On the back end we fastened a feed-box for the horses, as long as the
wagon-box was wide, and ten or twelve inches square, with a partition in
the middle. We put stout iron rings in the corners of this, making a
place to tie the horses. On the dash-board outside we built another box,
for tools. This was wedge-shaped, about five inches wide at the top, but
running down to an inch or two at the bottom, and had a hinged cover. We
put aboard a satchel containing the little additional clothing which we
thought we should need. Things in this line which did not seem to be
absolutely necessary were ruled out--indeed, for the sake of lightness
we decided to take just as little of everything that we could. We made
another box, some two feet long, a foot deep, and fourteen inches wide,
with a hinged cover, which we called the "pantry," for our supply of
food. This we stood in the wagon with the satchel. Usually in the
daytime after we started each of these rode comfortably on the bed back
of the seat. This bed was a rather simple affair, made up of some
bed-clothing and pillows arranged on a thick layer of hay in the bottom
of the wagon-box. Our small two-wick oil-stove we put in front next to
the dash-board, a lantern we hung up on one of the bows, and a big tin
pail for the horses we suspended under the wagon.
"Since you're going to be cook," I said to Jack, "you tend to getting
the dishes together."
"They'll be few enough," he answered. "I don't like to wash 'em. Tin
mostly, I guess; because tin won't break."
So he put a few knives and forks and spoons, tin plates and cups, a
frying-pan, a small copper kettle, and a few other utensils in another
box, which also found a home on the bed. Other things which we did not
forget were a small can of kerosene; two half-gallon jugs, one for milk
and one for water; a basket of eggs; a nickel clock (we called it the
chronometer); and in the tool-box a hatchet, a monkey-wrench,
screw-driver, small saw, a piece of rope, one or two straps, and a few
nails, screws, rivets, and similar things which might come handy in case
of a wreck.
"Now for the armament and the life-boat," said Jack.
For armament Jack contributed a double-barrelled shot-gun and a heavy
forty-five-calibre repeating rifle, and I a light forty-four-calibre
repeating rifle, and a big revolver of the same calibre (though using a
slightly shorter cartridge), with a belt and holster. This revolver we
stored in the tool-box, chiefly for use in case we were boarded by
pirates, while the guns we hung in leather loops in the top of the
cover. In the tool-box we put a good supply of ammunition and plenty of
matches. We also each carried a match-box, a pocket compass, and a stout
jack-knife.
"Now, how's your life-boat?" asked Jack.
I led her out. She was a medium-sized brown Colorado pony, well
decorated with brands, and with a white face and two white feet. She
wore a big Mexican saddle and a horse-hair bridle with a silver bit.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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