The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1913-08-28

aHleb ~ puihg huu ehfiSH tue pioOo
The lining bark of trees is the mos
useful thing | have There seems
10 be no limit to the variety of uses
IL can be adapted to. When twisted
il il firm and pliable. and can be
woven into almost any form.
4 am making a pair of moccasins
Of this material. | also have pail
Of leggings, or chaps. that fasten tc
belt around my waist
The leggins and belt are botf
made of lining bark of the cedar. They
are much lighter than rawhide and
when my skirt of bark is eomplet-
cd I shall have no fear Of meeting
strangers on the trails
I have heard voices since | Ell
tered the forest That was when |
VAS near Horseshoe trail The party
of sportsmen and guides passed with
out seeing me
L shall try to aviod them, even
after | am clothed in my bark suit.
Wednesday. August 13th-Today is
my birthday. What a strange place
to pass a birthday-alone in the
wilderness. II is holiday for me.
Perhaps it is because | am more
comfortably situated that my thoughts
are drifting to my outside friends.
hear the voices Of my woodland neigh.
bors and feel the presence of my
mother. 1t was she who guided my
me back to nature.
I,
today | think of her. She will wond-
er what l have to eat and if | am
comfortable at night. But she will
have no fear.
while my thoughts are with the
outside world today, | have no desire
TO leave my wild neighbors for the
companionship of those | left on Aug
4th.
81 have worked for nine days with
my hands and brain to secure the
comfort which | enjoy today | am
satisfied on this birthday and it will
long be remembered as the most nota-
BILE one in my life.
Il sit in the opening of my camp at
night before my fire and listen to the
red fox barking at the moon. My old
friend the boot owl predicts a storm
and comes to tell me all about it from
his favorite perch in the top of a hem
lock. These voices are familiar to
me and their language is not difficult
to translate.
THE unearthly wall of the wild cat
at night in the forest is music to me
compared with the yell of the domes-
tic cat on my backyard fence in the
city.
1T is impossible to follow any def
mite plans and live as | do.
When | entered the forest | plann-
ed on. getting deer within "a hours.
when | leave camp in the morning
for the day, | bank my fire and all
have to do when | return is to rake
it open and put on more wood. This
saves the trouble of building a new
fire, which | find rather difficult at
times. especially in damp weather.
Il keep my fire burning all night
by loading two green skids with
round. heavy wood. These skids slant
upward from the fire. Conditions
me from setting a deadfall.
and SO berries, fish. frogs and nuts
have taken the place of venison, while
the lining bark of trees has taken
the place of rawhide.
Il find that my food is better for
me than animal meat. and there is a
fresh supply constantly at hand. The
bark | am using is lighter and cooler
than hide in this warm weather.
In addition to all this. | have gain
ed time for the accomplishment of
things more important than the mere
killing of wild animals.
THE chill of the night is growing
more severe. and | am now planning
my hunting. | have noticed signs of
bear, and tomorrow | will begin to
dig my pitfall | ought to be able
to complete this in one day, cover it
and bait it ready for bear
l have promised to be fully clothed
for winter by the time l am ready to
come out, and l will keep my word.
shall need the fur of animals to do
this, and must begin at once to secure
it.
Il feel much stronger than Wien
entered the forest, and am able to cope
with any difficulty that requires
strength. l have lost weight and feei
better for it.
Il sleep six hours each night and
about two hours in the afternoon sun.
My skin is getting tough and brown,
in the sun and wind. But still
manage to add few scratches to my
arms and body each day
THE one thing | miss most is salt.
for | don't seem to get accustomed to
unseasoned food. After my meals.
however, l feel thoroughly satisfied.
| have no regular mealtime.
During the day ! eat berries and
nuts when l happen to be where they
grow. l am never very hungry. AT
night / plan to eat some fish and
frogs legs.
My moccasins I wore today, and
they are big success. | believe they
will last me during my stay in the
woods. The soles and tops are of
lining bark from the cedar, woven like
basket, and are fastened together
by twisted strands of bark woven
around the entire sole. They are as
smooth as the softest leather. and are
light and comfortable.
my moccasins complete the protec-
ton of my lower limbs. Although
my feet are hardened they have been
exposed to poison ivy, and have had
to use great caution during my ira
wells. Twice l have had them swol-
len from the ivy, but not seriously.
my shirt, or coat, of bark will be
completed next week. l am putting
considerable care into this covering,
L.. L 10. L.. a