THE LONG TRAIL 

 method of progression by water for which 

 he cared. The trip was a great success, 

 however, and father enjoyed it more than 

 he anticipated, for with the help of our 

 host he instructed us in caring for our- 

 selves and our firearms. I had a venerable 

 12-bore pin-fire gun, which was the first 

 weapon father ever owned. It was usually 

 known in the family as the "rust bore," 

 because in the course of its eventful career 

 it had become so pitted and scarred with 

 rust that you could put in as much time 

 as you wished cleaning and oiling without 

 the slightest effect. I stood in no little 

 awe of the pin-fire because of its recoil 

 when fired, and as I was in addition a 

 miserably poor shot, my bag on the Great 

 South Bay trip was not large. It con- 

 sisted of one reedbird, which father with 

 infinite pains and determination at length 

 succeeded in enabling me to shoot. I am 

 23 



