36 SPORTING ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST. 



careful observer, one may find camp in the densest forest 

 almost as easily as he would in a glade. The first thing in 

 starting out in the morning is to note the position of the 

 encampment and its immediate surroundings, paying par- 

 ticular attention to any peculiar or prominent landmarks, 

 streams, tarns, or rocks, and the direction in which they 

 lie from it. The region traversed during the day, if one 

 is alone, should also be impressed on the memory; or it 

 might be " blazed " at intervals by scoring trees with a 

 knife, breaking the boughs of some of the shrubbery, or 

 dropping a stone here and there, so that they might be 

 readily seen in case the return was made by the same 

 route. A person ought also to carefully scan the principal 

 trees, and remember any individuality they might possess ; 

 as, for instance, on which side the moss grew thickest 

 generally the north, and on which side the boughs were 

 longest and most abundant always the south. If one 

 thinks he is lost, he should retrace his steps as carefully as 

 possible, and that he can readily do in the woods ; and if 

 night overtakes him ere he can reach camp, he should not 

 get alarmed, but make himself as comfortable as he can 

 under the circumstances, and wait for daylight to continue 

 his work. 



As the most cautious and careful of persons may some- 

 times be compelled to make a temporary shelter for them- 

 selves away from their companions, it would be well to al- 

 ways carry a supply of matches in a pocket for the purpose 

 of building a fire, as that is useful in many ways, besides its 

 heat and cheerfulness. 



If the trail becomes indistinct, it may be followed by rais- 

 ing the eyes and allowing them to glance a little way ahead ; 

 then any impressions on the ground or leaves, or any disar- 

 rangement of the grass and shrubbery, is readily seen. The 

 scanning glance should be rapid, as the line is likely to be- 

 come blank to the gazer if it is looked at steadily for any 

 length of time. Another fact that may be noted is, that 

 wild animals and as for that the domestic also run 

 against the wind when startled ; and if one knows from 



