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That occupied two days。 After that we became lazy。 One always does
in a permanent camp。 So did the horses。 Activeor rather restless
interest in life seemed to die away。 Neither we nor they had to rustle
hard for food。 They became fastidious in their choice； and at all times of
day could be seen sauntering in Indian file from one part of the meadow to
the other for the sole purpose apparently of cropping a half dozen
indifferent mouthfuls。 The rest of the time they roosted under trees； one
hind leg relaxed； their eyes half closed； their ears wabbling； the pictures of
imbecile content。 We were very much the same。
Of course we had our outbursts of virtue。 While under their influence
we undertook vast works。 But after their influence had died out； we
found ourselves with said vast works on our hands； and so came to
cursing ourselves and our fool spasms of industry。
For instance； Wes and I decided to make buckskin from the hide of the
latest deer。 We did not need the buckskinwe already had two in the
pack。 Our ordinary procedure would have been to dry the hide for future
treatment by a Mexican； at a dollar a hide； when we should have returned
home。 But； as I said； we were afflicted by sporadic activity； and wanted
to do something。
We began with great ingenuity by constructing a graining…tool out of a
table…knife。 We bound it with rawhide； and encased it with wood； and
wrapped it with cloth； and filed its edge square across； as is proper。 After
this we hunted out a very smooth； barkless log； laid the hide across it；
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straddled it； and began graining。
Graining is a delightful process。 You grasp the tool by either end；
hold the square edge at a certain angle； and push away from you mightily。
A half… dozen pushes will remove a little patch of hair； twice as many
more will scrape away half as much of the seal…brown grain； exposing the
white of the hide。 Then； if you want to； you can stop and establish in
your mind a definite proportion between the amount thus exposed； the area
remaining unexposed； and the muscular fatigue of these dozen and a half
of mighty pushes。 The proportion will be wrong。 You have left out of
account the fact that you are going to get almighty sick of the job； that
your arms and upper back are going to ache shrewdly before you are done；
and that as you go on it is going to be increasingly difficult to hold down
the edges firmly enough to offer the required resistance to your knife。
Besidesif you get carelessyou'll scrape too hard： hence little holes in
the completed buckskin。 Alsoif you get carelessyou will probably
leave the finest； tiniest shreds of grain； and each of them means a hard
transparent spot in the product。 Furthermore； once having started in on
the job； you are like the little boy who caught the trolley： you cannot let go。
It must be finished immediately； all at one heat； before the hide stiffens。
Be it understood； your first enthusiasm has evaporated； and you are
thinking of fifty pleasant things you might just as well be doing。
Next you revel in grease；lard oil； if you have it； if not； then lard； or
the product of boiled brains。 This you must rub into the skin。 You rub
it in until you suspect that your finger…nails have worn away； and you
glisten to the elbows like an Eskimo cutting blubber。
By the merciful arrangement of those who invented buckskin； this
entitles you to a rest。 You take itfor several daysuntil your conscience
seizes you by the scruff of the neck。
Then you transport gingerly that slippery； clammy； soggy； snaky； cold
bundle of greasy horror to the bank of the creek； and there for endless
hours you wash it。 The grease is more reluctant to enter the stream than
you are in the early morning。 Your hands turn purple。 The others go by
on their way to the trout…pools； but you are chained to the stake。
By and by you straighten your back with creaks； and walk home like a
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stiff old man； carrying your hide rid of all superfluous oil。 Then if you
are just learning how； your instructor examines the result。
〃That's all right；〃 says he cheerfully。 〃Now when it dries； it will be
buckskin。〃
That encourages you。 It need not。 For during the process of drying
it must be your pastime constantly to pull and stretch at every square inch
of that boundless skin in order to loosen all the fibres。 Otherwise it
would dry as stiff as whalebone。 Now there is nothing on earth that
seems to dry slower than buckskin。 You wear your fingers down to the
first joints； and； wishing to preserve the remainder for future use； you
carry the hide to your instructor。
〃Just beginning to dry nicely；〃 says he。
You go back and do it some more； putting the entire strength of your
body； soul； and religious convictions into the stretching of that buckskin。
It looks as white as paper； and feels as soft and warm as the turf on a
southern slope。 Nevertheless your tyrant declares it will not do。
〃It looks dry； and it feels dry；〃 says he； 〃but it isn't dry。 Go to it！〃
But at this point your outraged soul arches its back and bucks。 You
sneak off and roll up that piece of buckskin； and thrust it into the alforja。
You KNOW it is dry。 Then with a deep sigh of relief you come out of
prison into the clear； sane； lazy atmosphere of the camp。
〃Do you mean to tell me that there is any one chump enough to do
that for a dollar a hide？〃 you inquire。
〃Sure；〃 say they。
〃Well； the Fool Killer is certainly behind on his dates；〃 you conclude。
About a week later one of your companions drags out of the alforja
something crumpled that resembles in general appearance and texture a
rusted five…gallon coal…oil can that has been in a wreck。 It is only
imperce