"You couldn't get a better pole; but hickory is one of the heaviest woods, and being green, it will be a task to raise it. It weighs, dry, about 45 pounds per cubic foot."
"What is the weight of a cubic foot of water?"
"About sixty-four pounds."
"How much do you think that pole will weigh when it is trimmed up?"
The Professor, after carefully surveying the tree for a time, answered: "It will weigh fully 400 pounds, but I am in favor of taking it, as we know shell bark is a good American tree, and it is the kind of wood we usually select on account of its strength. I know it will resist any winds likely to come our way."
It was at once cut down, and on measuring was found to be 58 feet up to the branching top, at which point it was not less than two inches in diameter.
"Cut it off above the last crotch, as we shall want that part to attach the top pulley between."
Now that it was cut and trimmed, the problem was to convey it back to the river.
"Do you think we can induce the yaks to swim across the river?"
"That's a capital idea, Harry, let us go back and try it."