382 THE STILL-HUNTER. 



once lengthwise, and about a quarter of an inch of 

 the lower corner of one end rounded off, so as to keep 

 the toe from being too sharp-pointed. The two ends 

 are then sewed up. But when you get within four 

 fifths of an inch of the end of the heel press it down 

 upon a board and cut off the lower part, so that when 

 sewed up it will look like a narrow ~\ inverted, thus: 

 J_, You may, however, sew it straight down, as it is 

 mainly a matter of " looks." The thing now looks a 

 little like a birch canoe with a pretty straight bow. 

 This bow is then gathered to a tongue rounded to an 

 oval end in front and fastened across the center of 

 the canoe. The whole thing must be sewed inside 

 out, and every seam should be sewed with a strip of 

 heavy buckskin in it to protect the stitches. A buck- 

 'skin needle a cutting needle should be used with 

 heavy waxed linen thread, and the seams run over 

 twice for durability. But an awl and shoemaker's 

 " waxed end," or a buckskin thong with the end 

 waxed and twisted, is better yet. A person of any in- 

 genuity cannot fail to make at the first trial a pair 

 that will answer all demands but those of beauty. 

 Tops three' or four inches high should then be added, 

 and both buttoned to a button in the center of the 

 tongue, and one buttoned to the other on one side of 

 the ankle at the top. For snow these tops should be 

 of cloth, as they wet too quickly if of buckskin. If the 

 pantaloons be tied tightly around these at the ankle 

 one may walk all day in dry cold snow and have his 

 feet perfectly dry and warm. For keeping out dead 

 grass and other tickling things a shield of leather may 

 be placed inside under the tongue and reaching half 

 way down the sid.es and half way to the tongue. This 

 with heavy buckskin facing on your pantaloons hang- 



