232 . Woodcraft Manual for Boys Soon it bore: in, grinding out powder, which presently begins to smoke. When there is a great volume of smoke from a grow- ing pile of black powder, you know that you have the spark. Cautiously lift the block, leaving the smoking powder on the chip. Fan this with your hand till the live coal appears. Now, put a wad of the tinder gently on the spark; raise the chip to a convenient height, and blow till it bursts into flame. N. B. (r) The notch must reach the middle of the fire-pit. (2) You must hold the drill steadily upright, and cannot do so without bracing the left wrist against the left shin, and having the block on a firm foundation. (3) You must begin lightly and slowly, pressing heavily and sawing fast after there is smoke. (4) If the fire does not come, it is because you have not followed these instructions. Drum While an ordinary bought drum does very well for dancing, some tribes make their own, using a section of a hollow tree (or in some cases a small barrel) covered with untanned calf skin. It is soaked till soft, scraped clear of hair, and tightly stretched over each end of the hol- ‘7 > low log. As it dries, it shrinks and be- Tthnmn Dwm- - comes very tense, giving a good drum sound. Usually it is tuned up by warming at the fire before use. ,_ , —_.._- The Woodcraft Willow Bed The only bed I know of which is light, portable, woodcrafty, made of wildwood stuff that can be got anywhere, and costing nothing but a little labor. is the willow or prairie bed used by all the Plains Indians. This is how it is made: On your first short hike to the coun- try go to some stream bank or swamp, and cut about seventy straight rods of red willow (kirmikinik), gray willow, arrow-wood, or any straight shoots, each about as thick as a pencil, when peeled, except one or two that are larger, up to half an inch thick; and all thirty inches long. Tie them up in a tight bundle with several cords until you get time to work them. Peel them, cut a slight notch in the butt of each rod, three quarters of an inch from the end, and you are ready to make the bed. «.4 _'_‘A
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