hundred feet;
the "rye" pine, of almost equal height with the morenda, and perhaps
even more ornamental; and the "Kolin," or common pine, which forms
extensive forests, upon the ridges that rise from six to nine thousand
feet above sea-level. The last thrives best in a dry, rocky soil and it
is surprising in what places it will take root and grow. In the
perpendicular face of a smooth granite rock, large trees of this species
may be seen. In the rock there exists a little crevice. Into this a
seed in some manner finds its way, vegetates, and in time becomes a
great tree--flourishing perhaps for centuries, where, to all appearance,
there is not a particle of soil to nourish it, and probably deriving
sustenance from the rock itself!

It was with no slight gratification that Karl beheld the "cheel" growing
so near. He knew that from it they would obtain brilliant torches--as
many as they might stand in need of; so that during the dark nights,
instead of sitting idle for the want of light, they could occupy
themselves till a late hour within the hovel, in making the "rounds" of
the ladders, and doing such other little "chores" as the occasion might
require.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

THE SCALING LADDERS.

The cutting down of the trees did not occupy them a very long time.
They chose only those of slender girth--the more slender the better, so
long as they answered the requirements as to length. Trees of about
fifty feet in total height were the best: as these, when the weaker part
of the tops was cut off, yielded lengths of thirty or more feet. Where
they were only a few inches in diameter, there was very little trouble
in reducing them to the proper size for the sides of the ladders--only
to strip off the bark and split them in twain.

Making the rounds was also an easy operation--except that it required
considerable time, as there were so many of them.

The most difficult part of the work--and this they had foreseen--would
be the drilling of the holes to receive the rounds; and it was the task
which proved the most dilatory--taking up more time in its
accomplishment than both the cutting of the timber, and reducing it to
its proper shapes and dimensions.

Had they owned an auger or a mortising chisel, or even a good gimlet,
the thing would have been easy enough. Easier still had they possessed
a "breast bit." But of course not any of these tools could be obtained;
nor any other by which a hole might be b