第 3 节
作者:双曲线      更新:2021-04-30 17:21      字数:9322
  shirt。    The latter is lighter; softer; and more impervious to the wind than
  the sweater。      Here again I wish to place myself on record as opposed to a
  coat。    It   is   a   useless   ornament;   assumed   but   rarely;   and   then   only   as
  substitute for a handier garment。
  Inasmuch as you will be a great deal called on to handle abrading and
  sometimes frozen ropes; you will want a pair of heavy buckskin gauntlets。
  An   extra   pair   of   stout   high…laced   boots   with   small   Hungarian   hob…nails
  will come   handy。       It   is marvelous how  quickly  leather wears out   in   the
  downhill friction of granite and shale。             I once found the heels of a new
  pair   of   shoes   almost   ground   away   by   a   single   giant…strides   descent   of   a
  steep shale…covered thirteen… thousand…foot mountain。                  Having no others
  I   patched   them   with   hair…covered   rawhide   and   a   bit   of   horseshoe。       It
  sufficed; but was a long and disagreeable job which an extra pair would
  have obviated。
  Balsam   is   practically   unknown   in   the   high   hills;   and   the   rocks   are
  especially hard。       Therefore you will take; in addition to your gray army…
  blanket; a thick quilt or comforter to save your bones。                  This; with your
  saddle…blankets and pads as foundation; should give you easeif you are
  tough。     Otherwise take a second quilt。
  A tarpaulin of heavy canvas 17 x 6 feet goes under you; and can be; if
  necessary; drawn up to cover your head。                We never used a tent。          Since
  you   do not   have   to pack   your   outfit   on   your own back;   you   can;  if   you
  choose; include a small pillow。           Your other personal belongings are those
  you would carry into the Forest。             I have elsewhere described what they
  should be。
  Now as to the equipment for your horses。
  The   most   important   point   for   yourself   is   your   riding…   saddle。    The
  cowboy or military style and seat are the only practicable ones。                   Perhaps
  of   these   two   the   cowboy  saddle   is   the   better;   for   the   simple   reason   that
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  often in roping or leading a refractory horse; the horn is a great help。                   For
  steep…trail work the double cinch is preferable to the single; as it need not
  be pulled so tight to hold the saddle in place。
  Your riding…bridle you will make of an ordinary halter by riveting two
  snaps   to   the   lower   part   of   the   head…piece   just   above   the   corners   of   the
  horse's mouth。        These are snapped into the rings of the bit。              At night you
  unsnap the   bit;   remove   it   and the   reins;   and   leave   the   halter   part   on   the
  horse。     Each   animal;   riding   and   packing;   has   furthermore   a   short   lead…
  rope attached always to his halter…ring。
  Of   pack…saddles   the   ordinary   sawbuck   tree   is   by   all   odds   the   best;
  provided it fits。      It rarely does。      If you can adjust the wood accurately to
  the anatomy of the individual horse; so that the side pieces bear evenly and
  smoothly       without     gouging     the   withers    or  chafing     the   back;   you    are
  possessed       of  the   handiest     machine      made     for   the   purpose。      Should
  individual fitting prove impracticable; get an old LOW California riding…
  tree and have a blacksmith bolt an upright spike on the cantle。                      You can
  hang the loops of the kyacks or alforjasthe sacks slung on either side the
  horse     from    the   pommel      and   this   iron   spike。    Whatever       the   saddle
  chosen; it should be supplied with breast… straps; breeching; and two good
  cinches。
  The kyacks or alforjas just mentioned are made either of heavy canvas;
  or   of   rawhide   shaped   square   and   dried   over   boxes。        After   drying;   the
  boxes are removed; leaving the stiff rawhide like small trunks open at the
  top。    I   prefer   the   canvas;   for   the  reason   that   they   can   be   folded    and
  packed   for   railroad   transportation。        If   a   stiffer   receptacle   is   wanted   for
  miscellaneous   loose   small   articles;   you   can   insert   a   soap…box   inside   the
  canvas。      It cannot be denied that the rawhide will stand rougher usage。
  Probably      the   point   now    of   greatest    importance      is  that  of   saddle…
  padding。      A sore back is the easiest thing in the world to induce;three
  hours' chafing will turn the trick;and once it is done you are in trouble
  for   a   month。    No   precautions   or   pains   are   too   great   to   take   in   assuring
  your pack…animals against this。             On a pinch you will give up cheerfully
  part of your bedding to the cause。              However; two good… quality woolen
  blankets properly and smoothly folded; a pad made of two ordinary collar…
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  pads sewed parallel by means of canvas strips in such a manner as to lie
  along both sides of the backbone; a well…fitted saddle; and care in packing
  will nearly always suffice。        I have gone months without having to doctor
  a single abrasion。
  You   will   furthermore   want   a   pack…cinch   and   a   pack…rope   for   each
  horse。    The former are of canvas or webbing provided with a ring at one
  end and a big bolted wooden hook at the other。              The latter should be half…
  inch lines of good quality。         Thirty…three feet is enough for packing only;
  but we usually bought them forty feet long; so they could be used also as
  picket…ropes。      Do    not  fail  to  include   several    extra。  They   are    always
  fraying out; getting broken; being cut to free a fallen horse; or becoming
  lost。
  Besides the picket…ropes; you will also provide for each horse a pair of
  strong hobbles。       Take them to a harness…maker and have him sew inside
  each ankle… band a broad strip of soft wash…leather twice the width of the
  band。     This will save much chafing。          Some advocate sheepskin with the
  wool on; but this I have found tends to soak up water or to freeze hard。
  At   least   two   loud   cow…bells   with   neck…straps   are   handy   to   assist   you   in
  locating   whither   the   bunch   may   have   strayed   during   the   night。      They
  should be hung on the loose horses most inclined to wander。
  Accidents are common in the hills。            The repair…kit is normally rather
  comprehensive。        Buy a number of extra latigos; or cinch…straps。             Include
  many copper rivets of all sizesthey are the best quick…repair known for
  almost     everything;     from    putting   together    a   smashed     pack…saddle      to
  cobbling a worn…out boot。          Your horseshoeing outfit should be complete
  with paring…knife; rasp; nail…set; clippers; hammer; nails; and shoes。                The
  latter   will   be   the   malleable   soft   iron;   low…calked   〃Goodenough;〃   which
  can be fitted cold。       Purchase a dozen front shoes and a dozen and a half
  hind shoes。      The latter wear out faster on the trail。         A box or so of hob…
  nails for your own boots; a waxed end and awl; a whetstone; a file; and a
  piece of buckskin for strings and patches complete the list。
  Thus   equipped;   with   your   grub   supply;   your   cooking…   utensils;   your
  personal effects; your rifle and your fishing…tackle; you should be able to
  go anywhere that man and horses can go; entirely self…reliant; independent
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  of the towns。
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  III
  ON HORSES
  I   really   believe   that   you   will   find   more   variation   of   individual   and
  interesting character in a given number of Western horses than in an equal
  number      of  the   average    men    one   meets    on   the   street。  Their     whole
  education; from the time they run loose on the range until the time when;
  branded;     corralled;    broken;    and   saddled;    they    pick   their  way    under
  guidance   over   a   bad   piece   of   trail;   tends   to   develop   their   self…reliance。
  They learn to think for themselves。
  To   begin   with   two   misconceptions;   merely   by   way   of   clea