class="head2">CHAPTER XIV

How to build a Log-cabin186

The Pioneer Cabin—The Cabin of To-day—Selection of a Site—Design and Size—The Material—Staking out the Cabin—The Lock-joint—The Sills—Construction of Roof—Ridge Boards—A Log Chimney and Fire-place—Calking—A Mud Floor—The Windows—The Cabin Door—Wooden Hinges—Wooden Latch—The Latch-string—A Mantel-shelf—Provision Cupboard—Rustic Seats—Bunks—A Camp-table—A Few Pointers about Camping—Utensils—Other Necessities—Provisions.

CHAPTER XV

How to build a Canvas Canoe201

Canoeing as a Sport—Popularity of Canvas Canoes—Materials—The Bow and Stern Pieces—The Keelson—The Mould—Putting the Framework Together—The Gunwales—The Ribbands—The Deck Beams—The Ridge Pieces—The Deck Braces—The Cockpit—The Canvas Covering—The Deck—Painting—The Cockpit Coaming—The Keel—The Bilge-keels—Outside Gunwales—A Seat—How to mend Punctures—A Single Paddle.

CHAPTER XVI

Home-made Traps218

Trapping as a Pastime—The City Boy and his Country Cousin—The Figure-four Trap—A Box Trap—The Dead Fall—The Sieve Trap—The Coop Trap—A Rabbit Snare—A Twitch-up—The Professional Trapper—Wolves and Coyotes—Story of a Trapped Indian.

CHAPTER XVII

Toy Guns, Targets, and Bows and Arrows229

Ancient War Engines—New Idea for a Cross-bow—Shingle Arrows—A Toy Pistol—Cardboard Bullets—A Shot-gun—An Elastic Sling—A Boy's Barrel-hoop Target—A Simpler Target—How Points are Scored—The Bow and Arrow—Length of Bow—The Bow-string—The Arrow-shafts—Preparing Arrow-heads—Feathering—A Quiver—Proper Position for Shooting with Bow—The Indian's Bow—How his Arrows were made and Feathered—The Preparation of his Arrow-heads.

CHAPTER XVIII

An Outdoor Gymnasium243

Location for Gymnasium—A Horizontal Bar—Tumbling Mat—Parallel Bars—The Punching-bag Platform—A Pair of Jump Standards—A Vaulting Pole—A Spring-board—Hurdles—A Running Track—Method of Starting for Short Sprints—Mark for Broad Jumping—An Athletic Club—Athletic Meets.

CHAPTER XIX

A Back-yard Circus255

The Ancient Roman Circus—The Circus of To-day—How Several Boys gave a Circus—Preparing the Yard for a Circus—Making the Ring—Good Circus Seats—A Tent—Decorating the Tent—A Ticket Office—A Turnstile—The Side Show—Cages for Side Show—Animated Animals—The Elephant—The Giraffe—The Two-legged Wild Horse—The Wild Man of Borneo—A Monkey's Make-up—The Ring Master—The Clown's Suit—The Attendants—Ideas for a Performance—A Slapper—Looping the Hoop on a Giraffe—A Chariot—Parades—The Advertising Signs.

CHAPTER XX

Suggestions for Fourth of July272

The First Fourth of July Celebration—Pyrotechnics Costly and Dangerous to Make—The Making of Harmless and Inexpensive Fireworks—A Fire-cracker Cannon—To fire the Cannon—A Fire-cracker Mortar—Mimic Battles with Paper Soldiers—Another Toy Cannon—To fire the Cannon—Firing Fireworks from Kites—Firing a Pack of Fire-crackers from a Kite—Shooting Nigger-chasers—Japanese Lanterns hung from Kite-strings—A Shooting-torch—A Final Set-piece.

CHAPTER XXI

Halloween281

Ancient Superstitions and Origin of Halloween—A Magazine Bean-blower—A New Style of Tick-tack—A Clockwork Tick-tack—The Goblin-man—The Disappearing Rope.

CHAPTER XXII

A Back-yard Toboggan-slide291

One Advantage of a Small Slide—Location—Length—The Platform—Framework—Railing around Platform—A Ladder—Making a Swift Slide—A Home-made Sled—The Runners—Reënforcing the Runners.

PART III

INDOOR PASTIMES

CHAPTER XXIII

A Miniature Theatre303

An Interesting Entertainment—A Picture-frame Proscenium—The Stage Framework—The Gridiron—The Stage Floor—The Drop-curtain—Lighting the Theatre—The Footlights—Floodlights—Colored Lights—Spotlights—Admission Tickets and Programmes.

CHAPTER XXIV

Scenery, Properties, and Mechanical Effects311

Materials for Scenery—An Ocean Scene—Additional Waves—Frames for Drops—A Mid-ocean Scene—A Seashore Scene—A Field Scene—The Trees—A Blockhouse Scene—Pine Boughs for Trees and Shrubbery—Moss for Mounds and Hills—Rustic Bridges—A Pond or Lake—A Street Scene—An Interior—A War Drama—Paper Soldiers—Scheme for Marching Soldiers—Separate Standards—A Jointed Figure—Stage Properties—Tents—An Indian Teepee—Battleships—Trains and Wagons—Mechanical Effects—Thunder—Rain—Wind—Lightning—The Roar of Cannon.

CHAPTER XXV

Making a Toy Railway331

The Trolley-line—Supports for Trolley-line—Power for Operating Railway—Tracks—The Cars—A Gondola Car—A Street Car—Other Cars—Operation of