103). Our working platform was now
removed and replaced with the permanent floor beams, which were firmly
nailed to the center cross beam and to the inclined spars at the shore
ends. The floor beams were quite heavy and needed no support between the
king posts and shore. A rustic floor was made of small logs sawed in two
at Mr. Schreiner's sawmill. Light poles were nailed to the flooring along
each edge, giving a finish to the bridge. We also provided a rustic
railing for the bridge of light poles nailed to the king posts and the
diagonal spars.
CHAPTER X.
Canvas Canoes.
Like all inhabitants of islands, we early turned our attention to
navigation. Our scow was serviceable for transporting materials back and
forth across the strips of shallow water between our quarters and the
Jersey shore. We never attempted to row across, because progress would
have been entirely too slow, and we would have drifted down to the rapids
long ere we could reach the opposite side. But on Lake Placid matters were
different. Although there was no settlement near us on the Pennsylvania
shore, to occasion our crossing the water for provisions and the like, yet
the quiet stretch was admirably suited to boating for pleasure, and mighty
little pleasure could we get out of our heavy scow.
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