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94 THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON
and on the same level. Some I cut off either with a saw or hatchet, leaving none but those that would be useful as a foundation for the floor. Above these, at the height of forty-six feet, there were others upon which we could hang our hammocks j and higher still, there was a further set of branches, admirable for supporting the roof of the hut, which at present could be formed of nothing more than a large piece of sail-cloth.
At first our work did not progress very fast. It was necessary to raise certain heavy planks to this height of forty feet. However, I fixed the pulley, and Fritz and I managed to draw them up to the branches one by one. When I had placed two of them upon the branches, I fixed the other planks upon them. I then built up a sort of wall of wood like a park-paling, all round, for safety. These operations, and a third journey to the seashore to collect more wood, filled our morning so completely, that not one of us had thought about eating. For this once we contented ourselves with a bit of ham and some milk as a light lunch ; and then returned to finish our aerial palace, which began to look quite interesting. We unhooked our hammocks from their positions, and hoisted them up into the tree. The sail-cloth roof was supported by the thick |
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