298 NEWFOUNDLAND 



making a deep trough out of a log of "var." In this he 

 placed about an armful of "var" bark, carefully broken into 

 fine pieces with the fingers. Boiling water was then poured 

 into the trough, and the "boots" left to soak for twelve 

 hours. After this they were taken out, well scraped, and 

 put out to dry. They are then finished and perfectly soft, 

 strong, and watertight. It is curious that no skin but that 

 of three-year-old stag is ever used for this purpose. A large 

 stag's skin is too thick, and a doe's skin too weak. 



" What beautiful socks those are of yours," I said to Steve. 



"Yes," he answered, "but Indian women cannot make 

 socks like white women. I get as many pairs of socks as I 

 like for nothing from the Bay de Nord white women, every 

 time I pass that place — and dinners too." 



" How is that?" I queried. 



"Well," said Steve, "I saved a man's life last winter, 

 and I tell you story if you like." 



To this I readily assented, and he began : — 



" Last January it was very cold, and Micky John and 

 me were in the middle of the country, about forty miles 

 north of Bay de Nord, looking for some deer to sell to the 

 wood-camps near the salt water. Micky had gone out, and 

 I came back to tilt about midday, having killed a pisage 

 (young doe). Our tilt was in a little droke by the side of 

 a small brook, and as I go in, I see tracks of a bear or a 

 man on the other side of the brook going north. When 

 Micky came into camp about an hour later, I say to him, 

 ' What for you cross the brook and go north, Micky ? ' For 

 I know there weren't no bears about at that time of year, 

 and I thought it queer that Micky should go across the 

 stream, as it was broad and difficult to cross. But Micky 

 say he had gone west, and those were not his tracks. So 



