With this derrick we hoisted up the boards
in a few hauls. The job was a very ticklish one, but Bill used the
greatest care to prevent accident. The derrick, rope and tackle were
carefully tested before used, and as soon as the load was attached to the
lower pulley block the two who did the loading were instructed to crawl
back into the fissure so as to be out of danger in case anything gave way.
At one time a stick which had been carelessly tied did fall, and it might
have badly hurt some one had we not observed this precaution. When we had
raised the material to the second ledge we transferred operations to the
top ledge, and when the materials had been hauled up to this point we
finally rigged up our fall and tackle in the old oak tree itself.
The Tree House.
[Illustration: Fig. 138. Main Girder of the Tree House.]
[Illustration: Fig. 139. Top View of the Platform.]
[Illustration: Fig. 140. The Frame of the House.]
The tree had two large limbs which extended out at a wide angle from the
main trunk. Across these two limbs, at about seven feet out, we laid our
first girder, nailing it securely in place. Then to the main trunk we
nailed the second girder on a level with the first.
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