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.