BUFFALO NEAR THE BIG BEND 



"Now,'* resumed Tom, "we'll have to work 

 lively an' make no mislicks when we drop a tire 

 over a wheel so's to get it cooled an' shrunk on 

 afore it burns out the canvas. We'll have to use 

 the pick an' spade an' shovel to lift 'em out o' the 

 fire an' drop 'em over the wheels. Peck, you 

 take the pick. Jack the shovel, an' I'll take the 

 spade. When all's ready I'll give the word, an', 

 Peck, you stick the point of your pick under the 

 top tire an' lift it up a little so's me an' Jack can 

 slip our shovel an' spade under it; then the three 

 of us'll lift the tire out of the fire an' lay it in its 

 place over the wheel an' then go to pourin' water 

 on, an' quick as it's shrunk enough to stay on 

 Jack'll run his shovel handle through the hole in 

 the hub, pry the wheel up, an' with one of you on 

 each side, a-holt of the shovel handle, you can 

 hold the wheel over the pool of water with the 

 lower rim in the water while I spin it 'round, an', 

 with axe in one hand an' hatchet in the other, I'll 

 hammer the tire to its place as it shrinks. Now, 

 do you men * savvy' all them instructions?" 



We "savvied," and, following Tom's directions, 

 we soon had both tires nicely reset and shrunk, 

 and it made a very substantial job. It was hot 

 and laborious work and gave us unusually keen 

 appetites for the supper that followed, which 

 Tom prepared, while Jack and I reloaded our 

 wagon. 



95 



