TO ALERT BAY 81 



to find our way through the impenetrable 

 forest ! 



The morning of the 28th was spent in sort- 

 ing out the kit we could take with us, which, 

 as packing was our only means of transport, 

 had to be cut down to nothing. Mine con- 

 sisted of two flannel shirts, one change of 

 underclothing, two pairs of socks, one sweater, 

 one spare pair of boots, a few handkerchiefs, 

 sponge, soap and towel. One Hudson Bay 

 blanket, for it was not yet cold in the woods, 

 and one waterproof ground sheet in which the 

 pack was made up, completed my outfit. The 

 men had a single fly to sleep under. My tent, 

 which Mr. Williams had kindly ordered for me 

 in Vancouver, was of the lean-to pattern, made 

 with a flap which let down in front in bad 

 weather, completely closing the tent. Being 

 made of so-called silk, it weighed only five 

 pounds. It measured 7 feet x 6 feet, was 

 about 7 feet high in front and sloped back to 

 about 2 feet high behind. It was most com- 

 fortable so long as one slept on the ground, 

 but was not high enough behind to take even 

 a small camp bedstead. It was quite water- 

 proof, but should a spark from the fire fall on 

 it, a hole was burnt rapidly. I understand 

 that the following renders the silk almost fire- 

 proof — 



