The basket was secured to its place upon the child's back and shoulders by means of two flat strips of wood, which were fastened at the upper ends of them to the back of the basket near the top, and which came round over the shoulders in front, and then, passing under the arms, were fastened at the lower ends to the basket near the bottom. The basket was thus supported in its place and carried by means of the pressure of these straps upon the shoulders.
"Uncle George," said Rollo, "I should like to have such a basket as that and such a pair of straps to carry it by."
"What would you do with it," asked Mr. George, "if you had it?"
"Why, it would be very convenient," said Rollo, "in America, when I went a-raspberrying. You see, if I had such a basket as that, I could bring my berries home on my back, and so have my hands free."
"Yes," said Mr. George, "that would be convenient."
"Besides," said Rollo, "it would be a curiosity."
"That's true," replied Mr. George; "but it would be very difficult to carry so bulky a thing home."
After some further conversation it was concluded not to buy the basket, but to ask the girl if she would be willing to sell the straps, or bows, that it was fastened with. These straps were really quite curious. They were made of some very hard and smooth-grained wood, and were nicely carved and bent so as to fit to the girl's shoulders quite precisely.
Accordingly Mr. George, speaking in French, requested Henry to ask the girl whether she would be willing to sell the straps. Henry immediately addressed the girl in the German language, and after talking with her a few minutes he turned again to Mr. George and Rollo and said that the girl would rather not sell them herself, as they belonged to her father, who lived about half a mile farther up the mountain. But she was sure her father would sell them if they would stop at his cottage as they went by. He would either sell them that pair, she said, or a new pair; for he made such things himself, and he had two or three new pairs in his cottage.
"Very well," said Mr. George; "let us go on.
"Which would you rather have," said Mr. George to Rollo, as they resumed their march, "this pair, or some new ones?"
"I would rather have this pair," said Rollo.