light of build and sure of foot, should go up first and try the
strength of our work. Fritz went up next with some nails, and made the
ropes fast to the tree, while I drove stakes in the ground to keep them
firm at the foot. It was now time for me to mount, and up I went with
an axe to lop off the twigs and smooth the bough that was to form the
ground of our new house. I sent the boys down out of my way, and kept
hard at work till it was late, for the sky was clear, and the moon lent
me her beams of light to see by.

When I came down my wife spread a good meal on the ground, which we ate
as best we could, and then made our beds of dry moss, round which we
put heaps of twigs. These we set light to, as watch fires to keep off
wild beasts and snakes. The toils of the day had made the boys tired,
and they were soon in a sound sleep, but my wife and I took it in turns
to watch through the whole night.

We were all out of bed as soon as light was in the sky, and set to work
to hoist up the planks that were to form the floor of our hut. These we
laid down on the branch, with their ends made fast to a cross piece of
wood that we had to fix to the trunk of the tree. Our nails were long,
and we drove each one of them home, so that we had no cause to fear the
strength of our work. By the time we had done this the day was far
spent, and we were all glad to lay by our tools and rest our limbs.
That night we lit our fires round the tree, tied the dogs to the roots,
and went up to sleep out of harm's way for the first time since we left
the ship. When the steps were drawn up we all felt that we were now
safe at last, and that we had brought the toils of the day to a good
end.