unk; top of a Hemlock
pointing to east; the biggest rings of growth on the south side of
a stump, an' so on. It fits a tree standin' out by itself in the
open--the biggest ring is in the south, but it don't fit a tree on the
south side of an opening; then the biggest rings is on the north. If
ye have a compass in hand it's all kind o' half true--that is, just
a little bit true; but it ain't true; it's on'y a big lie, when ye'r
scared out o' your wits an' needin' to know. I never seen but one good
compass plant, an' that was the prairie Golden Rod. Get a bunch of
them in the open and the most of them point north, but under cover of
taller truck they jest point every which way for Sunday.

"If ye find a beaten game trail, ye follow that an it'll bring ye to
water--that is, if ye go the right way, an' that ye know by its gettin'
stronger. If it's peterin' out, ye'r goin' in the wrong direction. A
flock of Ducks or a Loon going over is sure to be pointing for water.
Y're safe to follow.

"If ye have a Dog or a Horse with ye he kin bring ye home all right.
Never knew them to fail but oncet, an' that was a fool Horse; there is
sech oncet in awhile, though there's more fool Dogs.

"But come right down to it, the compass is the safest thing. The sun
and stars is next, an' if ye know your friends will come ye'r best
plan is to set right down and make two smoke fires, keep them a-going,
holler every little while, and keep calm. Ye won't come to no harm
unless ye'r a blame fool, an' such ought to stay to hum, where they'll
be nursed."

XIII

Tanning Skins and Making Moccasins

Sam had made a find. A Calf had been killed and its skin hung limp on
a beam in the barn. His father allowed him to carry this off, and now
he appeared with a "fresh Buffalo hide to make a robe."

"I don't know how the Injuns dress their robes," he explained,
"but Caleb does, and he'll tell you, and, of course, I'll pay no
attention."

The old Trapper had nothing to do, and the only bright spots in his
lonely life, since his own door was shut in his face, were visits
to the camp. These had become daily, so it was taken as a matter of
course when, within an hour after Sam's return, he "happened round."

"How do the Indians tan furs and robes?" Yan asked at once.

"Wall, different ways--"

But before he could say more Hawkeye reappeared and shouted:

"Say, boys, Paw's old Horse died!" and he grinned joyfully, merely
because he was the b