good that we did this, for the very first night a heavy summer shower came
up which nearly drenched us. The water beat right through the thin canvas
roof of our tent. Had we been able to afford the best quality of canvas
duck, such an occurrence would probably have been avoided. But we solved
the difficulty by using a tent fly; that is, a strip of canvas stretched
over the tent and spaced a short distance from it to break the fall of the
rain drops.

[Illustration: Fig. 48. The Wall Tent with the Fly fastened on.]



Tent Fly.

Again we had to visit the village storekeeper; this time we bought out
his whole remaining stock, sixteen yards of drill. This was cut into
four-yard strips, which were sewed together as before and the ends turned
up and hemmed. Tie strings were sewed to the ends of the strips so that
the fly could be tied to the wall ropes of the tent. At the ridge the fly
was supported about six inches above the tent rope by a second ridge pole
held by pegs in the top holes of the tent posts.

[Illustration: Fig. 49. The Fly Ridge Pole.]



Provisions and Supplies.

The ten days before Uncle Ed arrived were busy indeed. We had to gather
together the necessary provisions and supplies. Our personal outfits were