Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1900-03-29
CHAPTER XVIII.


ed sapling makes a crooked tree"
II was fortunate for me, however,
while on the island of Alphonso, that
my habits were those Of activity, and
that / was never Emphatic by nature.
After dawn next morning we set
about the erection of a hut, though
we had no other tools than a small
Ratchet and our claspknives. With
these we cut or tore down great num-
her Of large branches, and stuck them
in the earth, selecting a place where
two angles of impending rock conven-
iently enough formed two solid walls
for our edifice, leaving us but two
others to erect.
AS Tom Lambourne said 1.-The fellow
who cannot use a hammer or AK is only
half 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 I'D by
our hands, and with broad plantain
leaves, creepers and all kinds of ten
drills that had toughness and consist
ency woven to form n roof.
At the erection of this most primi-
tive wigwam we toied the whole day,
save during the scorching interval at
noon, and ere nightfall 1t 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,
were 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, the 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
handsl. Tom Lambourne and | vent
upon this duty.
Alternately carrying upon our shout
ders or dragging in our hanta the
studdlng-sail boom, we toiied through
Wild and untrodden wastes toward the
summit OF the great and yet aameless
conical mountain that rears It's lonely
! scalp to the height of five thousand
teet above the waves of the Southern
sea.
Iha hope that on reaching It's surn-
nit we might descry sail was On ad-
! ditional incentive % toll up thb sSeep
! slapS .ct.@sso2 lingering by the WY.
an leaving fiat savanna OF ssdge
55ass @e reached a series of wpsdad
ridges, which form the base Ct the
mountain. at every step rousing clouds
! nf birds, especially a species of bsack-
| cock. and t%'iae in the jungle we came
apon the lair OF wild boars of great
size and such ferocity Of aspect that
@e were glad to shrink astern OF Tst-
tooed Tom, who carried the Ratchet
luis jungle was exceedingly difficult
OF penetration, owing to its density,
/ the number of wild aloes, with GREEN
ing plants, prickly pears and otbe;
tropical weeds, of what kisd kno W
not, tWined about them, 1t was a 1T
eral wilderness of serrated grsys
blades. yellow gourds and gren
squashy pumpkins like gigantic vega.
table marrowa. all woven into an In
extricable network OF leaves, tendrils
and branches.
In other places we had to force r,
passage through thiekets of richly
Powered 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 rr,sA-is we
frequently paused, and making a cup
OF large leaf. filled it with the cool
lmpid 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-
ton and anxiety in our hearts. swept
the horizon with eager eyes.
Not sail was in sight
Far as our eyesight could reach
around us in a 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
Aiphonso 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 a 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
dashed bis undergarment to the end
of the studding-sail boom, and by the
aid OF the Ratchet and our hands. we
scraped hole sufficiently deep in
which 10 erect the spar, and then Jam
med II hard and fast with stones. AS
the shirt was blown out flag fashion
upon the wind, We hoped II would