loth and rigged it on the same principle. It
was a partial success and I used it for one season. But that cold,
peaked, dark space was always back of my head and it seemed like an
iceberg. It was in vain that I tied a handkerchief about my head, or
drew a stockingleg over it. That miserable, icy angle was always there.
And it would only shelter one man anyhow. When winter drove me out of
the woods I gave it to an enthusiastic young friend, bought some more
oil-cloth and commenced a shanty-tent that was meant to be perfect. A
good many leisure hours were spent in cutting and sewing that shanty,
which proved rather a success. It afforded a perfect shelter for a
space 7x4 feet, but was a trifle heavy to pack and the glazing began to
crack and peel off in a short time. I made another and larger one of
stout drilling, soaked in lime-water and alum; and this was all that
could be asked when put up properly on a frame. But, the sides and ends
being sewed to the roof made it unhandy to use as a shelter, when
shelter was needed on short notice. So I ripped the back ends of the
sides loose from the flap, leaving it, when spread out, as shown in the
diagram. This was better; when it was necessary to make some sort of
shelter in short order, it could be done with a single pole as used in
the Indian camp, laying the tent across the pole and using a few tacks
to keep it in place at sides and center. This can be done in ten
minutes and makes a shelter-tent that will turn a heavy rain for hours.

On the whole, for all kinds of weather, the shanty-tent is perhaps the
best style of camp to be had at equal expense and trouble.

For a summer camp, however, I have finally come to prefer the simple
lean-to or shed roof. It is the lightest, simplest and cheapest of all
cloth devices for camping out and I have found it sufficient for all
weathers from June until the fall of the leaves. It is only a sheet of
strong cotton cloth 9x7 feet and soaked in lime and alum-water as the
other. The only labor in making it is sewing two breadths of sheeting
together. It needs no hemming, binding, loops or buttons, but is to be
stretched on a frame as described for the brush shanty and held in
place with tacks. The one I have used for two seasons cost sixty cents
and weighs 2 1/4 pounds. It makes a good shelter for a party of three;
and if it be found a little too breezy for cool nights, a sufficient
windbreak can be made by driving light stakes at the side