + Cantilever bridge towers, 299 + Canvas bucket, 251 + Canvas canoes, 109 + Canvas, stretching on canoe, 114 + Canvas tent, 46 + Car axles, 285 + Car for gravity railroad, 284 + Car, mounting wheels on, 286 + Carpenter's miter box, 288 + Cave, Bill's, 224 + Cave, covering the, 177 + Cave, excavating for, 173 + Cave, framing, 174 + Cave-in, a, 171 + Center panels of cantilever bridge, 304 + Chain, surveyor's, 77 + Chair, a camp, 208 + Chair seat snow shoe, 35 + Cheek blocks, 162 + Chinks in log cabin, stopping up, 272 + Christmas vacation, 19 + Clamp for crank shaft, 276 + Clapboards, nailing on, 135 + Cleat, a, 163 + Climbing, mountain, 198 + Clock, a unique alarm, 63 + Club, the Big Bug, 177 + Club pin, 180 + Club, the Subterranean, 171 + Code, International Telegraph, 155 + Combination lock, 181 + Council of war, 139 + Crank shaft, the, 276 + Creepers, ice, 170 + Crossbow, 55 + Crossbow trigger, 57 + Cutting out disk, 78 + +D + Danish sail, 30 + Derrick, the, 131 + Diamond box kite, 236 + Digging the well, 274 + Disk, cutting out, 78 + Disk, sighting, 79 + Dispossessed, 306 + Diving tree, 84 + Door hinges, 269 + Door latch, 269 + Doors, sliding, 136 + Double mirror heliograph, 156 + Double surprise, 140 + Drill, fire, 69 + Drowned, how to restore, alone, 92 + Drowned, restoring the, 89 + +E + Easter vacation, 224 + Elastic belly band, 235 + Expedition, Arctic, 193 + Expedition, logging, 255 + Expedition, preparing for, 53 + Exploration, preliminary, 66 + +F + Farewell to Willow Clump Island, 307 + Fastener, brass, 58 + Filter, the barrel, 68 + Filter barrel, cooling the, 250 + Filter, the small, 67 + Fire drill, 69 + Fireplace of log cabin, 265 + Fireplace, outdoor, 195 + Fireplace, stone-paved, 196 + Fissure, path up the, 129 + Flanged wheels, 285 + Fly, ridge pole, 54 + Fly for tent, 54 + Fly, umbrella with, 211 + Focusing heliograph instrument, 153 + Frame on bicycle wheels, 219 + Frames for cantilever bridge, 293 + Frames of cantilever bridge, setting up, 300 + Friend in time of trouble, 201 + +G + Goblins' Dancing Platform, 126 + Grass hut, 124 + Gravity railroad, 283 + +H + Halliday, Jim, 194 + Hammock, barrel stave, 226 + Harness, pack, 212 + Heliograph, the, 147 + Heliograph, double mirror, 156 + Heliograph instrument, focusing, 153 + Heliograph screen, 151 + Heliograph sight rod, 150 + Heliograph signaling, 154 + Heliograph, single mirror, 148 + Hinge for spars, 30 + Hinges, door, 269 + House building, 124 + House, log, 254 + House, the tree, 132 + Hut, cold night in, 197 + Hut, log, 254 + Hut, straw, 124 + +I + Ice boat, the, 159 + Ice boats, sledges and toboggans, 158 + Ice, craft strikes the, 184 + Ice creepers, 170 + Indian paddling canoe, 121 + Instrument, double mirror, 156 + Instrument, single mirror, 148 + Instrument, surveying, 73 + International Telegraph Code, 155 + Iroquois snow shoe, 39 + Island, mapping the, 82 + Island, off to the, 63 + Island, trip to the, 64 + +J + Jacob's Ladder, 129 + Jaws of boom, 162 + Jib-sail for ice boat, 164 + Jib-sail for scooter scow, 187 + Jim Halliday, 194 + +K + King post bridge, 105 + King rod truss, 102 + Kite, diamond box, 236 + Kite Island, 83 + Kite, Malay, 5-foot, 231 + Kite, Malay, 8-foot, 233 + Kites, putting to work, 235 + Kites, tailless, 229 + _Klepalo_, the, 70 + +L + Ladder, the Jacob's, 129 + Ladders, rope, 130 + Lagoon, the, 83 + Lake Placid, 83 + Land yacht, 215 + Land yacht, a sail on, 222 + Lanteen sail for canoe, 117 + Lanteen skate sail, 29 + Latch, door, 269 + Latch string, 270 + Lee boards, canoe, 119 + "Leg-of-mutton" sail, 220 + Levels, spirit, 74 + Lock combination, 181 + Log cabin, 251 + Log cabin, building the, 259 + Log cabin door hinges, 269 + Log cabin door latch, 269 + Log cabin door and window frames, 263 + Log cabin fireplace, 265 + Log cabin, floor of, 267 + Log cabin, foundation of, 254 + Log cabin, roof of, 262 + Log cabin, stopping up chinks, 272 + Log cabin window sash, 270 + Log raft, 256 + Logging expedition, 255 + +M + Mainsail for canoe, 117 + Mainsail for ice boat, 162 + Malay kite, 5-foot, 231 + Malay kite, 8-foot, 233 + Mapping the island, 82 + Mast of land yacht, stepping, 218 + Mast step, ice boat, 161 + Mast step, leather, 30 + Mast step, wooden, 30 + Megaphone, 57 + Megaphone mouthpiece, 58 + Midnight banquets, 179 + Mill-race, the, 88 + Mirror instrument, heliograph, 148 + Miter box, carpenter's, 288 + Mizzen sail of canoe, 118 + Mooring, tramp-proof boat, 142 + Mountain climbing, 198 + Mouthpiece of megaphone, 58 + "Mummy case," 204 + +N + Needle, weaving, 39 + Night, cold, in the hut, 197 + Nightmare, a, 211 + Noria, 241 + Norwegian ski, 42 + Numerals, wigwag, 145 + +O + Oar, the, 61 + Off to the island, 63 + Organizing the society, 25 + Outdoor fireplace, 195 + Outfits, tramping, 203 + +P + Pack harness, 212 + Paddling canoe, Indian, 121 + Paddles for water wheel, 246 + Panels, center, of cantilever bridge, 304 + Path up the fissure, 129 + Patient, how to work over, alone, 93 + Pin, the club, 180 + Plank, swimming on, 86 + Platform, Goblins' Dancing, 126 + Point Lookout, 83 + Pole, ridge, 48 + Poncho, 210 + Pontoon bridge, 101 + Poor shelter, a, 199 + Preparing for the expedition, 53 + Protractor, the, 76 + Provisions and supplies, 54 + Pump, the, 279 + Pump, action of, 281 + Pump valves, the, 280 + +R + Raft, log, 256 + Raft, sail-rigged, 258 + Railroad car, 284 + Railroad car axles, 285 + Railroad flanged wheels, 285 + Railroad, gravity, 283 + Railway track, the, 287 + Railway accident, the first, 290 + Railway, rope, 97 + Railway spikes, 50 + Rapids, shooting the, 88 + Receiving trough for water wheel, 247 + Records of the S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I., 19 + Reddy's cantilever bridge, 308 + Rennwolf, the, 168 + Restoring the drowned, 89 + Ridge pole, 48 + Ridge pole, fly, 54 + Riveting, 213 + Rod, heliograph sight, 150 + Rod, surveyor's, 78 + Rope ladders, 130 + Rope railway, 97 + Rowlocks, sockets for, 60 + Rudder, canoe, 115 + Rudder shoe, ice boat, 160 + Runner shoe, ice boat, 160 + Runners of scooter canoe, 190 + Runners of sledge, 165 + Rustic table, 66 + +S + S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I., records of, 19 + Sail, jib, for scooter, 187 + Sail, "leg-of-mutton," 220 + Sail, mizzen, of canoe, 118 + Sail-rigged raft, 258 + Sail, sprit, for scooter, 186 + Sail stitch, 46 + Sail through the country, 222 + Sailing canoe, the, 111 + Sailor's stitch, 221 + Sails, canoe, 117 + Sails for ice boat, 162 + Sandwiches, straw, 227 + Schreiner, a visit from Mr., 110 + Scooter canoe, 190 + Scooter sailing, 188 + Scooter scow, 185 + Scooters, 183 + Scow, the, 59 + Scow, a sail in, 184 + Scow, scooter, 185 + Scow, stolen, 138 + Screen, heliograph, 151 + Seat, swing, 97 + Shaft, the crank, 276 + Shelter, a poor, 199 + Shooting the rapids, 88 + Sight rod, 150 + Sighting blocks, 74 + Sighting disk, 79 + Signaling, heliograph, 154 + Signals, wigwag, 144 + Simple method of surveying, 79 + Single mirror heliograph, 148 + Sioux snow shoe, 37 + Skate sail, bat's wings, 33 + Skate sail, Bill's, 21 + Skate sail, Danish, 30 + Skate sail, double Swedish, 26 + Skate sail, lanteen, 29 + Skate sail, single Swedish, 28 + Skate sails, 26 + Ski, Norwegian, 42 + Ski sticks, 43 + Skids, 262 + Slabs, 101 + Sledge, the, 165 + Sleeping bags, 203 + Sliding doors, 136 + Snotter, 187 + Snow shoe, Ainu, 41 + Snow shoe, barrel hoop, 36 + Snow shoe, barrel stave, 36 + Snow shoe, chair seat, 35 + Snow shoe, Iroquois, 39 + Snow shoe, Sioux, 37 + Snow shoe, Swiss, 43 + Snow shoes, 35 + Society, meeting of, 189 + Society, organizing the, 25 + Spar bridge, 95 + Spars, hinge for, 30 + Spikes, railway, 50 + Spiral spring, 153 + Spirit levels, 74 + Spring, spiral, 153 + Sprit sail, 186 + Stepping mast of land yacht, 218 + Stitch, the sail, 46 + Stitch, sailor's, 221 + Stick, ski, 43 + Stiffening the bridge, 104 + Stone-paved fireplace, 196 + Stone wall, how to build, 266 + Straw hut, 124 + Straw sandwiches, 227 + Subterranean Club, 171 + Summer toboggan, 229 + Supplies and provisions, 54 + Surprise, a double, 140 + Surveying, 73 + Surveying, first lesson in, 79 + Surveying instrument, 73 + Surveying, a simple method of, 79 + Surveying for water wheel, 241 + Surveyor's chain, 77 + Surveyor's rod, 78 + Suspension bridge, 99 + Swamp shoe, 43 + Swedish sail, double, 26 + Swedish sail, single, 28 + Swimming, 84 + Swimming on a plank, 86 + Swing seat, 97 + Swiss snow shoe, 43 + +T + Table, a rustic, 66 + Tailless kites, 229 + Telegraph Code, International, 155 + Tent, the "A", 207 + Tent, annex, 50 + Tent, canvas wall, 46 + Tent fly, 54 + Tent making, 44 + Testing the track, 291 + Thole pins, 61 + Tie block, wood, 49 + Tie, wire, 50 + Tiger's Tail, 83 + Tiller, ice boat, 161 + Tiller of land yacht, 219 + Toboggan, the, 167 + Toboggan, the summer, 229 + Tower, the windmill, 275 + Towers of the cantilever bridge, 299 + Towers for water wheel, 243 + Towers of water wheel, setting up, 248 + Track, laying the, 289 + Track, the railway, 287 + Track, testing the, 291 + Tramping outfits, 203 + Tramp-proof boat mooring, 142 + Tramps, trouble with, 138 + Tree, diving, 84 + Tree house, the, 132 + Trigger for crossbow, 57 + Trip to the island, 64 + Tripod, the, 75 + Trouble with tramps, 138 + Trunk, the old, 18 + Truss, king rod, 102 + Turnbuckle, a simple, 216 + +U + Umbrella with fly, 211 + Umbrella rib crossbow, 55 + Uncle Ed, word from, 45 + Uncle Ed's departure, 109 + +V + Vacation, Christmas, 19 + Vacation, Easter, 224 + Valves, the pump, 280 + Van Syckel, interview with, 189 + Vengeance, 139 + Visit from Mr. Schreiner, 110 + +W + Wall, how to build, 266 + Wall tent, 46 + Water wheel, 241 + Water wheel buckets, 246 + Water wheel, construction of, 245 + Water wheel, Mr. Halliday's, 252 + Water wheel, mounting the, 249 + Water wheel paddles, 246 + Water wheel receiving trough, 247 + Water wheel, surveying for, 241 + Water wheel, towers for, 243 + Water wheel towers, setting up, 248 + War, council of, 139 + Weaving needle, 39 + Well, digging the, 274 + Wheel, the wind, 276 + Wheels for gravity railroad, 285 + Wheels, mounting, on car, 286 + Wheels, mounting frame on, 219 + Wigwag abbreviations, 146 + Wigwag alphabet, 145 + Wigwag numerals, 145 + Wigwag signals, 144 + Wigwagging and heliographing, 144 + Wigwagging at night, 147 + Willow Clump Island, 23 + Willow Clump Island, farewell to, 307 + Willow Clump Island in winter, 194 + Wind wheel, 276 + Wind wheel blades, 278 + Wind wheel brake, 278 + Windmill, 273 + Windmill tower, 275 + Window hinge, 270 + Window sash, log cabin, 270 + Wings, bat's, 33 + Wire tie, 50 + Wood, bending, 39 + Wood tie block, 49 + Word from Uncle Ed, 45 + +Y + Yacht, land, 215 + Yacht, land, frame of, 216 + + + + +The Most Popular Scientific Paper in the World + +SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN + +Established 1845 + +Weekly, $3.00 a Year; $1.50 Six Months + +This unrivaled periodical is now in its sixtieth year, and, owing to +its ever-increasing popularity, it enjoys the largest circulation ever +attained by any scientific publication. 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