MAJOR HENRY SCOTT AND HIS CANE 221 



handle was a fine piece of carved ivory with a 

 heavy gold band, and besides its intrinsic value 

 it was also an heirloom. The Major was very 

 much affected by its loss, and spoke of engaging 

 men to scour the woods the next day, in the hope 

 of finding it. He had not the least recollection 

 of where he had last had it that morning. I told 

 him I thought this would not be necessary, pro- 

 vided he could show me whereabouts he had gone 

 into the woods. He said he could. On the next 

 morning early I started on the hunt after he had 

 shown me the place. I had noticed that Mrs. 

 Scott wore French high heeled boots, and as she 

 was a tall and heavy woman I felt sure the im- 

 pression of this narrow heel would afford an easy 

 trail to follow. I was not mistaken. I picked 

 it up about as fast as I could walk. It was most 

 amusing to me to note all their different windings 

 and the many places where they had sat down to 

 rest. At one of these I came upon the cane. The 

 Major had laid it down alongside of him and had 

 forgotten it on rising to continue on his way. 

 Two hours after I had left the house I was back 

 with it. The Major could not sufficiently express 

 his joy and pressed me with questions as to how 

 and where I had found it. To please him I rela- 

 ted how easy it had been to follow Mrs. Scott's 

 tracks, telling him on what particular side she 

 had sat down with him at different places and also 

 of certain obstructions he had moved to allow her 



