THE LONG TRAIL 



interesting series of skulls; they're in the 

 Smithsonian todav." 



Father was the rare combination of a 

 born raconteur — with the gift of putting 

 in all the little details that make a story — 

 and an equally good listener. He was an 

 adept at drawing people out. His interest 

 was so whole-hearted and obvious that the 

 shyest, most tongue-tied adventurer found 

 himself speaking with entire freedom. 

 Everyone with whom we came in contact 

 fell under the charm. Father invariably 

 thought the best of a person, and for that 

 very reason everyone was at his best with 

 him — and felt bound to justify his confi- 

 dence and judgment. With him I always 

 thought of the Scotch story of the Mac- 

 Gregor who, when a friend told him that 

 it was an outrage that at a certain ban- 

 quet he should have been given a seat 

 half-way down the table, replied: "Where 

 45 



