A "Thousand- Mile Walk 



know that this letter is yours ? You may have 

 stolen it. How do I know that you are John 

 Muir?" 



I said, "Well, don't you see that this letter 

 indicates that I am a botanist? For in it my 

 brother says/ 1 hope you are having a good time 

 and finding many new plants/ Now, you say 

 that I might have stolen this letter from John 

 Muir, and in that way have become aware of 

 there being a money package to arrive from 

 Portage for him. But the letter proves that 

 John Muir must be a botanist, and though, as 

 you say, his letter might have been stolen, it 

 would hardly be likely that the robber would 

 be able to steal John Muir's knowledge of 

 botany. Now I suppose, of course, that you 

 have been to school and know something of 

 botany. Examine me and see if I know any- 

 thing about it." 



At this he laughed good-naturedly, evidently 



feeling the force of my argument, and, perhaps, 



pitying me on account of looking pale and 



hungry, he turned and rapped at the dooi* of 



[80] 



