Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

226 CAMPING AND WOODCRAFTand will soon burn down to embers that are not tooardent for frying; or (2) a solid bed of long-livedcoals that will keep up a steady, glowing, smokelessheat for baking, roasting, or slow boiling; or (3) abig log fire that will throw its heat forward on theground, and into a tent or lean-to, and will lastseveral hours w^ithout replenishing.Luncheon Fire.— For a noonday lunch, or anyother quick meal, when you have only to boil coffeeand fry something, a large fire is not wanted. Drivea forked stake in the ground, lay a green stick acrossit, slanting upward from the ground, and weightthe lower end with a rock, so you can easily regulatethe height of the pot. The slanting stick shouldbe notched, or have the stub of a twig left at itsupper end, to hold the pot bail in place, and shouldbe set at such an angle that the pot swings about afoot clear of the ground.Then gather a small armful of sound, dry twigsfrom the size of a lead pencil to that of your finger.Take no twig that lies flat on the ground, for suchare generally damp or rotten. Choose hardwood,if there is any, for it lasts well.Select three of your best sticks for kindling.Shave each of them almost through, for half itslength, leaving lower end of shavings attached tothe stick, one under the other. Stand these in atripod, under the hanging pot, with their curlsdown. Around them build a small conical wigwamof the other sticks, standing each on end andslanting to a common center. The whole affair isno bigger than your hat. Leave free air spaces betweenthe sticks. Fire requires air, and plenty of it,and it burns best when it has something to climb upon ; hence the wigwam construction. Now touchoff the shaved sticks, and in a moment you will havea small blast furnace under the pot. This will getup steam in a hurry. Feed it with small sticks asneeded.Meantime get two bed-sticks, four or five inches