Old Matt. Tale of the American Old West

[Segilla]

Can anybody identify a children's hardback book, pale blue cover publ .c 1947.

(Old) Matt was a backwoodsman, had an underground den. He owned a copy of Plutarch';s 'Lives'. Had a dry shave. One chapter was entitled 'The Biter Bit;. Had an Indian chief's son as a friend. Tied leather bags to his horse's hooves to fool trackers.

I read it over and over.