For wagons with small and low bodies, it would be well to put a light rail fourteen to eighteen inches above the sides, and hold it there by six or eight posts resting on the floor, and confined to the sides of the body.

Drive carefully and slowly over bad places.  It makes a great deal of difference whether a wheel strikes a rock with the horse going at a trot, or at a walk.

HARNESS.

If your load is heavy, and the roads very hard, or the daily distance long, you had better have a collar for the horse:  otherwise a breastplate-harness will do.  In your kit of tools it is well to have a few straps, an awl, and waxed ends, against the time that something breaks.  Oil the harness before you start, and carry about a pint of neat’s-foot oil, which you can also use upon the men’s boots.  At night look out that the harness and all of your baggage are sheltered from dew and rain, rats and mice.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THIS MODE OF TRAVEL.

This way of travelling is peculiarly adapted to a party of different ages, rather than for one exclusively of young men.  It is especially suitable where there are ladies who wish to walk and camp, or for an entire family, or for a school with its teachers.  The necessity of a head to a party will hardly be recognized by young men; and, even if it is, they are still unwilling, as a general rule, to submit to unaccustomed restraint.

The way out of this difficulty is for one man to invite his comrades to join his party, and to make all the others understand, from first to last, that they are indebted to him for the privilege of going.  It is then somewhat natural for the invited guests to look to their leader, and to be content with his decisions.

The best of men get into foolish dissensions when off on a jaunt, unless there is one, whose voice has authority in it, to direct the movements.

I knew a party of twenty or more that travelled in this way, and were directed by a trio composed of two gentlemen and one lady.  This arrangement proved satisfactory to all concerned.[5]

It has been assumed in all cases that some one will lead the horse,—­not ride in the loaded wagon,—­and that two others will go behind and not far off, to help the horse over the very difficult places, as well as to have an eye on the load, that none of it is lost off, or scrapes against the wheels.  Whoever leads must be careful not to fall under the horse or wagon, nor to fall under the horse’s feet, should he stumble.  These are daily and hourly risks:  hence no small boy should take this duty.[6]

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