pains, when I have been off on a walk, or have been camping, to notice
the parties of campers and trampers that I have chanced to meet, and
have made a note of their failures or success. The experiences of the
pleasant days when, in my teens, I climbed the mountains of Oxford
County, or sailed through Casco Bay, have added largely to the stock of
notes; and finally the diaries of "the war," and the recollections of
"the field," have contributed generously; so that, with quotations, and
some help from other sources, a sizable volume is ready.

Although it is prepared for young men,--for students more especially,--it
contains much, I trust, that will prove valuable to campers-out in general.

I am under obligations to Dr. Elliott Coues, of the United States Army,
for the valuable advice contained in Chapter XIII.; and I esteem it a
piece of good fortune that his excellent work ("Field Ornithology")
should have been published before this effort of mine, for I hardly know
where else I could have found the information with authority so
unquestionable.

Prof. Edward S. Morse has increased the debt of gratitude I already owe
him, by taking his precious time to draw my illustrations, and prepare
them for the engraver.

Mr. J. Edward Fickett of Portland, a sailmaker, and formerly of the
navy, has assisted in the chapter upon tents; and there are numbers of
my young friends who will recognize the results of their experience, as
they read these pages, and will please to receive my thanks for making
them known to me.

PORTLAND, ME., January, 1877.

HOW TO CAMP OUT.

CHAPTER I.

GETTING READY.

The hope of camping out that comes over one in early spring, the laying
of plans and arranging of details, is, I sometimes think, even more
enjoyable than reality itself. As there is pleasure in this, let me
advise you to give a practical turn to your anticipations.

Think over and decide whether you will walk, go horseback, sail, camp
out in one place, or what you will do; then learn what you can of the
route you propose to go over, or the ground where you intend to camp for
the season. If you think of moving through or camping in places unknown
to you, it is important to learn whether you can buy provisions and get
lodgings along your route. See some one, if you can, who has been where
you think of going, and put down in a note-book all he tells you that
is important.

Have your clothes made or mended as soon as