The gristle at the base of the neck, where it met the shoulders, was so tough and thick we could not scrape it thin.

Jones said this particular spot was so well protected because in fighting, cougars were most likely to bite and claw there.

For that matter, the whole skin was tough, tougher than leather; and when it dried, it pulled all the horseshoe nails out of the pine tree upon which we had it stretched.
About time for the sun to set, I strolled along the rim wall to look into the canyon.

I was beginning to feel something of its character and had growing impressions.

Dark purple smoke veiled the clefts deep down between the mesas.