These ties were sticks 3
inches in diameter, which were secured to the D frames.
[Illustration: Fig. 320. A General View of our Cantilever Bridge.]
[Illustration: Building the Cantilever Bridge over Cedar Creek.]
A Serious Interruption.
We were just preparing to lay the tracks across the bridge when we met
with a serious interruption. Mr. Halliday had told us that a few days
before our arrival that summer Mr. Smith, the owner of the island, and
another man had paid a visit to the place. Jim Halliday himself had rowed
them over, and learned from their conversation that Mr. Smith was trying
to sell the island, and that the stranger, a Mr. Gill, was a prospective
purchaser. All summer long we had been dreading the return of this
customer, though, as time passed without his putting in an appearance, we
almost forgot the incident. But now, at the end of August, just as we had
about completed our cantilever bridge, who should arrive but this very man
Gill and three other men with a large tent and camping outfit. It was a
sorrowful crowd of boys that watched the wagon with their belongings ford
the shallow water over to our island. We felt that the island was ours by
right of discovery and occupation, but we were powerless to force our
claims.
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