Camp and Trail Part 13

You are now ready to begin tightening. First pull your cinch tight by means of what was the loose end (_b_) in Fig. II. Place one foot against the animal and _heave_, good and plenty. Take up the slack by running over both ends of the loop (_c_-_c_ Fig. III). When you have done this, go around the other side. There take up the slack on _b_-_b_ Fig. IV.

With all there is in you pull the loose end (_c_, Fig. IV) in the direction of the horse's body, toward his head. Brace your foot against the kyacks. It will sag the whole hitch toward the front of the pack, but don't mind that: the defect will be remedied in a moment.

Next, still holding the slack (Fig. V), carry the loose end around the bottom of the alforjas and under the original main pack rope (_c_). Now pull again along the direction of the horse's body, but this time toward his tail. The strain will bend the pack rope (_c_), heretofore straight across, back to form the diamond. It will likewise drag back to its original position amids.h.i.+ps in the pack the entire hitch, which, you will remember, was drawn too far forward by your previous pull toward the horse's head. Thus the last pull tightens the entire pack, clamps it down, secures it immovably, which is the main recommendation and beautiful feature of the diamond hitch.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

_THE DOUBLE DIAMOND._]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 4

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

_THE DOUBLE DIAMOND._]

[Sidenote: The Double Diamond]

The double diamond is a much more complicated affair. Begin by throwing the cinch under, not over the horse. Let it lie there. Lay the end of the rope (_a_) lengthwise of the horse across one side the top of the pack (Fig. 1). Experience will teach you just how big to leave loop (_b_). Throw loop (_b_) over top of pack (Fig. 2). Reverse loop _a_ (Fig. 2) by turning it from left to right (Fig. 3). Pa.s.s loop (_a_) around front and back of kyack, and end of rope _d_ over rope _c_, and under rope _d_. Pa.s.s around the horse and hook the cinch hook in loop (_e_).

This forms another loop (_a_, Fig. 4), which must be extended to the proper size and pa.s.sed around the kyack on the other side (Fig. 5). Now tighten the cinch, pull up the slack, giving strong heaves where the hitch pulls forward or back along the left of the horse, ending with a last tightener at the end (_b_, Fig. 5). The end is then carried back under the kyack and fastened.

[Sidenote: The Square Hitch]

3. _The Square Hitch_ is easily and quickly thrown, and is a very good fair-weather lash. In conjunction with half hitches, as later explained, it makes a good hitch for a bucking horse. For a very bulky pack it is excellent in that it binds in so many places. It is thrown as follows:

[Ill.u.s.tration: _The Square Hitch._]

[Sidenote: The Square Hitch]

Throw the cinch hook over the pack, and cinch tight with the jam hitch before described. Lead the end across the horse, around the back of kyack on the other side, underneath it, and up over at _a_. The end here pa.s.ses beneath at _b_. You will find that you can, when you cinch up at first, throw a loose loop over the pack comprising the bight _bed_, so as to leave your loose end at _d_. Then place the loop _bed_ around the kyack. A moment's study of the diagram will show you what I mean, and will also convince you that much is gained by not having to pa.s.s rope (_a_) underneath at _b_. Now pull hard on loose end at _d_, taking care to exert your power lengthwise of the horse. Pa.s.s the line under the alforjas toward the rear, up over the pack and under the original rope at _c_. Pull on the loose end, this time exerting the power toward the rear. You cannot put too much strength into the three tightening pulls: (1) in cinching through the cinch hook; (2) the pull forward; (3) the pull back. On them depends the stability of your pack.

Double back the loose end and fasten it. This is a very quick hitch.

[Sidenote: The Bucking Hitch]

4. _The Bucking Hitch_ is good to tie things down on a bad horse, but it is otherwise useless to take so much trouble.

Pa.s.s the pack rope around the kyacks on one side, and over itself. This forms a half hitch, below which hangs the cinch. Lead the pack rope over the top of the pack, around the other kyack, and through to form another half hitch. Cinch up, and throw either the single diamond or the square hitch. The combination will clamp the kyacks as firmly as anything can.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _The Bucking Hitch._]

[Sidenote: The Miner's. .h.i.tch]

5. _The Miner's. .h.i.tch._--This. .h.i.tch is very much on the same principle, but is valuable when you happen to be provided with only a short rope, or a cinch with two rings, instead of a ring and a hook.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _The Miner's. .h.i.tch._]

[Sidenote: The Miner's. .h.i.tch]

Take your rope--with the cinch unattached--by the middle and throw it across the pack. Make a half hitch over either kyack. These half hitches, instead of running around the sides of the kyacks, as in the last hitch, should run around the top, bottom, and ends (see diagram).

Thrust bight (_b_) through cinch ring, and end (_a_) through the bight.

Do the same thing on the other side. Make fast end _a_ at _c_, and end _d_ at _e_, cinching up strongly on the bights that come through the cinch rings.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

_THE LONE PACKER HITCH._]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 4

Fig. 5

_The Lone Packer Hitch._]

[Sidenote: The Lone Packer Hitch]

6. _The Lone Packer or Basco Hitch._--This is a valuable hitch when the kyacks are heavy or k.n.o.bby, because the last pull lifts them away from the horse's sides. It requires at least forty feet of rope. I use it a great deal.

[Sidenote: The Lone Packer Hitch]

Cinch up with the jam hitch as usual. Throw the end of the rope across the horse, under the forward end of the kyack on the far side, beneath it and up over the rear end of the kyack. The rope in all other hitches binds against the bottom of the kyacks; but in this it should pa.s.s between the kyack and the horse's side (Fig. 1). Now bring a bight in loose end (_a_) forward _over_ rope (_c_), and thrust it through _under_ rope (_c_) from front to back (Fig. 2). Be sure to get this right.

Hold bight (_b_) with left hand where it is, and with the other slide end (_a_) down along rope (_c_) until beneath the kyacks (Fig. 3). Seize rope at _d_ and pull hard directly back; then pull cinchwise on _a_. The first pull tightens the pack; the second lifts the kyacks. Carry end (_a_) across the pack and repeat on the other side. Fasten finally anywhere on top. Fig. 4 shows one side completed, with rope thrown across ready for the other side. Fig. 5 is a view from above of the hitch, completed except for the fastening of end (_a_).

[Sidenote: A Modification]

In case you have eggs or gla.s.sware to pack, spread your tarp on the horse twice as long as usual. Cinch up with the jam hitch, lay your eggs, etc., atop the rope; fold back the canvas to cover the whole, and then throw the lone packer, placing one rope each side the package (Figs. 6 and 7).

[Sidenote: The Squaw Hitch]

7. _The Squaw Hitch._--Often it may happen that you find yourself possessed of a rope and a horse, but nothing else. It is quite possible to pack your equipment with only these simple auxiliaries.

Lay your tarp on the ground fully spread. On half of it pack your effects, striving always to keep them as flat and smooth as possible.

Fold the other half of the canvas to cover the pack. Lay this thick mattress-like affair across the horse's bare back, and proceed to throw the squaw hitch as follows:

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

_The Squaw Hitch._]