Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

CHAPTER VIITCAMP BEDDINGOne's health and comfort in camp depend verymuch upon what kind of bed he has. In nothingdoes a tenderfoot show off more discreditably thanin his disregard of the essentials of a good night'srest. He comes into camp after a hard day's tramp,sweating and tired, eats heartily, and then throwshimself down in his blanket on the bare ground.For a time he rests in supreme ease, drowsily satisfiedthat this is the proper way to show that he can" rough it," and that no hardships of the field candaunt his spirit. Presently, as his eyes grow heavyand he cuddles up for the night, he discovers thata sharp stone is boring into his flesh. He shiftsabout, and rolls upon a sharper stub or projectingroot. Cursing a little, he arises and clears theground of his tormentors. Lying down again, hedrops off peacefully and is soon snoring. An hourpasses, and he rolls over on the other side; a halfhour, and he rolls back again into his former position; ten minutes, and he rolls again ; then he tosses^fidgets, groans, w^akes up, and finds that his hipsand shoulders ache from serving as piers for thearches of his back and sides.He gets up, muttering, scoops out hollows to receivethe projecting portions of his frame, and againlies down. An hour later he reawakens, this timewith shivering flesh and teeth a-chatter. How coldthe ground is! The blanket over him is sufficientcover, but the same thickness beneath, compacted byhis weight and in contact with the cold earth, is124not