Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-17

carry 1t and canoe to the next launching
place. For this reason canoe load will be
divided into separate packs of forty or fifty
or SIXTY pounds each, according to the
strength of the men.
Two men can outfit for a two weeks can1n
at total cost of $1C5, which will provide
everything. from canoe to extra shoes. with
me exception of guns and fishing tackle and
1cod This amount will be divided as fol-
lows: Tent Of the a pattern, $40; four pairs
OF blankets, 50; cooking outfit, nested In
one pot, So; canvas bags to hold food and
othef stun, 80; canvas bucket. AK in sheath
Two seFeh-lnch sheath knives and compass,
$40; extra clothing, $24; canvas-covered ca
noe, $50
This brings the cost Of each man to
SGD a week; but of course, the outfit will
remain serYiceable for many seasons, and
once supplied the camper can make his
succeeding trips very economically
Even for the first trip much of the cost
mentioned here can be cut off If the
camper hire canoe and tent the rent for
two weeks will be between So and $40 They
can carry old clothing with them instead
of laying in stock OF garments made
specially. They need not carry the excel
lent but expensive nested cooking outfit
but can take frying pans and so on from
home. That would cut the cost of a camp
ing trip for two down to $34 for the whole
period. But this money would be almost
all spent with nothing to show for 1t after
camp Is broken.
modest outfit in the very beginning. ....
Pitching the Camp.
To make an ideal camp requires wood
craft and genius. To make a camp that
shall at least be habitable requires only
common sense and little experience of
wild life.
The first thing to do is to find a dry place
Almost equal to that in importance Is to
water, preferably running water. Lake
water often leaves much to be desired both
in favor and temperature.
AS soon as the location is selected the ak
is unpacked and the chosen site of the tent
cleared and leveled. Then the tent is erect
ed, care being taken to drive the tent
stakes into stiff soil where they will be
sure to hold, no matter how hard it blows
or how much the rain may soak the
ground
Then the ak. truly an indispensable camp
tool comes into play again to break
cular ditch all around the tent. This Is to
catch rain water and lead it off before 1t
runs under the canvas.
One man goes to gather firewood and pre-
pare for cooking, while the other unpacks
the canoe and arranges the canvas home.
He cuts hemlock tWigs, trims them and
lays them carefully in smooth rows to
serve as bedding. In default of hemlock,
leaves or grass carefully spread and COW
cred with the rubber blankets of which
each camper must have one, will make
sufficiently comfortable bed, especially as
spare clothing can be disposed here and
there to soften hard spots.
There are unfortunate men who never
can sleep in measurable comfort on the
ground or even on a camp bed. But most
men can sleep that way far better than
they would imagine.
Babes in the Woods.
And what sleep 1t is!
High in the lofty green belfry of the
pines, the wind tolls the bells Of the woods
deep and slow. Silvery, like inbreaking
chimes, tinkle the clear matin bells-the
bird-calls, as the little ones fit into the
dusky branches to sleep.
Before the camp the darkling lake re-
fleets star on star. holding their lighted
images as steadily in Its unstable bosom
as If they were set In another heaven.
Somewhere a loon cries, wavering, mourn
| full the very voice of the wild places.
Somewhere great muskallonge splashes
at the edge of lily pods.
| From the tall trees, from the black sky,
| from the star-gemfmed lake, softly and all
| peryading as the spicy air, comes some
| thing mystic and Notwithstanding
! that fills the soul at first with vague
unknowing longing, till suddenly the touch
of the wilderness takes form and 10! al
| once the camp is full Of men no longer. but
children, sleeping as innocently and dream
lessly as when, long, long ago in forgotteu