In fact, he made a bad business of it, and the insulators he put up in
this way looked "shackling poorly," to say nothing of his trowsers,
which suffered considerably every time he slipped part way down a pole.

But here Tony Kirk again proved himself a friend in need. He got a
wagon, and drove four miles to a farm-house, where there was a long,
light ladder. This he borrowed, and brought over to the scene of
operation.

This ladder was not quite long enough to reach to the height at which
Harry had fastened his insulators, but it was generally agreed that
there was no real necessity for putting them up so high.

The ladder was arranged by Tony in a very ingenious way. He laid it on
the ground, with the top at the root of the tree to be climbed. Then he
fastened a piece of telegraph wire to one side of the ladder, passed it
loosely around the tree, and fastened it to the other side. Then, as the
ladder was gradually raised, the wire slipped along up the tree, and
when the ladder was in position it could not fall, although it might
shake and totter a little. However, strong arms at the bottom held it
pretty steady, and Harry was enabled to nail on his insulators with
comparative ease, and in a very satisfactory manner.

After a while, Tony took his place, and being a fellow whom it was
almost impossible to tire, he finished the whole business without
assistance.

It may be remarked that when Tony mounted the ladder, he dispensed with
the wire safeguard, depending upon the carefulness of the two negro men