Stephen Brennan - The Adventurous Boys Handbook

These remarks would not be complete without a few practical suggestions for making temporary camp shelter, be it for the night or season.

IMPROVISED CAMP SHELTER BRUSH, BARK AND LOG HUTS, ETC.

It might perchance happen that you desire to stay over night, away from the camp proper, for instance, ready to pick up a fresh trail of large game, etc., on the early morn, then these suggestions might not prove amiss.

BLANKET TENT

Here only a little instruction is necessary; patience, common sense and a willing hand can accomplish much, and about all the tools needed are a good sharp axe and knife.

The supporting frames can be improvised from a tree trunk or forked branch, from which a long ridge is trailed to the ground, the larger branches serve as side walls, and the smaller ones in turn as the shingling. The only important point to be observed in their uses is that the smaller clippings of the branches be used leaves down, lapping each other, so as to turn and shed the rain or dew; always work from the bottom up, as in shingling.

The variety shown is for the selection of the woodsman.All are simple and effective. Probably the Indian Quick-up is the simplest. It consists of light sapplings of any ordinary kind or length, inserted in the ground, bent over a tree or log and the ends tied with a vine, over which a blanket is thrown, or branches laid. Here can one with a cheerful fire, rest dry and warm. True you may have a tent somewhere, but with the information this Guide imparts, you are independent of these things.

THE INDIAN QUICK-UP

THE BRUSH LEAN-TO

THE BRUSH TENT

THE BARK SHANTY

THE LOG CABIN

PORTABLE HUNTERS CABIN

HUNTERS CABIN PACKED

Indians used to laugh at the white men because they said that they built such a big fire they could not get near it, while the Indian built a little fire and could get close to it.

Two things are essential in the building of a campfire: kindling and air. A fire must be built systematically. First, get dry, small, dead branches, twigs, fir branches, and other inflammable material; These should be gathered during the afternoon. Place them on the ground. Be sure that air can draw under it and upward through it. Next place some heavier sticks and so on until you have built the camp fire the required size. In many camps it is considered an honor to light the fire.

If the fire is to be used for cooking, it is well to confine the heat between two large logs, or, if baking is to be done on it, it is best to build an oven with large stones. But the Indians were usually content with an open fire.

Never build a camp fire too near the tent or inflammable pine trees. Better to build it in the open.