WAYS AND MEANS 



the thermometer is far below zero. But 

 in the present state of the craft a good 

 thick flannel shirt is inevitable — two of 

 them rather: the one in your pack, with 

 spare trousers, socks, underclothes, moc- 

 casins, sweater or cardigan; to be kept 

 most sacredly dry, never worn in the day- 

 time, always donned at the first possible in- 

 stant after the day's work is done. The 

 alternative of shorts or longs may be dis- 

 posed of according to individual conform- 

 ation and liking, but there are reasons for 

 preferring knee-breeches by day, trousers 

 by night. Having shifted into this gear, 

 nothing remains but to slack away every- 

 thing when the hour comes for turning in. 

 I happen to be a pre-pyjamic survival, but 

 have seen these epicene garments used in 

 the woods without apparent ill results: — 

 another undressing, of course, and so much 

 the more to carry. Sleeping in a coat in- 

 terferes with the flow of blood and chills 

 rather than warms. Thow it over shoul- 

 ders or feet. A second coat in the woods 

 is as useless and cumbersome as the *e' in 

 *axe'. 



As one cannot work in a mackintosh or 

 oilskin, these sink into the list of comfortable 

 things that are not strictly necessary, — 

 235 



