The goods were moved forward overland to a low hill which sloped gradually to the creek on one side, and fronted the river in a fifty-foot bluff4 on the other. Here there was abundance of spruce timber, much of which, though still standing5, had been killed by a forest fire, and was perfectly6 seasoned.
Nearly a mile to the west, across the river, was a long granite7 cliff, a thousand feet or more in height, which limited the view in that direction. To the north, as they looked down the valley, they beheld8 two mountains fifteen miles away, between which the river flowed. The western one rose sharply three thousand feet, the other,[150] much greater in bulk, four thousand. The Indians called these elevations9 Father and Son, but the western had come to be known among white men as Mount Bratnober, while the other was soon to be named Mount Champlain, after a member of the Thirty-six who climbed it. From Mount Champlain on the north, a range of lesser10 peaks extended clear around to the southeast, bounding the valley on that side, and it was among these mountains that Frying-Pan Creek had its source, five miles distant. With so many landmarks11, they felt no doubt about their position.
Uncle Will declared that at the earliest moment they must set off to the headwaters of the creek on a prospecting12 trip, but to go while ice and snow remained would hardly be advisable, so long as the Thirty-six were not in sight. It was therefore decided13 to begin a log cabin. The boys, who had always cherished a longing14 to live in the woods in a house of their own building, hailed this project with enthusiasm, while Mr. Bradford observed that they would now appreciate the situation and circumstances of their ancestors in the wilderness15 of New England.
First a site must be chosen, dry, level, and sheltered from strong winds. Several places were examined, but only one of these satisfied every requirement. It was a small plot of level ground, free from trees, near the top of the hill where it sloped to the creek. To the south[151] and west, the hill-top sheltered it, while to the northwest and north stood tall, dense16 spruce-trees. Eastward17 the country was more open, and creek, valley, and mountains were in plain view. The cabin was to face in this direction. Its dimensions on the ground were to be eighteen by twenty feet.
So large a structure would hardly have been planned, had it not been for the wealth of light, dry timber around them. The weight of green logs of the required size would have taxed their strength most sorely.
Lucky and Coffee Jack18 were set at work clearing the ground of snow, of which but little remained; while Mr. Bradford and his brother took their axes, and began to fell the straightest of the dead spruces. The boys trimmed off such branches and stubs as survived. Whenever a trunk was nearly cut through on one side, the choppers would give the warning, and, when the way was clear, a few strokes on the other side brought down the forest giant with a crash.
To drag the logs to the chosen spot was harder and took more time than the felling. Then the ends had to be notched19, so that they would join perfectly at the corners of the cabin, each log having two feet of extra length to allow room for the notching20.
It was thought the Thirty-six would not arrive before the fourth day, and the elder Bradfords agreed that it would be wise to drop work on the cabin on that day,[152] and stake claims along the headwaters of the creek. But alas21 for human calculations! About noon of the third day, voices were heard in the direction of the river, and presently six of the mysterious party put in an appearance. They were surprised at finding the Bradfords, who, they supposed, had continued northward22.
"Hello!" exclaimed a thick-set man with a reddish beard sprinkled with gray,—"how are you, gentlemen? We heard your axes, and thought we should find strangers. You're doing the very thing we've got to do."
"Yes," said Uncle Will, "but how in the world did you get here so soon, Pennock?"
"Oh! we've been working like slaves to get as far as we could before the ice went out. It would freeze a little every night, and we would make a few miles, but in the middle of the day we had to build bridges every few rods. Half a dozen of our men have broken through first and last,—sleds too. We left Patterson, Lewis, Colburn, and Whitney, on the Kah Sha claims, and now we six are ordered to stop here and do some prospecting. The rest will try 'to go on."
"Ah!" said Uncle Will, much relieved by this last information; "so the rest are going on? Well, I'm sorry for them. The ice won't last two days."
"That's true as you live," replied Pennock. "Well, we must get back. We're camped temporarily just below here. Maybe I'll see you again this evening."
[153]
"All right," answered Uncle Will. "Come up any time."
"I believe," said Mr. Bradford, as soon as the visitors were gone, "he wants to join forces, at least, in the building of the house."
"I think so too," said Uncle Will. "It wouldn't be a bad idea either. The cabin is easily big enough for all twelve of us. With their help, we can finish it in no time. I even think it would be well to work with them in prospecting, if they are agreeable. Let's see—there are only nine claims to be taken between us. We ought all to be able to get good ones, if there are any."
It was accordingly determined23 that evening, by conference with Pennock's party, to combine for the present. To prevent disagreements, the details of the arrangement were drawn24 up in writing, Pennock readily engaging to give the Bradfords first choice of claims, for two reasons,—first, because they were first to arrive, and, second, in consideration of the work they had already done on the cabin.
Next morning, the Bradfords went to the top of the bluff overlooking the river, and saw the main body of the Thirty-six, now reduced to about twenty-five white men, and half a dozen Indians—including Long Peter—resuming their march. After skirting the shore on a fringe of ice for some distance, they made a short cut across a narrow tongue of land, where the snow was[154] entirely25 gone and the sleds could only be moved with the severest toil26.
"Flesh and blood can't stand that a great while," said Uncle Will; "especially on short rations27. They'll have to abandon their sleds soon, and carry what they can on their backs. I wish I knew how far those poor fellows are going."
"They're making a desperate dash for somewhere," said Mr. Bradford, "and their pluck is certainly admirable. I wish them success with all my heart."
"And I too," added Uncle Will, emphatically.
Work on the cabin was resumed as soon as possible, and the walls rose like magic with the increased force of builders. In a few days these were completed. An opening was sawn in the front for a door, and smaller ones in each side for windows, the sawn ends of the logs being held in place by the door-frame and window-frames, which consisted of small hewn strips of spruce wood nailed in place. The roof was now constructed of poles laid side by side from the ridge-logs to the upper logs of the front and rear walls. David and Roly gathered great quantities of green spruce boughs28, which were laid on the top of the roof-poles. This proved to be a mistake, but in the hurry of building, nobody thought of it. Later, as soon as these boughs dried, the needles came rattling29 down through the cracks upon the slightest provocation30, and were a great nuisance when cooking was[155] in progress. A layer of damp moss31 should first have been spread upon the poles, then the spruce, and finally a thick layer of moss over all. This upper layer was duly applied32, and being soft and spongy, contributed in no small degree to the waterproof33 quality of the roof, which was rather more flat than such a roof should be. As an additional protection against rain, several tents were spread above the moss, and now the cabin was complete, except for the "chinking," and interior furnishings.
"Chinking" is the filling of the cracks between the logs. The boys soon became skilled in this work, and most of it was left for them to do, while the men were engaged in heavier labors34. Small dead spruces, slender and straight as bean-poles, were first cut down in large numbers. These were trimmed as nearly as possible to the size and shape of the cracks, and driven firmly into place with the blows of a hatchet35. Such crevices36 as still remained were stuffed with moss and clay.
The door consisted of a light framework of poles, covered with cheese-cloth, of which Pennock had a supply; and the windows were of the same material. Though not transparent37, it admitted a goodly amount of light, and promised to keep out insects and the wind.
Within the house, a sheet-iron stove was set up in the opening left for a fire place, which was then enclosed above and on the sides and rear, with poles set close together and chinked, an aperture38 being left for the stove-pipe.[156] Sleds were so arranged as to form a dining-table and seats.
The boys had set their hearts on building bunks39 to sleep in. This was approved of by their father and uncle, since it was undoubtedly40 healthier to be off the ground, and they suggested that two double bunks be built in the southwest corner, large enough to accommodate the four. The boys were left to exercise their own ingenuity41 in this work, and they succeeded in turning out two very good berths43, constructed wholly of spruce poles, and arranged like those of a steamer's stateroom. Soft boughs were spread upon the berths, and then the blankets, in which rude quarters they slept as comfortably as they ever had at home. The upper berth42, too, served David as a shelf, upon which to develop his photographs.
This nucleus44 of a city it was voted to call Pennock's Post.
How refreshing45 it was, as they surveyed the finished product of their labors, to feel that they had reached their destination, that there was no exhausting journey to be resumed on the morrow, and that at all times they could be sure of a warm, dry resting place with a roof over their heads!
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1
investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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2
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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4
bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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5
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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6
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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7
granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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8
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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9
elevations
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| （水平或数量）提高( elevation的名词复数 )； 高地； 海拔； 提升 | |
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10
lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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11
landmarks
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| n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 )；目标；（标志重要阶段的）里程碑 ~ (in sth)；有历史意义的建筑物（或遗址） | |
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12
prospecting
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| n.探矿 | |
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13
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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14
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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15
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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16
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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19
notched
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| a.有凹口的，有缺口的 | |
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notching
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| adj.多级的（指继电器）n.做凹口，开槽v.在（某物）上刻V形痕( notch的现在分词 )；赢得；赢取；获得高分 | |
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21
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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23
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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24
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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27
rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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29
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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30
provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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31
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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32
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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33
waterproof
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| n.防水材料；adj.防水的；v.使...能防水 | |
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34
labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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35
hatchet
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| n.短柄小斧；v.扼杀 | |
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36
crevices
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| n.（尤指岩石的）裂缝，缺口( crevice的名词复数 ) | |
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37
transparent
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| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
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38
aperture
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| n.孔，隙，窄的缺口 | |
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39
bunks
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| n.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的名词复数 )；空话，废话v.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的第三人称单数 )；空话，废话 | |
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40
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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41
ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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42
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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43
berths
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| n.（船、列车等的）卧铺( berth的名词复数 )；（船舶的）停泊位或锚位；差事；船台vt.v.停泊( berth的第三人称单数 )；占铺位 | |
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44
nucleus
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| n.核，核心，原子核 | |
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45
refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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