Peterkin also succeeded in making
excellent shoes out of the skin of the old hog, in the following
manner. He first cut a piece of the hide, of an oblong form, a few
inches longer than his foot. This he soaked in water, and while it was
wet he sewed up one end of it, so as to form a rough imitation of that
part of the heel of a shoe where the seam is. This done, he bored a row
of holes all round the edge of the piece of skin, through which a tough
line was passed. Into the sewed-up part of this shoe he thrust his
heel; then, drawing the string tight, the edges rose up and overlapped
his foot all round. It is true there were a great many ill-looking
puckers in these shoes; but we found them very serviceable
notwithstanding, and Jack came at last to prefer them to his long
boots. We also made various other useful articles, which added to our
comfort, and once or twice spoke of building us a house; but we had so
great an affection for the bower, and withal found it so serviceable,
that we determined not to leave it, nor to attempt the building of a
house, which in such a climate might turn out to be rather disagreeable
than useful.
We often examined the pistol that we had found in the house on the
other side of the island, and Peterkin wished much that we had powder
and shot, as it would render pig-killing much easier; but, after all,
we had become so expert in the use of our sling and bow and spear, that
we were independent of more deadly weapons.
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