Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

PERSONAL KITS 173IS away from civilization. Have a time-table of therailroad that you expect to return by.Matchbox.— Do not omit a waterproof matchbox,of such pattern as has a cover that cannot dropoff. I prefer a flat one. It can be opened wirhone hand. The matches in this box are to be usedonly in emergency. Carry the daily supply loosewhere you can get at them. For this purpose I likea pigskin pocket with snap-button, worn on the belt.The matches I waterproof, before starting, by dippingthem half-length in shellac varnish thinnedwith alcohol to the right consistency, which is foundby experiment, and laying them out separately on anewspaper to dry. This is better than using paraffineor collodion, because shellac does not wear off,and it is itself inflammable, like sealing-wax.Matches so treated can be left a long time in waterwithout spoiling.A bit of candle isa handy thing to start fire withwet wood, besides its other obvious use in an emergency.Sick-room candles are less bulky than commonones, burn brighter, and last longer.Flashlight.— To find things in the tent atnight, or to find one's way if belated, a pocket electricflasher is so useful that a camper should alwayscarry one. Get one with round edges that will notwear holes in the pocket. The kind shaped like afountain pen is all right in some cases, but not onhunting or fishing trips: the less bright metal youexpose, the better.Eye Glasses.— If you wear them, carry a sparepair; the woods are hard on such things.The glare of the sun on water, or snow, or indeserts, is often very trying. The best sun glassesare what are called shooting glasses, of amber color,w^hich excludes the ultra-violet rays. They arelarge enough to protect the eyes against wind, dust,and flying insects. They come handy when one ispursued for an hour by a swarm of *' red pepper "