"Read much, but not many works," is the advice of a great writer.




LESSON XX

THE ART OF OBSERVATION

The Indian trapper is a man of close observation, quick perception and
prompt action. As he goes along, nothing escapes him. Often not
another step is taken until some mystery that presents itself is fairly
solved. He will stand for hours in succession to account for certain
signs, and he may even spend days and weeks upon that same mystery
until he solves it.

I rode once several hundred miles in the company of such an experienced
trailer, and asked him many questions about his art. Near the bank of
a small river in Dakota we crossed the track of a pony. The guide
followed the track for some distance and then said: "It is a stray
black horse, with a long bushy tail, nearly starved to death; it has a
broken hoof on the left fore foot and goes very lame; he has passed
here early this morning."

I could scarcely believe what was said, and asked for an explanation.
The trailer replied: "It is a stray horse, because he did not go in a
straight line; his tail is long, for he dragged it over the ground; in
brushing against a bush he left some of his black hair; he is very
hungry, because he nipped at the dry weeds which horses seldom eat; the
break of his left fore foot can be seen in its track, and the slight