300 WILD SPORTS IX THE FAR WEST. 



me, and warned me particularly not to lose them. On 

 this same day a peddler had been in the house, and had 

 persuaded my father to buy a pair of large boots, as 

 very serviceable for bad weather ; — and as it had rained 

 a great deal lately, he put them on, took his rifle, and 

 sallied forth to the forest. He was hardly gone when 

 I wished to wear my new moccasins ; and, to my horror, 

 found that one was missing. In vain I searched the 

 house from top to bottom ; it was gone, and the other 

 seemed to be there only to remind me of my loss, and 

 the punishment awaiting me. With a beating heart I 

 saw my father return earlier than I had expected, out 

 of humor with the bad weather and bad sport ; and 

 he asked roughly, why I was running about barefoot. 

 With tears in my eyes I told him that I could not find 

 one of the moccasins, and that I thought the cat must 

 have run off with it. He said he would cat me, and 

 that if I did not find the other before night I should 

 suffer for it. With a sorrowful heart I recommenced 

 my search, and all my brothers helped me. Meantime 

 my father had sat himself by the fire, and complained 

 that something in his boot had plagued him the whole 

 day ; so, pulling it off, and feeling inside, what should 

 he find but my much-bemoaned moccasin. It is easier 

 to imagine my delight than to express it." 



Conwell rolled himself in his blanket and fell asleep, 

 still smiling at the recollection. I could not sleep ; 

 his story had recalled events of my own childhood, and 

 I kept gazing at the strange and changing figures in 

 the fire. Bearsgrease was lying close to me, with his 

 head on my shoulder ; he had raised it several times, 

 and snuffed the air, and agam lain down. At length 



