CHAP. XXVI. 
THE WOODPECKER’S NEST. 
261 
piece of light wood into a particular shape, and applying 
a piece of string (loose) from end to end, and another 
one attached to it, at a particular angle, on the prin¬ 
ciple of that for flying a kite, endeavoured to pass a 
line over the river. 
It was very interesting to see the improvised boat 
battle against the stream; but it did not succeed, in 
consequence of the pressure from the current on the 
line behind the pilot-shaped float. This must be the 
principle that enables some of the many pieces of wood 
cut by the woodpecker to go up-stream, and the imagi¬ 
nation, as in homoeopathy, must do the remainder. 
In our case some of us had to strip and plunge 
boldly into the river; and although carried down for 
a considerable distance, reached the other side of the 
flooded water. On another occasion we fired a stick 
out of the barrel of a gun with a piece of string attached 
to it, the line being so coiled that it could easily run 
out, and in that way communicated with the other side. 
But there is nothing like a good swimmer, if he has 
confidence in himself. 
