176 ADVENTURES IN THE WILDERNESS. 



" sweated " off his body by liis constant work at the 

 paddle and oars, which gave him a certain gaunt, 

 bony look, to be seen only in men who live the 

 hunter's life and eat the hunter's fare along our 

 frontiers. Yet there was a certain litheness about 

 the form, a springy elasticity in the moccasmed 

 foot, a suppleness of motion, which, if it was not 

 grace, was something next akin to it. His hair was 

 sandy, short, crisp, and curly. His shoulders were 

 brought the least trifle forward, as boatmen's gen- 

 erally are, and especially such as leave their boats 

 to follow, with cat-like tread and crouching pos- 

 ture, the trail. Pants and hunting-shirt of Scotch 

 gray ; a soft felt hat of similar color, and the inev- 

 itable short, thin knife stuck in a leathern sheath, 

 made up his outfit. A wiry, nervous man, I said 

 to myself, as I looked him over; none the less 

 nervous because a certain backwoodsman's indif- 

 ference and nonchalance veiled the dash and fire 

 within. A good guide I warrant, easy and pleas- 

 ant of temper when fairly treated, but hot and 

 violent as an overcharged and smutty rifle when 

 abused. 



" Martin," said I, as I dragged my jack from 

 under a bag where it had lain concealed (for I 

 did n't wish every one to copy my invention the 

 first season), " what do you think of that ? " and, 

 touching a match to the wick, I lifted the jack 

 to my head and buckled the throat-latch. 



