The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-10-05
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base to high part Of. the beach
near the mouth Of the river.
Here they built a makeshift shell
ter Of coconut fronds and once more
set out upon an exploration with
their hopes upon that shoulder Of
the valley which had not been exam
ined the day before. And chance led
them almost directly to what Bow
ers declared was 3 miracle OF vol
canic foresight
Ivy had declared that she was
thirsty. Near at hand was the trunk
OF eoconut tree heavy with nuts
In all stages Of ripeness. and lean
ing al such a slant that Bowers was
able to climb into the top without
the necessity Of cutting steps. When
he had wrenehed some green nuts
loose and dropped them to the
ground. he looked about him.
Not fifty feet away and directly
ahead. he found his view cut OF by
smooth black precipitous elf. It
might have been sixty feet high. and
except for one tan straight COCO
nut tree springfng from a terrace
ike pocket Of soil, It was bare Of
vegetation.
The ledge from which the eoconut
grew was perhaps third OF the way
to the top OF the cliff. and Just 20
the right Of II a circular patch Of
blackness almost seemed TO shout to
him that here was the perfect cave.
While they were quenching their
thirst he told Ivy Of his discovery.
and even boasted a little.
sit wouldn't be so black" he said,
eff It wasn't deep enough. and even
IL It isn't the most perfect cave in
the world it's the safest Nobody
could get at u.s. not possibly. > Then
he laughed. Il am beginning to won
der how We are going to get at Il"
EVEN to get to the base OF the elf
II into which the aIIurfng hole had
been blown By some volcanic blast
was not easy.
There was difficult upward slope
of broken rocks varying in size from
a pebble to a grand piano. and when
they had worked their way to the
top of this slope through the bushes
and creepers In which It was tangled
and hidden. they found that the
cliff itself was more than perpen-.
dicuIar.
The ledge. for instance, from
which the coconut tree sprouted.
would have sheltered them from q
perpendicular fall Of rain II was q
god twenty feet above their heads
and the cliff. smooth as the side Of
a stone house. offered no holds for
toes or fingers.
Ivy suggested that they return to
camp for rope and wire. She was all
for telling two coconut trees. lean
ing them against the ledge and con.
gerting them into a ladder rune
By rung. The rungs could be cut
from anything that was strong
enough, and the ends roped and
wired in place. Standing upon the
first rung. the second could be ad.
justed and fastened.
But Bowers in the meanwhile had
thought of a better way. and instead
Of a ladder they compromised on
one coconut tree notched for steps.
The coconut is one of the tough.
est and heaviest of trees. and Bow
ers was a long time in telling and
deeply notching the one that was
finally chosen How they managed
TO drag It to the base Of the cliff and
erect it against the edge of the over.
hanging ledge they themselves could
have explained with difficulty.
But just when they were ready to
give up for the sixth or seventh time.
and this time for good. the thing was
in place. and so firmly wedged at the
base at one end. and into notch Of
the ledge at the other that it could
have been thrown down only with
the utmost difficulty.
"In Just run up" said Bowers,
and have a look around. If am
disappointed I'll let you know. I'll
howl like a wolf" 3.fss.,s
Presently be had climbed to the
top Of the primitive ladder. and dis,
| appeared above the ledge. After what
| seemed to Ivy a long wait. but which
IN reality was onIya matter of sec
onds. he reappeared. steadying him.
] self by the upper end OF the ladder
] and grinning down at her.
II i've taken this fine country house
on a long lease. Are You coming
J up? :. Can you make it?"
Ivy felt insulted. and Helen. who
was swinging from Ivy's shoulder
J felt even worse. She disengaged her
] self. hoped briskly to the trunk d
. the tree. and screaming defiance al
the world in general. ran up II. Ivy
was not far behind her.
Both Ivy and Helen were, appar
emily. as pleased with what they
: saw as was Bowers.
feoSyisIs. 1884. ~ Gezvszsszv KorTisl
, The three find out useful things
about their Hsummer home," fo-