Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1899-07-21
CHAPTER XVIII.
We Build A Hut.

CHAPTER XVIII.
We Build Hut.
My old tutor at Elton used to say.
quoting some wise saw that "a lazy
boy made a lazy man, lust as crook
ed sapling makes crooked tree"
1t was fortunate for me, however,
while on the island OF Alphonso, that
my habits were those of activity, and
that l was never Emphatic by nature.
After dawn next morning we set
about the erection of hut, though
we had no other tools than small
Ratchet and our claspknives. With
these we cut or tore down great num-
Der Of large branches. and stuck them
in the earth, selecting place where
two angles of impending rock conven-
iently enough formed two solid walls
for our edifice, leaving us but two
others to erect.
who cannot use hammer or ak Is only
half a man." so we all worked hard
with such implements as we had, until
our hut was complete.
We left an entrance next the rocks
by which to creep In and out, and
then matched or built over the inter-
twisted branches with turf, torn up by
our hands, and with broad plantain
leaves, creepers and all kinds of ten
drills that had toughness and consist
ency woven to form a roof
At the erection of this most primi
tive wigwam we toiled the whole day,
save during the scorching interval at
noon, and ere nightfall it was complete,
with piles Of dried leaves and seagrass
for couches and bedroom furniture.
Therein we placed all our provisions
the three bags Of bread, two kegs
of rum (Which, by unanimous consent
we're placed under the sole supervision
Of Hislop); our four casks of water
were also brought ashore, though there
was no lack OF pure springs on the
island.
In this wigwam were also placed our
blankets, tie sails and tackle of the
longboat, and then the succeeding days
were spent in accommodating provisions
las we looked forward with dread to
our last biscuit), and a signal-post was
erected on the mountain.
With Probart, the carpenter, and
Henry Warren 1.-TWO OF our stoutest
hands,, Tom Lambourne and l went
upon this duty.
Alternately carrying upon our shoul-
ders CT dragging in our hands the
studding-sail boom, We toiled through
wild and untrodden wastes toward the
summit Of the great and yet nameless
conical mountain that rears it's lonely
scalp to the height of five thousand
feet above the waves Of the Southern
sea.
The hope that on reaching it's sum-
NIT we might descry sail was an ad-
ditional incentive to toll up the steep
slope without lingering by the way.
On leaving a fiat savanna of sedge
grass we reached series of wooded
ridges, which form the base of the
mountain, at every step rouslng clouds
of birds, especially a species of black
cock, and twice in the jungle we came
upon the lair Of wild boars of great
size and such ferocity of aspect that
we were glad to shrink astern of Tat
tooed Tom, who carried the Ratchet,
This jungle was exceedingly difficult
of penetration, owing to its density,
the number OF wild aloes, with creep
ing plants, prickly pears and other
tropical weeds, of what kind l know
not, twined about them, it was a lit
eral wilderness of serrated grass
blades, yellow gourds and great
squashy pumpkins, like gigantic vege-
table marrows, all woven into an in
extricable network of leaves, tendrils
and branches.
In other places We had to force a
passage through thickets OF richly
lowered shrubs and tall plants, with
mighty leaves, the general greenery
OF the landscape being increased by
the many runnels of fine spring water
which poured down the assures of the
mountain into the plain we had left.
BY the sides of these runnels we
frequently paused, and making a cup
of large leaf, filled it with the cool,
hmpid water that gurgled over the
rocks, to quench our constant thirst:
and for time such cups were the only
drinking vessels we had while on the
island of Alphonso.
At last We gained the summit of the
mountain, and with mingled satisfac-
tion and anxiety in our hearts, swept
the horizon with eager eyes.
Not a sail was in sight!
Far as our eyesight could reach
around us in mighty circle, rolled
the waters of the Southern Atlantic,
almost tepid with heat, and pale and
white, they seemed to palpitate under
the rays Of the unclouded sun.
At our feet lay the whole isle of
Alphonso and its two rock appendices,
with the encircling sea boiling in the
narrow chasms between them with a
fury which was the result Of contrary
currents, and which formed singular
contrast to its calmness elsewhere.
After brief rest We prepared to set
up the signal-post.
Tom took off his shirt, and drawing
from his pocket a piece of spunyarn,
which a seaman Is seldom without, he
lashed his undergarment to the end
81 the studding-sail boom, and by the
aid OF the Ratchet and our hands, we
'craped a hole sufficiently deep In
which to erect the spar, and then jam
ned 1t hard and fast with stones. AS
he shirt was blown out nag fashion
lpOn the wind, we hOped II wOuId