A Thousand-Mile W alk 
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, ‘I 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 door of 
[ 80 ] 
