TIGHT BOOTS. 13 



The man has the whole bearijig from the os ccdc'is to the metatarsals; 

 the horse has a point in comparison, the part corresponding to the 

 human heel forming the point of the hock, while the foot has only 

 tlu'ee comparatively small bones to sustain the whole of the shock. 

 Again, these bones are enclosed in a box with, a very slight interpo- 

 sition, and when this box becomes narrowed it is something like the 

 old instrument of torture, the iron boot, with wedges and screws 

 to compress the enclosed limb. Those who have worn a^ tight- 

 fitting boot know what the pain is without the addition of wedge 

 and screw. 



An acquaintance who was fond of horses, and paid a good deal of 

 attention to them, had purchased a new pair of hunting boots, and 

 spent several days on the large islands in the upper Mississippi, duck- 

 shooting. They had stiff quarters, and the heels were rather too narrow 

 for his feet. He suffered a good deal while tramping over the wet 

 ground, but the excitement of the sport sustained him, and though 

 he " hobbled " along in the morning, once fairly warmed to his work, 

 the pain was unheeded when the whirr of the rapid flight of the teal 

 or mallard was heard. Even when lying by the camp-fire with the 

 obnoxious boots removed, there was a good deal of suffering ; but 

 the solace of some of " Billy G's " doubled-distilled qjid a pipe of 

 fragrant kinnikinick made it endurable. When he got home he was 

 nearly tired out, and the bed was welcomed only as one who has 

 cami)ed for a week on a Mississippi island can greet it. Rip Van 

 Winkle never slept sounder, until the burning, compressed quarters 

 partially awoke him. He fancied his pedal extremities had changed, 

 and in lieu of a fairly-shaped " No. 7 " the hoofs of a horse were 

 substituted. His meanings awoke his wife, and her inquiry of 

 " What is the matter 2" elicited the response, " If you do not send 

 me to the shop and have my shoes pulled off, my feet will be ruined." 



" What on earth do you mean by having your shoes pulled off at 

 the shop 1 " was the next qiiery. 



" Wliy," he replied, " my feet are badly contracted, and these shoes 

 ai-e holding the quarters as though they were in a vise, and if they 

 are not removed, and I am allowed to run barefoot for a while, my 

 feet will be ruined entirely." 



