A few years ago two friends
took a trip up a river in a canoe. The stream is nearly a mile
wide and quite shallow, so it goes without saying that if
there was any breeze blowing they were sure of getting their
share of it. After ten hours' paddling rapids were
encountered, and they had to make a portage to a parallel
canal nearby. The first night they slept in the woods with the
canoe for a bed and a large canvas coverall for a shelter.
They simply hung it
from a line that ran the length of the boat, dog-tent fashion.
Imagine a carpet doubled over a clothesline, with each edge
resting on the ground and held three feet apart by means of
small stakes.
The next day they went five
miles on the canal and made a portage back to the river. Then
a thunder-storm accompanied by a deluge of nice wet summer
rain dampened their plans and themselves. This time they took
refuge under an old bridge and used their canvas to curtain
off the angry weather. After the rain they cast away all
excess baggage, such as bait and spoiled lunch, and started
for home. Although it was summer the river was choppy, and a
strong gusty wind lashed them from behind. Again they
requisitioned the canvas. This time they made it into a square
sail as shown in the picture. For a mast or upright stick they
used a fish pole, simply holding it as firm as possible, as in
Fig. 3. Branches cut from a tree served as the
cross-arms at top and bottom.
One of the friends sitting at
the stern used the paddle as a rudder. The trip home was made
in just one-half the time it took to paddle up. When they
arrived at the park from which they had started not one boat
was to be seen braving the elements, and much was the surprise
of hundreds of owners of small craft to think that they had
nerve enough to venture out in a canoe. With no effort at all
they made from seven to nine miles an hour. Don't neglect to
take along a big canvas. As the old sailor says: "It's
useful for anything from swaddling clothes to winding
sheet."