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.
Suspension Bridge.
[Illustration: Fig. 97. Barrel-stave Flooring.
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