Of course, for work in the hills it might be well to use a double thickness of hide for the sole.
The upper part is made of the thinnest portion of the hide and, if grease is rubbed well inside, so as to soften the leather as much as possible, it makes the most comfortable footgear possible." "Well, we will try it, anyhow," Terence said.

"It mayn't look so soldierly but, at any rate, it would look as well as boots with the toes out; and if any general inspects us, and objects to them, we can say that we shall be perfectly ready to give them up, as soon as boots are issued to us.

But by using all black hides, I really do not think that it will look bad; and there would certainly be the advantage that, for a night attack, the tread would be much more noiseless than that of a heavy boot.
"I really like the idea, very much.

The best plan will be to pick out two or three score of men who are shoemakers by trade, and pay them a trifle for the making of each pair.

In that way we could get much greater uniformity than were each man to make his own.
"As to the clothes, I don't see that anything can be done about it, beyond getting a supply of needles and thread, and seeing that every hole is mended as well as possible.