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One morning； as they passed the trail that skirts the pond；
Quonab pointed to the near water。 There was someting afloat like
a small； round leaf； with two beads well apart； on it。 Then Rolf
noticed； two feet away； a larger floating leaf； and now he knew
that the first was the head and eyes； the last the back； of a
huge snapping turtle。 A moment more and it quickly sank from
view。 Turtles of three different kinds were common； and snappers
were well known to Rolf； but never before had he seen such a huge
and sinister…looking monster of the deep。
〃That is Bosikado。 I know him； he knows me；〃 said the red man。
〃There has long been war between us； some day we will settle it。
I saw him here first three years ago。 I had shot a duck； it
floated on the water。 Before I could get to it something pulled
it under； and that was the last of it。 Then a summer duck came
with young ones。 One by one he took them； and at last got her。
He drives all ducks away； so I set many night lines for him。 I
got some little snappers； eight and ten pounds each。 They were
good to eat； and three times already I took Bosikado on the
hooks； but each time when I pulled him up to the canoe； he broke
my biggest line and went down。 He was as broad as the canoe； his
claws broke through the canoe skin； he made it bulge and tremble。
He looked like the devil of the lake。 I was afraid！
〃But my father taught me there is only one thing that can shame a
man that is to be afraid； and I said I will never let fear be
my guide。 I will seek a fair fight with Bosikado。 He is my
enemy。 He made me afraid once； I will make him much afraid。 For
three years we have been watching each other。 For three years he
has kept all summer ducks away； and robbed my fish…lines； my
nets； and my muskrat traps。 Not often do I see him mostly
like today。
〃Before Skookum I had a little dog； Nindai。 He was a good little
dog。 He could tree a coon； catch a rabbit； or bring out a duck；
although he was very small。 We were very good friends。 One time
I shot a duck； it fell into the lake； I called Nindai。 He jumped
into the water and swam to the duck。 Then that duck that I
thought dead got up and flew away； so I called Nindai。 He came
across the water to me。 By and by； over that deep place； he
howled and splashed。 Then he yelled； like he wanted me。 I ran
for the canoe and paddled quick； I saw my little dog Nindai go
down。 Then I knew it was that Bosikado again。 I worked a long
time with a pole； but found nothing； only five days later one of
Nindai's paws floated down the stream。 Some day I will tear open
that Bosikado！
〃Once I saw him on the bank。 He rolled down like a big stone to
the water。 He looked at me before he dived； and as we looked in
each other's eyes I knew he was a Manito； but he is evil； and my
father said； 'When an evil Manito comes to trouble you； you must
kill him。'
〃One day； when I swam after a dead duck； he took me by the toe；
but I reached shallow water and escaped him； and once I drove my
fish…spear in his back； but it was not strong enough to hold him。
Once he caught Skookum's tail； but the hair came out； the dog has
not since swum across the pond。
〃Twice I have seen him like today and might have killed him with
the gun； but I want to meet him fighting。 Many a time I have sat
on the bank and sung to him the 'Coward's Song；' and dared him to
come and fight in the shallow water where we are equals。 He
hears me。 He does not come。
〃I know he made me sick last winter； even now he is making
trouble with his evil magic。 But my magic must prevail； and some
day we shall meet。 He made me afraid once。 I uill make him much
afraid； and will meet him in the water。〃
Not many days were to pass before the meeting。 Rolf had gone for
water at the well； which was a hole dug ten feet from the shore
of the lake。 He had learned the hunter's cautious trick of going
silently and peering about； before he left cover。 On a mud bank
in a shallow bay； some fifty yards off； he described a peculiar
gray and greenish form that he slowly made out to be a huge
turtle； sunning itself。 The more he looked and gauged it with
things about； the bigger it seemed。 So he slunk back quickly and
silently to Quonab。 〃He is out sunning himself Bosikado on
the bank！〃
The Indian rose quickly； took his tomahawk and a strong line。
Rolf reached for the gun； but Quonab shook his head。 They went
to the lake。 Yes！ There was the great； goggle…eyed monster；
like a mud…coloured log。 The bank behind him was without cover。
It would be impossible to approach the watchful creature within
striking distance before he could dive。 Quonab would not use the
gun； in this case he felt he must atone by making an equal fight。
He quickly formed a plan； he fastened the tomahawk and the coiled
rope to his belt； then boldly and silently slipped into the lake；
to approach the snapper from the water side quite the easiest
in this case； not only because the snapper would naturally watch
on the land side； but because there was a thick clump of rushes
behind which the swimmer could approach。
Then； as instructed； Rolf went back into the woods； and came
silently to a place whence he could watch the snapper from a
distance of twenty yards。
The boy's heart beat fast as he watched the bold swimmer and the
savage reptile。 There could be little doubt that the creature
weighed a hundred pounds。 It is the strongest for its size and
the fiercest of all reptiles。 Its jaws； though toothless； have
cutting edges； a sharp beak； and power to the crushing of bones。
Its armour makes it invulnerable to birds and beasts of prey。
Like a log it lay on the beach； with its long alligator tail
stretched up the bank and its serpentine head and tiny wicked
eyes vigilantly watching the shore。 Its shell； broad and
ancient； was fringed with green moss； and its scaly armpits
exposed； were decked with leeches； at which a couple of peetweets
pecked with eager interest； apparently to the monster's
satisfaction。 Its huge limbs and claws were in marked contrast
to the small； red eyes。 But the latter it was that gave the
thrill of unnervement。
Sunk down nearly out of sight； the Indian slowly reached the
reeds。 Here he found bottom； and pausing； he took the rope in
one hand； the tomahawk in the other； and dived； and when he
reappeared he was within ten yards of the enemy； and in water but
four feet deep。
With a sudden rush the reptile splashed into the pond and out of
sight； avoiding the rope noose。 But Quonab clutched deep in the
water as it passed； and seized the monster's rugged tail。 Then
it showed its strength。 In a twinkling that mighty tail was
swung sidewise； crushing the hand with terrible force against the
sharp…edged points of the back armour。 It took all the Indian's
grit to hold on to that knife…edged war club。 He dropped his
tomahawk； then