212 THE DRAMA OF THE FORESTS 



was rarely mentioned as it did not add to the cheerfulness of 

 Oo-koo-hoo*s otherwise happy mood. 



THE BEST FOOT-GEAR 



About a week later, with a few days' outfit loaded upon our 

 sled, Oo-koo-hoo and I were heading first for the Moose Hills 

 where we were to hunt moose, and if successful, to cache the 

 meat where Granny and the boys could find it; then continuing 

 farther north we were to call upon The Owl's sister to dehver 

 her a present from the children of Oo-koo-hoo. In the meantime, 

 Amik had gone upon one of his trapping paths, and the boys 

 were off to a swampy region to examine deadfalls set for mink 

 and fisher. The boys had taken the dogs with them. 



It was a fine, cold, sunny morning when Oo-koo-hoo and I set 

 out upon our hunt, and with every breath we seemed to be 

 drinking aerial champagne that made us fairly tingle with the 

 joy of hving — for such is the northern air in winter time. 

 As we snowshoed along I felt thankful for the excellent 

 socks with which the old hunter had provided me. On thelast 

 hunt my snowshoe thongs had blistered my feet, but now, 

 thanks to Oo-koo-hoo, I was shod with the most perfect foot- 

 gear for winter travel I have ever known — a natural sock that 

 was both bhster- and cold-proof. I had never heard of it before, 

 but The Owl assured me that it had been long in fashion among 

 the Indians. On each foot I was now wearing next my bare 

 skin a rabbit pelt — minus legs and ears — put on, hair side out, 

 while the skin was still green and damp, and then allowed to 

 dry and shape itself to the foot. Over the rabbit pelts I wore 

 my regular woollen socks, duffel neaps, and caribou-skin mitten 

 moccasins. The pelts had been removed from the rabbits by 

 simply cutting them between the hind legs, and then peehng 

 them off inside out. With the inside of the skin next the foot 

 blisters never form, nor does the hair wear off and ball up under 



