544 
FOREST AND STREAM 
November, 1917 
A Practical Trail Measurer 
I have a hunting companion whose idea 
of a mile is about three times my own; so 
in order to convince him that I knew a 
mile when I walked one, I rigged up a 
trail measurer like this: I took the front 
wheel of a bicycle with forks and the tire 
on, and on the end of the forks I fastened 
a piece of wood two feet long for a handle. 
Then I purchased a cyclometer for about 
seventy-five cents and fastened it to the 
forks. Now when I want to measure a 
trail I push this wheel ahead of me and 
the thing is done. It is more practical and 
much cheaper and quicker than having a 
surveyor measure the distance. 
Nevill K. Morris, Long Island. 
To Tauten Sagging Tent Corners 
Being troubled with sagging tent cor¬ 
ners which looked untidy and also leaked, 
I studied out a way to keep them taut. 
Through the grommet at the corner run a 
single rope and fasten with a knot under¬ 
neath. Lead this rope through a hole in 
one end of a piece of wood as illustrated, 
then over a stake about 18 inches high—it 
should have a smooth notch in the top— 
pass the rope around a shorter stake and 
back through the hole in the other end of 
the small piece of wood. Tauten the tent 
rope and brace the small piece of wood 
against the long stake. It will remain in 
position and can be adjusted as the con¬ 
dition of the canvas warrants. 
William Graham, Vermont. 
Traveler’s Box-shape Knapsack 
The knapsack for the traveler should be 
made small, as one is apt to overload him¬ 
self with a large knapsack. It should be 
made box-shape, as a small bag-shape 
knapsack is very hard to pack. I make 
mine as illustrated from a square of light 
weight, waterproof material, 21 by 23 inches. 
Cut a five inch square from each corner 
and make eyelet holes as illustrated. Crease 
the material on the dotted lines so it will 
fold easily when laced together. 
The packing is begun by laying the 
folded blanket on the bottom, then the 
other things of your outfit; over all is 
stretched the poncho. Then the double 
diamond hitch is thrown, which laces the 
2 \" BY 23" 
13" HIGH . 
5 “ DEEP. 
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knapsack together. You may think this 
sounds like “packing a mule” and the idea 
is somewhat similar, for a man will object 
as much as a mule if through careless pack¬ 
ing the axe-head, knife-handle or same 
other unyielding thing works around into 
his ribs or backbone. If you cannot 
throw a diamond hitch, it is not necessary 
to master it just for this knapsack. A 
little ingenuity will teach you the best and 
quickest way to close the flaps by means 
of a six-foot cord and the eyelets. 
Straps are attached to the bottom of the 
knapsack so as to adjust it to your indi¬ 
vidual requirements. They may be made 
of strips of the material doubled and 
stitched on one side. These do not cut into 
the shoulders like leather straps. 
Sewing Buttons on a Sweater 
It is hard to make a button hold for any 
length of time on a knitted garment that 
is in constant use. Buttons pull through 
and cause the garment to ravel out. I 
found a simple way to overcome this an¬ 
noying tendency which may be of use to 
other readers. I thread a darning needle 
with cord and wax the two ends together 
with beeswax, which is always in my ditty- 
SHOWING METHOD OF SECURELY 
FASTENING CORD TO HOLD BUTTONS. 
bag. Then I cut a piece of leather about 
the size of the button, rawhide is good, 
and punch four holes to correspond with 
the holes in the button. Place this leather 
disc on the inside of the sweater, oppo¬ 
site from the button. Run the needle 
through each hole—once is enough if heavy 
doubled cord is used—then pull taut and tie 
on the inside with a square knot. 
Wire Candle Holder for Overhead Light 
If you have ever pitched tent near others 
you know how telltale shadows are often 
cast by lights placed on tables—to say noth¬ 
ing of these lights being in 
the way. An overhead 
light casts no shadows on 
the tent walls and can be 
quickly made with the aid 
of the contents of the ditty- 
bag. I suppose every ex¬ 
perienced camper carries a 
ditty-bag and can make any 
article in it take the place 
of two or three carried by 
those who are not used to 
makeshifts. From the old 
“buckskin pouch” take a 
strand of wire about 3J/2 
feet long—brass or copper, 
either one will do. Make a 
little hook at each end 
and shape it around the 
candle as shown in the dia- v ^ 
gram. Suspend this from 
the ridgepole at a convenient height by 
tying a cord of sufficient length to the 
wire loop. 
Jim Ferguson, New York. 
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