FASTENER FOR SCALPING-BOOT. xliii 



of the same number. Before using the screws in the horn, and {)re- 

 vious to the keystone fiistener being thought of, I tried cutting a 

 thread in the tip and the horn, half in each. But the thread on the 

 metal part was too fine for the horn, and it was iinsatisfactoiy. At 

 that time I did not think of using the ordinary wood-screw, and the 

 small taps and dies that I had wei-e very finely cut. 



The use of the wood-screw not only taught me a better manner of 

 fastening the toe-weights, as it also helped me out of a difficulty in 

 attaching scalping-boots to a bare foot. To keep these in place I 

 thought it was imperative to have at least one projection at the heel 

 in order to fasten it properly, and in the case of Anteeo, followed 

 the practice, heretofore described, of wearing a three-quai'ter shoe. 

 With that I used the keystone at first, and then the wood-screw 

 driven into the horn. A thin piece of metal was let into the 

 quarter-boot for the screw to pass through, and I found the method 

 far superior to a strap drawn through a slot. But Antevolo also 

 needed the protection of a scalper, and every plan I tried of attaching 

 it to the speedy-cut above was a failure. I tried several ways with- 

 out any success, and as a last resort put on the boot the same as if 

 there was a projecting heel. Luckily the scalper was made of the 

 hardest, stifiest leather, and the heel strap was doubled at the place 

 where it would rest on a shoe. I took another piece of moderately 

 thick leather, perhaps two inches wide, uniting it together after the 

 heel strap was slipped between. The job was complete, and the only 

 instance the boot came ofi" was when I had been negligent in renewing 

 the hole, and the horn wore away until there was nothing to hold. 

 The best place I have found to place the screw is about an inch out- 

 side of the center of the toe, and the leather is cut out in a curve back 

 of the screw to near the same, and as when fastening the toe-weights 

 and quarter-boots; the strap is buckled before it is shoved down to its 

 place, and in this way the tugging at the strap is avoided. The job 

 is much easier than when the other method of fastening the scalper 

 is followed, and the danger of the strap breaking is done away ^vith. 

 It is far easier to make the holes in the horn than many imagine. 

 I use a small Morse drill, put in a handle, and a few seconds are all- 

 sufficient. "Where two screws are used there must be due care taken 



