]
A Path Up the Fissure.
[Illustration: Fig. 133. The Jacob's Ladder.]
It was up this fissure that we decided to haul materials for our tree hut.
Our first task was to build steps and ladders in the steepest parts. We
had no tool for cutting out niches in the rock, but wherever natural
depressions were formed we wedged in sticks of wood between the side walls
to serve as ladder rungs. If no such niches appeared for considerable
height, we would stretch a rope ladder to the next fixed rung. In most
places the natural formation of the rock was such as to afford sufficient
footing.
Rope Ladders
[Illustration: Fig. 134. Rope Ladder.]
[Illustration: Fig. 135. A Ladder Rung.]
[Illustration: Fig. 136. The Derrick.]
The rope ladders were made of two parallel side straps, tightly stretched
between the fixed sticks, and then at intervals of fifteen inches we
inserted the ends of the ladder rung between the strands of the rope.
Below and above each rung the rope was bound with cord. The rungs were
notched at the ends to prevent them from slipping out.
After providing a means for scaling the cliff (we called it the Jacob's
Ladder), we were still confronted with the problem how to cart our
building materials to the top.
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