176 ADVENTURES IN THE WILDERNESS. 



" sweated " off his body by his 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 moccasined 

 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. 



