Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

much or too little, or cooks badly, or is too lazy tobe neat, or lacks torethought in any way, he alonesuffers the penalty; and this is but just. On theother hand, if one of the cruisers' outfits comes togrief, the others can help him out, since all the eggsare not in one basket. I like to have a completecamping outfit of my own, just big enough for twomen, so that I can dispense a modest hospitality toa chance acquaintance, or take with me a comradewho, through no fault of his own, turns up at thelast moment; but I want this outfit to be so lightand compact that I can easily handle it myself whenI am alone. Then I am alwaAS " fixed," and alwaysindependent, come good or ill, blow high orlow.Still, it is the general rule among campers to have" company stores." In so far as this means onlythose things that all use in common, such as tent,utensils, tools, and provisions, it is well enough ; butit should be a point of honor with each and everyman to carry for himself a complete kit of personalnecessities, down to the least detail. As for companystores, everybody should bear a hand in collectingand packing them. To saddle this hard andthankless job on one man, merely because he Is experiencedand a willing worker, is selfish. Dependupon It, the fellow who " hasn^t time " to do hisshare of the work before starting will be the veryone to shirk in camp.Axe.— A full-sized axe should be carried, In coldweather, if means of transportation permit. Itshead need not weigh over 3 or 3^ pounds, but letthe handle be of standard 36-inch length for a fullarmsweep. A single-bitt Is best for campers, as thepoll is useful for driving stakes, knocking off pineknots, to rive timber (striking with a mallet), andas an anvil (bitt stuck In a log or stump).^With this one tool a good axeman can build anythingthat is required in the wilderness, and he canquickly fell and log-up a tree large enough to