Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

CHAPTER XIVCABIN BUILDING AND FITTING UPNobody knows what solid comfort ireans untilhe finds himself, snug and well fed, in a bit of acabin, far away in the big sticks, while icy blastsrebound from his stanch roof and walls, to go howJingaway through a famine-stricken wilderness,thwarted by a woodsman's providence and skill.Open the door: you are face-to-face with miseryand death. Close it: the hearth-fire leaps, thekettle sings, you smoke contentedly, and all is well.A tent, at best, is only a shelter : a cabin is a home.Log walls insure everything within against stormsand prowling beasts. There are comfortable bunksfor Partner and you, a table, benches and stools orchairs, a cupboard and bins with a good store of food,a chest or two, shelves and racks, a fireplace orstove. The weapons, tools, and utensils are hungjust where they are handiest. Plenty of good woodis stacked in the dry. On wet days you can stayindoors without feeling cramped or jailed. Andnext season, when you come back again, how likean old friend the log hut twinkles welcome!I shall describe only two types of simple oneroomcabins, such as would be built by hunters orothers who go pretty far back into the woods andrequire no more than a snug "home camp." Fordesigns of more elaborate Structures, to be used asSummer homes in or near "civilization," the readerIS referred to Kemp's Wilderness Homes (OutingPublishing Co., New York) and Wickes' Log Cabins(Forest and Stream Publishinq; Co., New York).