WARWICK WOODLANDS. 155 



ment was composed of a thick coarse homespun woollen, 

 bottle-green in color, with fringe and bindings of dingy 

 red, to match the sash about his waist. From the sash 

 was suspended an otter skin pouch, containing bullets and 

 patches, nipple wrench and turn-screw, a bit of dry tow, 

 an oiled rag, and all the indispensables for rifle cleaning; 

 while into it were thrust two knives — one a broad two- 

 edged implement, with a stout buck-horn haft, and a blade 

 of at least twelve inches — the other a much smaller 

 weapon, not being, hilt and all, half the length of the 

 other's blade, but very strong, sharp as a razor, and of 

 surpassing temper. While he was fitting all these in their 

 proper places, and slinging under his left arm a small 

 buffalo horn of powder, he continued talking — 



"Now," he said, "if you take my advice, you'll go into 

 my room, and there, hanging against the wall, yoU'U find 

 my winter shooting jacket, I had it made last year when 

 I went up to Maine, of pilot cloth, lined throughout with 

 flannel. It will fit you just as well as your own, for we're 

 pretty much of a size. Frank, there, will wear his old 

 monkey jacket, the skirts of which he razeed last winter 

 for the very purpose. Ah, here is Brower — just run up, 

 Brower, and bring down my shooting jacket off the wall 

 from behind the door — look sharp, will you! Now, then, 

 I shall load, and I advise you both to do likewise; for it's 

 bad work doing that same with cold fingers." 



Thus saying, he walked to the corner, and brought out 

 his rifle, a short heavy double barrel, with two grooves 

 only, carrying a bitted ball of twelve to the pound, 

 quite plain but exquisitely finished. Before proceeding, 

 however, to load, he tried the passage of the nipple with a 

 fine needle — three or four of which, thrust into a cork, 

 and headed with sealing wax, formed a portion of the 

 contents of his pounch — brushed the cone, and the inside 

 of the hammer, carefully, and wiped them, to conclude, 

 with a small piece of clean white kid — then measuring 

 his powder out exactly, into a little charger, screwed to 

 the end of his ramrod, he inverted the piece, and intro- 

 duced the rod upward till the cup reached the chamber; 

 when, righting the gun, he withdrew it, leaving the powder 

 all lodged safely at the breech, without the loss of a single 

 grain in the groovings. Next, he choose out a piece of 



