The temperature was too strong.

Paul searched the room carefully and to his joy, discovered a pair of his father's drawers.

He got into them and tied the waist-string around his neck.
Then forcing a window, he slid down the convenient lightning rod like a young monkey, and was found in his usual haunt by his astonished mother some hours later.

From this time on, she gave him more liberty to follow his natural bent.

From early May until late in October, when not at school, Paul spent most of his time in the water.
In those days, driftwood, consisting of slabs, logs and boards, were continually floating down the river from the headwaters, where the great forests were being cut down.