OLD MAN REED 151 



of the most strenuous sort of work to crass two f o-r- 

 ties of such stuff. And at the finish I felt as if a 

 full day's work had been already done. One rea- 

 son for this was that the footing was extremely bad 

 and the shoes I wore were too light and thin for the 

 job. 



This question of shoes was one which bothered me 

 all the season. The Black Range seemed to render 

 experience in other localities regarding footwear of 

 no value whatever. I started in on fairly heavy 

 shoes of the driver type, hobnailed thoroughly. A 

 pair of nine dollar boots of this kind lasted about a 

 month. Then a series of experiments began. 



I sent to a prominent firm of sporting outfitters 

 for the best and strongest shoe they put out. A pair 

 cost me ten dollars. They were beautifully made 

 and easy to the foot, while they lasted. In a week 

 the sewing that held the counter on was cut through. 

 In two weeks the counter itself came off. In less 

 than a month the leather on the soles, between the 

 nails, was eaten away as if gouged with a knife, 

 and shortly after the nails came out and the whole 

 shoe practically fell to pieces. 



Meanwhile I had written to the makers, detailing 

 my experience. They replied by offering to build 

 for me, at fourteen dollars, a pair of boots which 

 they stated could be guaranteed for any country. 



When these came (for in a fit of desperation I 

 gave the firm carte blanche), I did not wonder at 

 their confidence. The boots were of heaviest sole 



