644 WOODCRAFT 



boots on. Use moccasins if you have them. Keep your feet ta 

 the fire, hut don't let them bum. See that there is a sufficient 

 supply of fuel for the night, and learn to wake at proper intervals 

 to replenish the fire. Early mornings are always cold at any sea- 

 son of the year. A compound of tar and sweet oil applied to the 

 face and hands is the best protection against gnats and flies. Buck- 

 skin gloves may be worn without discomfort at night. When an 

 A tent is used, a cord drawn through the apex with its ends stretched 

 to convenient trees, supports it better than two crotches and a 

 ridge-pole, and will prevent its being blown down by a gust of wind. 

 The sides should be drawn down tight and fastened to the ground. 

 Never sit up after nine o'clock at night, and rise at daylight in the 

 morning. Never omit a good wash, at least of the face and hands. 



Every hunter should know the edible roots, berries, and salad 

 plants of the country he hunts in. The number, especially of edi- 

 ble and wholesome " weeds " which can be boiled as greens, 

 is astonishing. He should also know the herbs from which to 

 make teas for sickness, and poultices and dressings for wounds 

 and bruises. None of the ills which a hunter as such is heir to, are 

 beyond the reach of nature's remedies. If he don't know the med- 

 icines of the field and forest, he should take to camp a few of the 

 simplest of the apothecary's sort. 



One gfreat point gained in learning woodcraft is to acquire a 

 habit of close and continued observation. AU dense woods look 

 so much alike that the novice without a guide is almost helpless. 

 In travelling it is important to turn frequently and survey the 

 ground behind, especially if one intends to retrace his steps. A 

 locality looks entirely different from different points of observation. 

 Hence it is always prudent to blaze the route by occasionally 

 scoring a tree or breaking the top of a bush or limb. Where 

 small spruces are frequent, the broken tops of these are most 

 easily seen. In passing through alder brush, cut them well down 

 toward the buts with a hatchet, remembering to bend them well 

 over with the left hand and giving a smart clip on the bend. A 

 .greenhorn will be surprised to see how easy it is to cut brush in 

 this way, and how much hacking is required to cut even the 

 smallest sapling in any other way. Alder brush makes a good 

 ■' blaze,'' as the under sides of the leaves are much lighter than 



