222 GLOOSCAP AND OTHER STORIES

“I am taking the hide from this bull,” the stranger replied; “he died to-day.”

“Will you let me have a strip from the back, over the backbone?” the boy asked.

“Yes,” the stranger said, “but I will need money for it.”

The boy had not thought of needing money to pay for the raw—hide. But he wanted to have that belt. The voice had said that he would be- come a great cattle-doctor; and this was just what he wished to be.

“I will ask my father for the money,” he said to the stranger, and started off through the forest.

“Oh, father,” he said when he reached home, “please give me enough money to buy a piece of raw-hide.”

“Why do you want raw-hide, my son “2 ’ ’ asked the father.

Then the boy told his father about his dream, and about the voice.

“Tell the stranger that you have no money,” said the father, “and ask him to give you the strip of raw-hide and say that you will give him the money for it when you get it.”

Back to the stranger the boy ran, and told him what his father had said.

“But, I cannot do that,” answered the man. “However, if you really want the strip of raw-