IN THE OLD WEST 185 



his bony carcass ; his nether extremities being 

 clothed in pantaloons of the same material (with 

 scattered fringes down the outside of the leg — 

 which ornaments, however, had been pretty well 

 thinned to supply whangs for mending moccasins 

 or pack-saddles), which, shrunk with wet, clung 

 tightly to his long, spare, sinewy legs. His feet 

 were thrust into a pair of Mexican stirrups made 

 of wood, and as big as coal-scuttles ; and iron 

 spurs of incredible proportions, with tinkling 

 drops attached to the rowels, were fastened to his 

 heel — a bead-worked strap, four inches broad, 

 securing them over the instep. In the shoulder- 

 belt, which sustained his powder-horn and bullet- 

 pouch, were fastened the various instruments of 

 one pursuing his mode of life. An awl, with deer- 

 hom handle, and the point defended by a case 

 of cherry-wood carved by his own hand, hung at 

 the back of the belt, side by side with a worm 

 for cleaning the rifle; and under this was a squat 

 and quaint-looking bullet-mold, the handles 

 guarded by strips of buckskin to save his fingers 

 from burning when running balls, having for its 

 companion a little bottle made from the point of 

 an antelope's horn, scraped transparent, which 

 contained the " medicine " used in baiting the 

 traps. The old coon's face was sharp and thin, 

 a long nose and chin hob-nobbing each other ; and 

 his head was always bent forward, giving him the 

 appearance of being hump-backed. He appeared 



