5 5^ AMERICAN GAME ElSHBS. 



BEDDING. 



Too much care cannot be given to this subject. Next to 

 that of a good suit of clothing it is the most important part 

 of a camp-outfit. As I have before had occasion to say, I 

 would rather get into a good bed at night, without my sup- 

 per, than sit at a feast and then sleep on the hard ground 

 without covering enough to keep me warm. After a hard 

 day's work at tramping or rowing, a good night's rest is abso- 

 lutely necessary to prepare one for the labor and fatigue of 

 the following day. This can be had only in a good bed. 

 You may possibly tramp all day with your feet wet all your 

 clothing wet, if need be without injury to yourself; but be 

 sure you crawl into a good, warm, dry, soft bed at night. 

 Blankets are the staple article of camp-bedding, and you 

 should never go into camp with less than two pairs of good 

 heavy ones, even in summer; and in fall or winter the num- 

 ber must be increased as the temperature descends. 



But the boss camp-bed for all times and all climes, for all 

 tramps and all climbs, is a sleeping-bag. I would as soon 

 think of going into the woods without my rifle as without my 

 sleeping-bag. 



The following description of it, taken from my book, 

 "Cruisings in the Cascades," is re-printed here for the bene- 

 fit of such as may not have seen it there: 



The outer bag is made of heavy, brown, waterproof canvas, 

 six feet long, three feet wide in the centre, tapered to two feet 

 at the head and sixteen inches at the foot. Above the head 

 of the bag proper, flaps project a foot farther, with which the 

 occupant's head may be completely covered, if desired. 

 These are provided with buttons and button-holes, so that they 

 may be buttoned clear across, for stormy or very cold weather. 

 The bag is left open, from the head down one edge, two feet, 

 and a flap is provided to lap over this opening. Buttons are 

 sewed on the bag, and there are button-holes in the flaps so 



