Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

92 CAMPING AND WOODCRAFTthe line you wish to measure. Pass the end of theline twice round the stem or peg, then, taking theend and a small bight of the measuring part, hitchthem as if you were going to tie a reef knot, pullthe first hitch tight, but do not complete the knotby making the second hitch ; this will hold quite fastenough, and a slight jerk will be sufficient to set itfree when you wish to haul in the end.A measuring line should merely be straight uponthe ground, not drawn taut; still less should it belifted up and then pulled to a straight line in theair. Cords of any kind are too easily stretched tobe trusted for measuring if there is any strain onthem.To Set Out a Right Angle.—Any triangle thesides of which are in the proportion of 3, 4, and 5,is a right angled triangle. For example; Measure40 feet on a line that youwish to run at right angles,Peg A and B (Fig. 18).Fasten end of tape at A,take 80 feet, and fasten 80-foot mark at B. Then,taking tape in hand, walkaside till BC and AC aretaut. BC is then perpendicularto AB, and j5 is a^ight angle.Fig. I8.-T0 LayOut a Right Angle 1 MEASURE AN IN-ACCESSIBLE Distance.—The width of a river, for instance, may be measuredwith the aid of a pocket compass. Say the riverruns east and west, and you are on the south side.Choose a tree {A, Fig. 19), or other well definedmark on the opposite shore, and bring it to bear duenorth of you. Mark your position with a peg atB ; turn to one side, say the left, and walk westwardtill A bears exactly northeast, and put a peg there,C; then CB will equal BA, the breadth of the river,because CB and BA subtend an angle of 90°, or a