58 
GOAR LE Rave 
TREE CLIMBING. 
A classic example—Tom Brown’s sound advice—The four requisites for a 
good tree climber—Swarming up branchless trees—Working along spread- 
ing, horizontal or pendent boughs—A famous Raven’s tree—An awkward 
climb—The “S” and its difficulties—Reach the nest—Trees too large to 
swarm up—Value of pendent boughs in some cases—Tree climbing with 
ropes—Use of light casting-line and lead—How to get a rope over a 
high bough—Ascending with the aid of a rope—Arrival at branches— 
Transition from rope work to climbing—Extra large trees—Climbing by 
successive stages with rope—Climbing 
irons—A nasty accident—Irons and rope 
an ideal plan—Dress for tree climbing 
—Uses of light line and fishing creel. 
HE art of tree climbing, for art it is, 
exists in an embryonic form in most 
schoolboys. Most lads however 
discontinue the practice just at the 
age when they are developing 
strength and skill enough to be- 
come fair climbers. No better ad- 
vice for the youthful climber can. 
be found than in ‘‘Tom Brown's 
School Days” and the famous story 
of the Kestrel’s nest in the tall fir 
in Caldecott’s spinney has given 
inspiration to many a lad, whilst all 
through my life, whenever I have 
attained the “decisive point” in a 
big tree and felt sure of the nest, I 
