Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

352 CAMPING AND WOODCRAFTto those that can be entered by descending sinkholes.This is work that calls for deliberate preparationand cool heads. After effecting an openingin the bottom of the "sink," if it has been closed,erect a strong frame over the opening to hold ahoisting-tackle, and use a rope which has beenstretched enough to insure that it will not spin roundwhen a w^eight is suspended from it. This rig isbetter than a windlass, if for no other reason thanthat the explorer has more confidence that it will notlet fly and drop him. For short descents it is sufficientto fasten the rope around the left ankle ofthe adventurer and then make a stirrup-loop for hisfoot. Generally it is better to rig a boatswain'schair to sit in (Fig. 149). This is simply a boardseat with an auger-hole at each end through whicha slack rope is roved and the ends knotted, afterwhich the hoisting rope is made fast to the middl^'.of the slack at a convenient height.Before a man starts down he fastens a signalcord to his waist, which is then passed to one sideof the opening, where it cannot become entangledwith the hoisting rope, and is managed there bysomebody who has no other duty to distract him.One jerk on this cord means stop, two, lower, threehoist. Such an appliance is absolutely necessary indeep holes, unless some sort of telephone is substituted.There should be three trusty men for themain rope and one for the signal-cord. The explorershould have a staff to help him swing clearof impediments, and it must be tied to him by alanyard.Before the descent is made all loose stones shouldbe removed from around the mouth of the pit,for apebble falling from a considerable height may stunor kill a man. A ball of something like cottonwaste, saturated with oil, should be ignited anddropped into the pit before descending, to guardagainst accident from fire-damp.What is Found in Caves.—The chief commerv