im, why could he not do the same? Why
could he not build a house in the gigantic nwana? That would give him
all the security he desired. There they could all sleep with perfect
confidence of safety. There, on going out to hunt, he could leave the
children, with the certainty of finding them on his return. An admirable
idea!--how about its practicability?

He began to consider this. If he only had planks to make a staging or
platform, the rest would be easy. Any slight roof would be sufficient up
there. The leaves almost formed a roof. But the flooring--this was the
difficulty. Where were planks to be got? Nowhere, in that neighbourhood.

His eye, at that moment, chanced to fall upon the wagon. Ha! there were
planks there. But to break up his beautiful wagon? No--no--no! Such a
thing was not to be thought of. But stay! there was no need to break it
up--no need to knock out a single nail. It would serve every purpose
without breaking a splinter off it. The fine vehicle was made to take to
pieces, and put up again at will.

He could take it to pieces. The broad bottom alone should remain whole.
That of itself would be the platform. Hurrah!

The field-cornet, excited with the development of this fine plan, now
communicated it to the others. All agreed that it was just the thing;
and as the day was before them, they made no more ado, but set about
carrying out the design.

A ladder thirty feet long had first to be constructed. This occupied a
good while; but at length a stout rough article was knocked up, which
served the purpose admirably. It gave them access to the lowermost limb;
and from this they could construct steps to all the others.

Von Bloom ascended, and after careful examination chose the site of the
platform. This was to rest upon two strong horizontal limbs of equal
height, and diverging very gradually from each other. The quantity of
thick branches in the great tree afforded him a choice.

The wagon was now taken to pieces--a work of only a few minutes--and the
first thing hauled up was the bottom. This was no slight performance,
and required all the strength of the camp. Strong "rheims" were attached
to one end, and these were passed over a limb of the tree, still higher
up than those on which the staging was to rest. One stood above to guide
the huge piece of plankwork, while all the rest exerted their strength
upon the ropes below. Even little Jan pulled with all his might--though
a single pound avo