[Illustration:  Fig. 141.  Nailing on the Clapboards.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 142.  The Window Casing.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 143.  The Window Sash.]

The window casings we used each consisted of a frame about 15 inches square, but with the upper and lower pieces extending 12 inches beyond one of the side pieces.  On these extended pieces a slideway was formed for the window sash by nailing on two strips of wood about 3/4 inch square and over them a pair of wider strips projecting inward, so as to overlap the edges of the sash.  The window sash consisted of a frame 13-1/2 inches square, made of 3/4-inch square strips over which canvas was tightly stretched and tacked.  A spool was nailed on at one side for a handle.  These windows were closed only in rainy weather, to keep the water out.

Sliding Doors.

[Illustration:  Fig. 144.  Section of the Door and Frame.]

[Illustration:  A Filipino Bamboo Tree House.]

We had two doors; one at the back of the house, from which a ladder extended down to the ground, and another opening out onto the veranda, from which we dropped a ladder down to the Goblins’ Dancing Platform.  In order to save space we used sliding instead of swinging doors.  The back door frame was 5-1/2 feet high and the front door frame 6 feet high.  The doors were mounted on the outside of the building.  The side posts of each frame were 2-1/2 feet apart, and the lintel and sill extended 3 feet beyond the side post at one side.  The upper face of the lintel was planed down perfectly smooth, and its edges were tapered off to make a track for the rollers on the door.  The rollers consisted of two spools, which turned on tenpenny nails driven into the top of the door.  At the lower end two more spools were mounted, turning on nails driven in the bottom edge of the door.  The rims of the spools extended slightly beyond the outer face of the door and rolled against the sill.  To keep the water from leaking in at the top a slanting board was fastened above it, as shown in Fig. 144.  The back door was similarly constructed.  Our tree house was completed by a running balustrade around the veranda.

It strangely happened that just after our tree house had been built we received a photograph from Uncle Ed of a Filipino tree house made of bamboo.

CHAPTER XII.

TROUBLE WITH THE TRAMPS.

We were a proud lot when the house was finally completed.  From the veranda we had an excellent view up and down the river.  We could see our camp on the island and keep watch of our goods.  Late one afternoon Dutchy and I were lolling about on the Goblins’ Platform, idly watching a hawk soaring above us.  The rest of the boys had returned to the island in canoes an hour before and left the heavy scow for us to row back.  It was drawing near supper time and we had about decided to start for home, when I