按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
say in a measure a man of fame for some most excellent remarks he
hath passed on the shorter catechism； beside which he hath gained
much approval for having pointed out two hidden meanings in the
27th verse of the 12th chapter of Hebrews； one whose very
presence； therefore； is a guarantee against levity； laxity； and
false preachment。
〃There； now； my good lad； look not so like a colt that feels the
whip for the first time。 You will have a good home； imbued with
the spirit of a most excellent piety that will be ever about
you。〃
〃Like a colt feeling the whip；〃 indeed！ Rolf reeled like a
stricken deer。 To go back as a chore…boy drudge was possible；
but not alluring； to leave Quonab； just as the wood world was
opening to him； was devastating； but to exchange it all for
bondage in the pious household of Old Peck； whose cold cruelty
had driven off all his own children； was an accumulation of
disasters that aroused him。
〃I won't go！〃 he blurted out； and gazed defiantly at the broad
and benevolent selectman。
〃Come now； Rolf； such language is unbecoming。 Let not a hasty
tongue betray you into sin。 This is what your mother would have
wished。 Be sensible； you will soon find it was all for the best。
I have ever liked you； and will ever be a friend you can count
on。
〃Acting； not according to my instructions； but according to my
heart； I will say further that you need not come now； you need
not even give answer now； but think it over。 Nevertheless；
remember that on or before Monday morning next； you will be
expected to appear at Elder Peck's； and I fear that； in case you
fail； the messenger next arriving will be one much less friendly
than myself。 Come now； Rolf； be a good lad； and remember that in
your new home you will at least be living for the glory of God。〃
Then； with a friendly nod； but an expression of sorrow； the
large； black messenger turned and tramped away。
Rolf slowly； limply； sank down on a rock and stared at the fire。
After awhile Quonab got up and began to prepare the mid…day meal。
Usually Rolf helped him。 Now he did nothing but sullenly glare
at the glowing coals。 In half an hour the food was ready。 He
ate little； then went away in the woods by himself。 Quonab saw
him lying on a flat rock； looking at the pond； and throwing
pebbles into it。 Later Quonab went to Myanos。 On his return he
found that Rolf had cut up a great pile of wood； but not a word
passed between them。 The look of sullen anger and rebellion on
Rolf's face was changing to one of stony despair。 What was
passing in each mind the other could not divine。
The evening meal was eaten in silence； then Quonab smoked for an
hour； both staring into the fire。 A barred owl hooted and
laughed over their heads； causing the dog to jump up and bark at
the sound that ordinarily he would have heeded not at all。 Then
silence was restored； and the red man's hidden train of thought
was in a flash revealed。
〃Rolf； let's go to the North Woods！〃
It was another astounding idea。 Rolf had realized more and more
how much this valley meant to Quonab； who worshipped the memory
of his people。
〃And leave all this？〃 he replied； making a sweep with his hand
toward the rock； the Indian trail； the site of bygone Petuquapen；
and the graves of the tribe。
For reply their eyes met； and from the Indian's deep chest came
the single word； 〃Ugh。〃 One syllable； deep and descending； but
what a tale it told of the slowly engendered and strong…grown
partiality； of a struggle that had continued since the morning
when the selectman came with words of doom； and of friendship's
victory won。
Rolf realized this； and it gave him a momentary choking in his
throat； and； 〃I'm ready if you really mean it。〃
〃Ugh I go； but some day come back。〃
There was a long silence； then Rolf； 〃When shall we start？〃 and
the answer； 〃To…morrow night；〃
Chapter 15。 Bound for the North Woods
When Quonab left camp in the morning he went heavy laden； and the
trail he took led to Myanos。 There was nothing surprising in it
when he appeared at Silas Peck's counter and offered for sale a
pair of snowshoes； a bundle of traps； some dishes of birch bark
and basswood； and a tom…tom； receiving in exchange some tea；
tobacco； gunpowder； and two dollars in cash。 He turned without
comment； and soon was back in camp。 He now took the kettle into
the woods and brought it back filled with bark； fresh chipped
from a butternut tree。 Water was added； and the whole boiled
till it made a deep brown liquid。 When this was cooled he poured
it into a flat dish； then said to Rolf： 〃Come now； I make you a
Sinawa。〃
With a soft rag the colour was laid on。 Face； head； neck； and
hands were all at first intended； but Rolf said； 〃May as well do
the whole thing。〃 So he stripped off； the yellow brown juice on
his white skin turned it a rich copper colour； and he was changed
into an Indian lad that none would have taken for Rolf Kittering。
The stains soon dried； and Rolf； re…clothed； felt that already he
had burned a bridge。
Two portions of the wigwam cover were taken off； and two packs
were made of the bedding。 The tomahawk； bows； arrows； and gun；
with the few precious food pounds in the copper pot； were divided
between them and arranged into packs with shoulder straps； then
all was ready。 But there was one thing more for Quonab； he went
up alone to the rock。 Rolf knew what he went for； and judged it
best not to follow。
The Indian lighted his pipe； blew the four smokes to the four
winds； beginning with the west； then he sat in silence for a
time。 Presently the prayer for good hunting came from the rock：
〃Father lead us！
Father； help us！
Father； guide us to the good hunting。〃
And when that ceased a barred owl hooted in the woods；
away to the north。
〃Ugh！ good；〃 was all he said as he rejoined Rolf； and they set
out； as the sun went down； on their long journey due northward；
Quonab； Rolf； and Skookum。 They had not gone a hundred yards
before the dog turned back； raced to a place where he had a bone
in cache and rejoining there trotted along with his bone。
The high road would have been the easier travelling； but it was
very necessary to be unobserved； so they took the trail up the
brook Asamuk； and after an hour's tramp came out by the Cat…Rock
road that runs westerly。 Again they were tempted by the easy
path； but again Quonab decided on keeping to the woods。 Half an
hour later they were halted by Skookum treeing a coon。 After
they had secured the dog； they tramped on through the woods for
two hours more； and then； some eight miles from the Pipestave；
they halted； Rolf； at least； tired out。 It was now midnight。
They made a hasty double bed of the canvas cover over a pole
above them； and slept till morning； cheered； as they closed their
drowsy eyes； by the 〃Hoo； Hoo； Hoo； Hoo； yah； hoo；〃 of their