downing] THE SUMMER OUTING 235 



Put the extra clothing in an old flour sack. This bag, full of 

 leaves makes a good pillow at night. In this sack can be carried 

 your toilet necessities, a comb, tooth brush, a small can of boric 

 acid, and a few safety pins of ordinary size. Accidents will 

 happen to clothing, and one does not want to interrupt the day's 

 march by stopping to sew up rents. The boric acid dissolved in 

 water makes an antiseptic wash that will meet almost any emer- 

 gency. A small roll of surgeon's adhesive tape may well be added 

 to the equipment. A bar of soap for washing dishes may also be 

 permitted in the duffle bag. On rare occasions, this may be 

 applied personally. 



The kit of camp tools and cooking utensils must be reduced to a 

 minimum. A belt axe with good steel in the blade can be bought 

 for 75 cts. Try it out at home to make sure that it will retain its 

 edge. Carry a fine-grained flat file to sharpen it with. Carry a 

 serviceable knife. The pocket knife is best. It should have one 

 good strong blade, and should be made of steel that will keep an 

 edge even when you are cutting a tin can. A fork and spoon 

 apiece, frying pan, and a couple of kettles are enough equipment for 

 two persons. There is a very convenient cooking kit that can be 

 purchased of dealers in army supplies. It is a frying pan with a 

 plate that fits into it. The handle of the frying pan is hinged, and 

 bends over so as to hold the utensils together. There is also room 

 between the two for storing some of your supplies. A couple of 

 small aluminum kettles that fit one inside of the other, holding 

 about a quart and three pints respectively, are ideal, but a lard 

 pail and a coffee can fitting inside of it have served the author for 

 many years. If the bales of the pails do not fasten on with rivets, 

 punch holes through opposite sides of each pail and stick the curved 

 ends of the bales through the holes. Otherwise you will spill your 

 cooking at the first camp fire when the solder melts. A small tin 

 cup can be carried on the belt. This seems a meager equipment for 

 several days in camp. But be persuaded that it is sufficient, for 

 if you start out with more, you will only throw the appliances away 

 in the first twenty-four hours of tramping. 



Finally, there must be considered the food. Here the novice 

 makes his greatest mistake. He is prone to load up with an abund- 

 ance of good things to tickle his palate on the journey, but the food 

 must be rigidly selected with a view to giving a maximum of 

 nutrition with a minimum of weight, if it is to be toted on your 



