The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1930-03-28
Continuation OF
CHAPTER THREE

about, that is not the way to
set to work. Geometry will simp-
lily the operation considerably;
with it's help the altitude of the
highest mountains are ascertained.
We may, therefore, easily find
the height of the branch"
So saying, l measured out a
certain distance from the base of
the tree and marked the spot,
and then by means of a rod whose
length l knew, and imaginary
lines, l calculated the angle sub
tended by the trunk of the tree
from the ground to the root of
the branch. This done, l was able
to discover the height required,
and, to the establishment of the
younger children, announced that
we should henceforth live thirty
feet above the ground. This 1
wanted to know, that l might
construct a ladder of the neces-
sary length.
Telling Fritz to collect all our
cord, and the others to roll all
the Irvine into a ball, l sat down,
and taking the reeds, speedily
manufactured half a dozen arrows
and feathered them from the dead
flamingo. l then took a strong
bamboo, bent it, and strung it so
as to form a bow. When the boys
saw what l had done they were
80 delighted, and begged to have
the pleasure of having the first
shot.
mo, MOI" said l, Il did not
make this for mere pleasure, nor
is 1t even intended as a weapon,
the arrows are p%ointless. Eliza
beth, Il continued to my wife,
can you supply me with a ball
of stout thread from your wonder
full bag?"
Certainly" replied she, Il think
a ball of thread was the first
thing to enter the bag" and d.
wing her hand deep in, she drew
out the very thing l wanted.
Now, boys" l said, 81 am go
ing to fire the first shot," and !
fastened one end of the thread to
one Of my arrows and aimed at
a large branch above me. The ar
row flew upward and bore the
thread over the branch and fell at
our feet. Thus was the first step
in our undertaking accomplished.
Now for the rope ladder!
Fritz had obtained two coils Of
cord, each about forty feet in
length; these we stretched on
the ground side by side; then
Fritz cut the bamboos into pieces
Of two feet for the steps of the
ladder, and as he handed them to
me, l passed them through knots
which l had prepared in the ropes,
while Jack fixed each end with a
nail driven through the wood.
When the ladder was finished, /
carried over the bough a rope by
which it might be hauled up. This
done, l fixed the lower end of the
ladder firmly to the ground by
means of stakes, and all was ready
for an ascent, The boys, who had
been watching me with intense in
terest, were each eager to be
first.
Jack shall have the honor"
said l, as he is the lightest, so
up with you, my boy, and do not
break your neck"
Jack, who was as active as a
monkey, sprang up the ladder and
quickly gained the top.
Three cheers for the nest!" he
exclaimed, waving his cap. "Hur-
rah, hurrah, hurrah for our jolly
nest! What a grand house we will
have up here; come along, FRITZ"
His brother was soon by his
side, and with a hammer and
nails secured the ladder yet more
securely. l followed with an AK
and took a survey of the tree. 1t
was admirably suited to our pur-
pose; the branches were very
strong and so closely interviewer
that no beams would be required
to form a flooring, but when
some of the boughs were Topped
and cleared away, a few planks
would be quite sufficient.
1 now called for a pulley, which
my wife fastened to the cord
hanging beside the ladder. I haul
ed it up, and finding the boys
in my way, told them to go down,
while I proceeded to fasten the
pulley to a stout branch above
me, that we might be able to
haul up the beams we should re-
quire the next day. l then made
other preparations, that there
might be no delay on the NOR
row, and a bright moor having
arisen, 1 by its light continued
working until I was quite worn
out. and then at length descend
ed. I reached the ground, but to
nv surprise found that the two
boyg were not there. They had
not been seen. A moment after
ward, however, all anxiety vas
digDelled. for among the topmost
no.,1ha 7 heard their young voices