WE BUILT A BRIDGE (TWICE!)

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Then, to assure that our lines would run high, we set two standing six-foot creo-soted posts—four feet apart—next to the river bank and attached some scavenged steel brackets on top of these to act as "riders".

And then it was wading time. We clamped the main cables to the turn-buckles, slung those 200-foot lines over the posts, and dragged them across the shallow, summer-level river.

We constructed the same post and deadman system on the other, higher side of the river... with two main differences: [1] We made the poles shorter (to keep the bridge itself level), and [2] since we didn't have any small cable pieces left, we wrapped the main lines around the high-bank deadman before we buried the log.

After fording back to the low side, I loosened the clamps near the turnbuckles, pulled the bridge's "suspenders" taut with a hand winch, and then refastened the clamps. (I was deliberately saving the "take-up" of the turnbuckles in case the bridge sagged when we put on the planks.)

With the cables strung, our next step was to build "drooping" steel-rod hangers to support the foot boards. We discovered lots of sturdy—and free —rod hooped around the outside of our neighbors' abandoned silos, and had a blacksmith bend the steel into 3' X 3' X 3' U-shaped pieces with sturdy hooked ends (which would later hang over our main cables).

Then—when all we needed were some planks—an alert friend salvaged some perfect creosoted 2" X 12" X 16' river-spanners. We figured to overlap the boards one foot at their ends (making them—in effect—15 feet long), so we spaced our hangers at 7-1/2-foot intervals along the cables. That spacing would, we figured, give us a "U-supporter" at the middle of each board as well as one under every overlapped "junction".

We drilled holes in the planks and used eyebolts to fasten the beams to the hangers. Then I cinched up a little cable slack with the turnbuckles and—simple as that—our bridge was finished! Best of all—because we had scrounged up all the lines, rods, and lumber—our beautiful, hanging river-crosser only cost us $75!

And suddenly the rainy season arrived. One afternoon we returned from town and found a torrent raging toward our just-completed bridge. I couldn't believe it, but the river had actually risen three feet in that hour!

I grabbed my tools, raced out onto the bouncing structure, and frantically unbolted the planks from the hangers. Then—while floating branches swept by just underneath us—Sammie and I hauled the valuable creosote-impregnated boards to safety.

After we'd removed all 200 feet of lumber, the lightened cables rose above the swollen Satsop. And, soaked but relieved, we went into our trailer to dry off and have something to eat.

I was sitting down to my first bite of vittles when I heard a loud clang. As I reached the door I saw a huge tree rush downstream and bash into the cables.

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