Henry the Hermits Survival School

Rule #9 Always Have a Pack of Some Sort

Welcome back my young hermits! Now, I know you're probably wondering why I'm continuing the whole rules thing. Truth is, I enjoy teaching you all and there is some rules I didn't go over that I probably should.

Just because Harry and I get along and we don't have anymore quarrels, doesn't mean we can't carry on with our lessons. Besides, Harry has caused me more pain so that means I have more rules. So, here is rule #9, always have a pack of some sort.

A pack can carry many things that would prove useful to you and help your journey. Even if you think you don't need it trust me, you will need it at some point and you want to make sure you have it with you at all times.

For instance, a knife is a very important tool that has multiple uses. You can use it to make wood shavings so then you can easily start a fire, and you can use it to clean animals for your next meal.  And depending on where you're going, your pack can have many important things.

One time I made the mistake of not taking my satchel with me when I went out on a short walk. I still couldn't believe that I was foolish enough to leave an important item like that behind in the dust. Though, I must say that I learned my lesson and never left it behind again like a fool.

It happened many, many years ago, when I was still a greenhorn to the whole hermit thing. It was after my house was finished and I had a lot of the necessary things done. I had decided to go on a walk to further explore the surrounding area.

I had decided not to take my satchel, I wouldn't have a use for it so there would be no need to carry something useless around with me. It was late fall and the air was becoming colder every day until I could see my breath dancing in the air.

I had a heavier jacket on to make sure that I wouldn't get too cold while exploring. I decided to go down to the river and follow it down for a mile or so. It was morning so I could explore and be back way before the sun would start to set.

When I had got to the river it was clear as glass and was smoothly running. The water glided over a rock that was sturdily placed in the middle of the river bed. I closed my eyes taking in all the sounds I was hearing.

There was the river, the soft chirps of some yellow songbirds, and the tree branches brushing against each other in the wind. I took a deep breath and continued walking along the river bank, making sure I didn't trip over anything that would make me fall in the freezing water.

I was about an hour into my walk and had come across a perfectly sized walking stick that would be nice to have with me.  I picked it up and brushed the dirt and leaves off of it, I listed it up and had hit the ground with my new stick just like Moses had done to split the sea to clear a path.

The stick was an old hardwood branch, the bark had peeled off except for a few pieces that I had torn off and threw into the river. There was no sap on it, which I was thankful for because it would take forever to get that stupid stuff off of my hands.

I went on for almost ten minutes before I heard some bushes rustling off in the distance. I paused and looked over at the once green, but now yellow-ish colored shrubs. They were too thick to see what was hiding within them, but whatever it was it couldn't have been too big.

The bushes were up ahead about two yards away from the edge of the coursing river. Against my better judgement I started to get closer to see what was doing that. As I got about a foot away the bush completely stopped moving and was as still as a statue.

I squatted down, peering in there trying to see what I could find. I took my hands and pushed some of the branches to the side so that I could look further in. As soon as I did something jumped out scaring me making me stumble backwards straight into the frigid water.