[Vanished Arizona by Martha Summerhayes]@TWC D-Link bookVanished Arizona CHAPTER XV 6/7
But the men worked desperately, and at last succeeded in getting every part of it back onto the dry land. Somebody stirred up the camp-fire and put the kettle on, and Mrs.Bailey and I mixed up a smoking strong hot toddy for those brave fellows, who were by this time well exhausted.
Then they set to work to make a boat, by drawing a large canvas under the body of the wagon, and fastening it securely.
For this Lieutenant of mine had been a sailor-man and knew well how to meet emergencies. One or two of the soldiers had now forded the stream on horseback, and taken over a heavy rope, which was made fast to our improvised boat. I was acquainted with all kinds of boats, from a catamaran to a full-rigged ship, but never a craft like this had I seen.
Over the sides we clambered, however, and were ferried across the treacherous and glassy waters of the Little Colorado.
All the baggage and the two ambulances were ferried over, and the other wagon was unloaded and drawn over by means of ropes. This proceeding took all day, and of course we could get no farther, and were again obliged to camp in that most uncomfortable river-bottom.
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