The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post

Undómë · 03-10-2006, 10:10 AM

Bregoware

Meghan

Her cup of stew was quickly downed; the rich taste of the lamb lingered on her tongue even as she washed it down with a long drink of water. Meghan ran to the Ferry-dock to see how she could help.

One of the men had climbed the pole from which the pulley hung and was securing the length of rope through its guides. Another of the companions, one on horseback, stood up on his horse’s back as another held the reins and handed up the end of the second rope, which after a few fumbles and twice as many curses was pulled as taut as they could get it and finished off with a sailor’s knot. Rædwald secured the barge to the pulley line with the rope that was coiled in the bottom of the barge.

A cheer went up from both sides of the river as that task was finished.

The pulley apparatus itself was fixed on a stout pole that was driven deep into the ground just back from the bank’s edge. And in normal times, the strength of several donkeys would be used to turn the wheel that hauled in the rope. But their little group was unfamiliar with that more complicated mechanism and so they had to do the work by hand. Gloved hands – as one of them had cautioned, would maintain a better grip and save their hands from rope burn.

The bottom section of the long loop hung down far enough that several of them could grab hold of it and tug. The group formed a line along the length of it, spacing themselves out a little ways along the dock that extended into the river and began to pull steadily with their gloved hands.

Meghan, for her part, added her own slight weight to the team effort. As the rope began to move through the pulley guide, those at the back of the line would move forward to the front to take a new grip. And so began the long slow process of moving the barge . . .

---------------

Rædwald

He had tied Liss to the dock, giving her a last slice of apple and a promise he would soon be back. There were four long, thick oaken poles in the bottom of the barge. He picked one up as he boarded the barge and took a firm hold of it. He would be able to push with it along the river’s bottom to help the barge move forward.

It was slow going, but the combined effort of those on shore and his poling got the barge across. It would be easier going back across as three other of the men could help him.

Once back ashore, he gladly accepted a cup of Sythric’s savory soup, and in fact had a second one . . . ‘Just to fill in the empty corners,’ he said, with a grin.

The barge was big enough for all of them to fit in it. The horses could be tied to the back of it and could swim across as the companions poled. When lunch was done – the fire was put out, the bowls and pot cleaned and packed away and soon the barge was loaded

03-10-2006, 10:10 AM	#181
Undómë Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 400	Bregoware Meghan Her cup of stew was quickly downed; the rich taste of the lamb lingered on her tongue even as she washed it down with a long drink of water. Meghan ran to the Ferry-dock to see how she could help. One of the men had climbed the pole from which the pulley hung and was securing the length of rope through its guides. Another of the companions, one on horseback, stood up on his horse’s back as another held the reins and handed up the end of the second rope, which after a few fumbles and twice as many curses was pulled as taut as they could get it and finished off with a sailor’s knot. Rædwald secured the barge to the pulley line with the rope that was coiled in the bottom of the barge. A cheer went up from both sides of the river as that task was finished. The pulley apparatus itself was fixed on a stout pole that was driven deep into the ground just back from the bank’s edge. And in normal times, the strength of several donkeys would be used to turn the wheel that hauled in the rope. But their little group was unfamiliar with that more complicated mechanism and so they had to do the work by hand. Gloved hands – as one of them had cautioned, would maintain a better grip and save their hands from rope burn. The bottom section of the long loop hung down far enough that several of them could grab hold of it and tug. The group formed a line along the length of it, spacing themselves out a little ways along the dock that extended into the river and began to pull steadily with their gloved hands. Meghan, for her part, added her own slight weight to the team effort. As the rope began to move through the pulley guide, those at the back of the line would move forward to the front to take a new grip. And so began the long slow process of moving the barge . . . --------------- Rædwald He had tied Liss to the dock, giving her a last slice of apple and a promise he would soon be back. There were four long, thick oaken poles in the bottom of the barge. He picked one up as he boarded the barge and took a firm hold of it. He would be able to push with it along the river’s bottom to help the barge move forward. It was slow going, but the combined effort of those on shore and his poling got the barge across. It would be easier going back across as three other of the men could help him. Once back ashore, he gladly accepted a cup of Sythric’s savory soup, and in fact had a second one . . . ‘Just to fill in the empty corners,’ he said, with a grin. The barge was big enough for all of them to fit in it. The horses could be tied to the back of it and could swim across as the companions poled. When lunch was done – the fire was put out, the bowls and pot cleaned and packed away and soon the barge was loaded Last edited by Undómë; 03-10-2006 at 11:12 AM.