the mountains(山脉)-第8节
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fiendish delight in kicking out the others。 They do not run with glad
shouts to plunge into the nearest pool； as most camping fiction would have
us believe。 Not they。 The glad shout and nearest pool can wait until
noon when the sun is warm。 They； too； blow on their fingers and curse
the cook for getting them up so early。 All eat breakfast and feel better。
Now the cook smokes in lordly ease。 One of the other men washes
the dishes； while his companion goes forth to drive in the horses。
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Washing dishes is bad enough； but fumbling with frozen fingers at
stubborn hobble…buckles is worse。 At camp the horses are caught； and
each is tied near his own saddle and pack。
The saddle…horses are attended to first。 Thus they are available for
business in case some of the others should make trouble。 You will see
that your saddle… blankets are perfectly smooth； and so laid that the edges
are to the front where they are least likely to roll under or wrinkle。 After
the saddle is in place； lift it slightly and loosen the blanket along the back
bone so it will not draw down tight under the weight of the rider。 Next
hang your rifle…scabbard under your left leg。 It should be slanted along
the horse's side at such an angle that neither will the muzzle interfere with
the animal's hind leg； nor the butt with your bridle…hand。 This angle must
be determined by experiment。 The loop in front should be attached to the
scabbard； so it can be hung over the horn； that behind to the saddle； so the
muzzle can be thrust through it。 When you come to try this method； you
will appreciate its handiness。 Besides the rifle； you will carry also your
rope； camera； and a sweater or waistcoat for changes in temperature。 In
your saddle bags are pipe and tobacco； perhaps a chunk of bread； your
note…book； and the mapif there is any。 Thus your saddle…horse is
outfitted。 Do not forget your collapsible rubber cup。 About your waist
you will wear your cartridge…belt with six…shooter and sheath…knife。 I use
a forty…five caliber belt。 By threading a buck skin thong in and out
through some of the cartridge loops； their size is sufficiently reduced to
hold also the 30…40 rifle cartridges。 Thus I carry ammunition for both
revolver and rifle in the one belt。 The belt should not be buckled tight
about your waist； but should hang well down on the hip。 This is for two
reasons。 In the first place； it does not drag so heavily at your anatomy；
and falls naturally into position when you are mounted。 In the second
place； you can jerk your gun out more easily from a loose…hanging holster。
Let your knife…sheath be so deep as almost to cover the handle； and the
knife of the very best steel procurable。 I like a thin blade。 If you are a
student of animal anatomy； you can skin and quarter a deer with nothing
heavier than a pocket…knife。
When you come to saddle the pack…horses； you must exercise even
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greater care in getting the saddle… blankets smooth and the saddle in place。
There is some give and take to a rider； but a pack carries 〃dead；〃 and gives
the poor animal the full handicap of its weight at all times。 A rider
dismounts in bad or steep places； a pack stays on until the morning's
journey is ended。 See to it； then； that it is on right。
Each horse should have assigned him a definite and； as nearly as
possible； unvarying pack。 Thus you will not have to search everywhere
for the things you need。
For example； in our own case； Lily was known as the cook…horse。
She carried all the kitchen utensils； the fire…irons； the axe； and matches。
In addition her alforjas contained a number of little bags in which were
small quantities for immediate use of all the different sorts of provisions
we had with us。 When we made camp we unpacked her near the best
place for a fire； and everything was ready for the cook。 Jenny was a sort
of supply store； for she transported the main stock of the provisions of
which Lily's little bags contained samples。 Dinkey helped out Jenny； and
in additionsince she took such good care of her packwas intrusted with
the fishing…rods； the shot…gun； the medicine…bag； small miscellaneous
duffle； and whatever deer or bear meat we happened to have。 Buckshot's
pack consisted of things not often used； such as all the ammunition； the
horse… shoeing outfit； repair…kit； and the like。 It was rarely disturbed at
all。
These various things were all stowed away in the kyacks or alforjas
which hung on either side。 They had to be very accurately balanced。
The least difference in weight caused one side to sag； and that in turn
chafed the saddle…tree against the animal's withers。
So far； so good。 Next comes the affair of the top packs。 Lay your
duffle…bags across the middle of the saddle。 Spread the blankets and
quilts as evenly as possible。 Cover all with the canvas tarpaulin suitably
folded。 Everything is now ready for the pack…rope。
The first thing anybody asks you when it is discovered that you know
a little something of pack… trains is； 〃Do you throw the Diamond Hitch？〃
Now the Diamond is a pretty hitch and a firm one； but it is by no means
the fetish some people make of it。 They would have you believe that it
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represents the height of the packer's art； and once having mastered it； they
use it religiously for every weight； shape； and size of pack。 The truth of
the matter is that the style of hitch should be varied according to the use to
which it is to be put。
The Diamond is good because it holds firmly； is a great flattener； and
is especially adapted to the securing of square boxes。 It is celebrated
because it is pretty and rather difficult to learn。 Also it possesses the
advantage for single…handed packing that it can be thrown slack
throughout and then tightened； and that the last pull tightens the whole
hitch。 However； for ordinary purposes； with a quiet horse and a
comparatively soft pack； the common Square Hitch holds well enough and
is quickly made。 For a load of small articles and heavy alforjas there is
nothing like the Lone Packer。 It too is a bit hard to learn。 Chiefly is it
valuable because the last pulls draw the alforjas away from the horse's
sides； thus preventing their chafing him。 Of the many hitches that remain；
you need learn； to complete your list for all practical purposes； only the
Bucking Hitch。 It is complicated； and takes time and patience to throw；
but it is warranted to hold your deck…load through the most violent storms
bronco ingenuity can stir up。
These four will be enough。 Learn to throw them； and take pains
always to throw them good and tight。 A loose pack is the best expedient
the enemy of your soul could possibly devise。 It always turns or comes
to pieces on the edge of things； and then you will spend the rest of the
morning trailing a wildly buck… ing horse by the burst and scattered
articles of camp duffle。 It is furthermore your exhilarating task； after you
have caught him； to take stock； and spend most of the afternoon looking
for what your first search passed by。 Wes and I once hunted two hours
for as large an object as a Dutch oven。 After which you can repack。
This time you will snug thin
