Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

362 CAMPING AND WOODCRAFTcause it was deep in the cranny of a big rock ledgethat overhung the public road.Occasionally a hive is found in a fallen treeor in an old stump, but this is exceptional. Beeshave trouble enough, as it is, from squirrels, 'coons,bears, and other climbing marauders, to say nothingof men.In searching, it is well to remember that beetreesseldom are found far from water.Back-tracking.—If the bees that you liberatefinally turn back on the course, or if they do notreturn to the bait, it shows that you have passedthe hive and must "back-track." Then make twostands close together, only 50 to 100 yards apart,Iming them carefully. You may now have twosquads of bees flying from opposite directions intothe tree. If this fails, take a stand 50 yards offto one side (the distance depends upon how thickthe woods are), and examine every tree in theneighborhood with keen scrutiny. Pour out aliberal amount of feed, so as to get a large numberof bees at work. If still you do not find thebee-tree, try again in this place a day of two later,or whenever the weather is favorable.Marking the Tree.—In settled regions,where statute-law prevails, a hive of bees in atree belongs to the owner of the soil, unless a formerowner proves and reclaims them. In the wilderness,by law of the woods, ownership is to the firstcomer who makes a blaze on the bark and cuts orpencils his initials on it. Anyone else meddling withthe treasure, unless it be claimed in time by theowner of the land himself, is a trespasser, like theinterloper who sets traps along another trapper'sline.Having found a bee-tree, and marked it, then,unless you are very well acquainted with the woods,mark your trail outward with bush-signs; otherwiseyou may easily miss it on j^our return.Robbing the Hive.—Now you are ready todeclare war. Men who have had much experience