the mountains(山脉)-第25部分
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was not a large man； and his hair was sandy； and his eye mild blue。 But
undoubtedly his kinsmen were dumb and he had as birthright the voice for
the entire family。 It had been subsequently developed in the shouting
after the wild cattle of the hills。 Now his ordinary conversational tone
was that of the announcer at a circus。 But his heart was good。
〃Can we camp here？〃 we inquired。
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〃Sure thing；〃 he bellowed。 〃Turn your horses into the meadow。
Camp right here。〃
But with the vision of a rounded wooded knoll a few hundred yards
distant we said we'd just get out of his way a little。 We crossed a creek；
mounted an easy slope to the top of the knoll； and were delighted to
observe just below its summit the peculiar fresh green hump which
indicates a spring。 The Tenderfoot； however； knew nothing of springs；
for shortly he trudged a weary way back to the creek； and so returned
bearing kettles of water。 This performance hugely astonished the
cowboy； who subsequently wanted to know if a 〃critter had died in the
spring。〃
Wes departed to borrow a big Dutch oven of the man and to invite him
to come across when we raised the long yell。 Then we began operations。
Now camp cooks are of two sorts。 Anybody can with a little practice
fry bacon； steak； or flapjacks； and boil coffee。 The reduction of the raw
material to its most obvious cooked result is within the reach of all but the
most hopeless tenderfoot who never knows the salt…sack from the sugar…
sack。 But your true artist at the business is he who can from six
ingredients； by permutation； combination； and the genius that is in him
turn out a full score of dishes。 For simple example： GIVEN； rice；
oatmeal； and raisins。 Your expert accomplishes the following：
ITEMBoiled rice。
ITEMBoiled oatmeal。
ITEMRice boiled until soft； then stiffened by the addition of quarter
as much oatmeal。
ITEMOatmeal in which is boiled almost to the dissolving point a
third as much rice。
These latter two dishes taste entirely unlike each other or their separate
ingredients。 They are moreover great in nutrition。
ITEMBoiled rice and raisins。
ITEMDish number three with raisins。
ITEMRice boiled with raisins； sugar sprinkled on top； and then
baked。
ITEMDitto with dish number three。
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All these are goodand different。
Some people like to cook and have a natural knack for it。 Others
hate it。 If you are one of the former； select a propitious moment to
suggest that you will cook； if the rest will wash the dishes and supply the
wood and water。 Thus you will get first crack at the fire in the chill of
morning； and at night you can squat on your heels doing light labor
while the others rustle。
In a mountain trip small stout bags for the provisions are necessary。
They should be big enough to contain； say； five pounds of corn…meal； and
should tie firmly at the top。 It will be absolutely labor lost for you to
mark them on the outside； as the outside soon will become uniform in
color with your marking。 Tags might do； if occasionally renewed。 But
if you have the instinct； you will soon come to recognize the appearance of
the different bags as you recognize the features of your family。 They
should contain small quantities for immediate use of the provisions the
main stock of which is carried on another pack… animal。 One tin plate
apiece and 〃one to grow on〃； the same of tin cups； half a dozen spoons；
four knives and forks； a big spoon； two frying…pans； a broiler； a coffee…pot；
a Dutch oven； and three light sheet…iron pails to nest in one another was
what we carried on this trip。 You see； we had horses。 Of course in the
woods that outfit would be materially reduced。
For the same reason； since we had our carrying done for us； we took
along two flat iron bars about twenty…four inches in length。 These； laid
across two stones between which the fire had been built； we used to
support our cooking…utensils stove…wise。 I should never carry a stove。
This arrangement is quite as effective； and possesses the added advantage
that wood does not have to be cut for it of any definite length。 Again； in
the woods these iron bars would be a senseless burden。 But early you
will learn that while it is foolish to carry a single ounce more than will pay
in comfort or convenience for its own transportation； it is equally foolish
to refuse the comforts or conveniences that modified circumstance will
permit you。 To carry only a forest equipment with pack…animals would
be as silly as to carry only a pack…animal outfit on a Pullman car。 Only
look out that you do not reverse it。
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Even if you do not intend to wash dishes； bring along some 〃Gold
Dust。〃 It is much simpler in getting at odd corners of obstinate kettles
than any soap。 All you have to do is to boil some of it in that kettle； and
the utensil is tamed at once。
That's about all you； as expert cook； are going to need in the way of
equipment。 Now as to your fire。
There are a number of ways of building a cooking fire； but they share
one first requisite： it should be small。 A blaze will burn everything；
including your hands and your temper。 Two logs laid side by side and
slanted towards each other so that small things can go on the narrow end
and big things on the wide end； flat rocks arranged in the same manner； a
narrow trench in which the fire is built； and the flat irons just described
these are the best… known methods。 Use dry wood。 Arrange to do your
boiling firstin the flame； and your frying and broiling lastafter the
flames have died to coals。
So much in general。 You must remember that open…air cooking is in
many things quite different from indoor cooking。 You have different
utensils； are exposed to varying temperatures； are limited in resources； and
pursued by a necessity of haste。 Pre… conceived notions must go by the
board。 You are after results； and if you get them； do not mind the
feminines of your household lifting the hands of horror over the
unorthodox means。 Mighty few women I have ever seen were good
camp…fire cooks； not because camp…fire cookery is especially difficult； but
because they are temperamentally incapable of ridding themselves of the
notion that certain things should be done in a certain way； and because if
an ingredient lacks； they cannot bring themselves to substitute an
approximation。 They would rather abandon the dish than do violence to
the sacred art。
Most camp…cookery advice is quite useless for the same reason。 I
have seen many a recipe begin with the words： 〃Take the yolks of four
eggs； half a cup of butter； and a cup of fresh milk〃 As if any one really
camping in the wilderness ever had eggs； butter； and milk！
Now here is something I cooked for this particular celebration。
Every woman to whom I have ever described it has informed me
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vehemently that it is not cake； and must be 〃horrid。〃 Perhaps it is not
cake； but it looks yellow and light； and tastes like cake。
First I took two cups of flour； and a half cup of corn…meal to make it
look yellow。 In this I mixed a lot of baking…powder；about twice what
one should use for bread；and topped off with a cup of sugar。 The whole
I mixed with water into a light dough。 Into the dough went raisins that
had previously been boiled to swell them up。 Thus was the cake mixed。
Now I poured half the dough into the Dutch oven； sprinkled it with a good
layer of sugar； cinnamon； and unboiled raisins； poured in the rest of the
dough； repeated the layer of sugar； cinnamon； and raisins； and baked in the
Dutch oven。 It was gorgeous； and we ate it at one fell swoop。
While we are about it； we may as well work backwards on this
particular orgy by describing the rest of our dessert。 In addition to the
cake and some stewed apricots； I； as cook of the day； constructed also a
pudding。
The basis was flourtwo cups of it。 Into this I dumped a handful of
raisins； a tablespoonf
