and to cut them with such tools as they had would
have been a tedious affair. The walls were made thick, rough, and
strong; the interstices were matted and daubed with clay from the bed of
the rivulet; the thatch was a sedge obtained from the lake; and the
floor of earth was strewed with the leaves of the sweet-smelling
rhododendron. The hole was left for the smoke to escape. Several
granite slabs served for seats--tables were not needed--and for beds
each of the party had provided himself with a thick mattress of dried
grass and leaves. With such accommodations were the hunters fain to
content themselves. They felt too much anxiety about the future to care
for present luxuries.

They were but one single day in building the hut. Had there been
bamboos at hand, Ossaroo would have constructed a house in half the
time, and a much handsomer one. As it was, their hovel occupied them
just a day, and on the next morning they set to work upon the bridge.

They had agreed to divide the labour; Karl with the axe, and Ossaroo
with his large knife, were to work upon the timbers; while Caspar was to
provide the food with his double-barrelled gun, helping the others
whenever he could spare time.

But Caspar found another purpose for his gun besides procuring meat.
Ropes would be wanted, long tough ropes; and they had already planned
it, that these should be made from the hides of the animals that might
be killed. Caspar, therefore, had an important part to play. Two
strong cables would be required, so Karl told him, each about a hundred
feet in length, besides many other ropes and cords. It would be
necessary to hunt with some success before these could be obtained.
More than one large hide, a dozen at least, would be required; but
Caspar was just the man to do his part of the work, and procure them.

For the timbers, the trees out of which they were to be made had already
been doomed. Even that morning four trees had been marked by the axe
and girdled. These were pine-trees, of the species known as Thibet
pines, which grow to a great height, with tall trunks clear of branches
full fifty feet from the ground. Of course it was not the largest trees
that were chosen; as it would have cost too much labour to have reduced
their trunks to the proper dimension, and particularly with such tools
as the workmen had. On the contrary, the trees that were selected were
those very near the thickness that would be required; and bu