Emerson Hough

Out of Doors Emerson Hough

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1915 Excerpt: ...man's-size axe and that it is really sharp, and that there is a file in camp to keep it sharp. It is very well that there should be in the party one or two additional axes, hand axes of at least a pound weight. The dinky sort that go in your pocket ought to be left at home with that patent tent in the front yard for the children. You can get a good, practical little hand-axe with a knob on the handle, a claw to pull nails, and some real steel in the blade. This will be a little heavy to carry on your belt unless you are out for a hunt by yourself--and may get caught out over night. It will, however, go well on your saddle horn. Keep your own axe to yourself in your own tent, and don't lend it, nor let it lie around. Keep it sharp. One or two of these little affairs will help a great deal in camp work. They cannot, however, take the place of a real axe in certain phases of camp life and of mountain travel. A folding pocket-knife with good-sized blade supplants the long-blade hunting-knife which most of us like to wear in the wilderness. This will do for your culinary list except that you should see that there is a spoon and fork in the grub box for you. You want your own box of matches in your vest pocket with your compass. On your saddle is your rifle scabbard as well as your camera, which latter goes at the side of the horn. At the cantle you tie your coat and slicker. Don't forget a good, loose wool coat, for the nights in the mountains are cold; and I don't know but that you might get a good warm waistcoat. You will be none too warm. There should be a good sweater somewhere in your outfit. Also there should be a half dozen pairs of heavy, wool stockings. You can wear one or two pairs of these over a light and soft pair of stockings so that your feet will...