It was easy after this to remove the sand, the stocking, and the hardened mud, to shake out the dust, and I had a pair of waterproof boots, without seam, and fitting as well as if I had employed an English shoemaker.

My boys were wild with joy, and all begged for a pair; but I wished first to try their durability, compared with those of buffalo leather.

I began to make a pair of boots for Fritz, using the skin drawn from the legs of the buffalo we had killed; but I had much more difficulty than with the caoutchouc.

I used the gum to cover the seams, so that the water might not penetrate.

They were certainly not elegant as a work of art, and the boys laughed at their brother's awkward movements in them; but their own productions, though useful vessels, were not models of perfection.
We then worked at our fountain, a great source of pleasure to my wife and to all of us.