Life and Death

           Morningfoundthembutlittle,ifatallrefreshed,thoughitwaswithafeelingofintensereliefthattheysawthedaydawn.

           Assoonastheyhadmadetheirmeagerbreakfastofsaltpork,coffeeandbiscuit,Claytoncommencedworkupontheirhouse,forherealizedthattheycouldhopefornosafetyandnopeaceofmindatnightuntilfourstrongwallseffectuallybarredthejunglelifefromthem.

           Thetaskwasanarduousoneandrequiredthebetterpartofamonth,thoughhebuiltbutonesmallroom.Heconstructedhiscabinofsmalllogsaboutsixinchesindiameter,stoppingthechinkswithclaywhichhefoundatthedepthofafewfeetbeneaththesurfacesoil.

           Atoneendhebuiltafireplaceofsmallstonesfromthebeach.Thesealsohesetinclayandwhenthehousehadbeenentirelycompletedheappliedacoatingoftheclaytotheentireoutsidesurfacetothethicknessoffourinches.

           Inthewindowopeninghesetsmallbranchesaboutaninchindiameterbothverticallyandhorizontally,andsowoventhattheyformedasubstantialgratingthatcouldwithstandthestrengthofapowerfulanimal.Thustheyobtainedairandproperventilationwithoutfearoflesseningthesafetyoftheircabin.

           TheA-shapedroofwasthatchedwithsmallbrancheslaidclosetogetherandovertheselongjunglegrassandpalmfronds,withafinalcoatingofclay.