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〃How much money have we now； Nibowaka？〃 was one of the mid…August
indications of restlessness。 Rolf reckoned up； half a month for
Quonab； 15。00； for himself； 10。00； for finding the cows 2。00
27。00 in all。 Not enough。
Three days later Quonab reckoned up again。 Next day he said： 〃We
need two months' open water to find a good country and build a
shanty。〃 Then did Rolf do the wise thing； he went to fat Hendrik
and told him all about it。 They wanted to get a canoe and an
outfit； and seek for a trapping or hunting ground that would not
encroach on those already possessed； for the trapping law is
rigid； even the death penalty is not considered too high in
certain cases of trespass； provided the injured party is ready to
be judge； jury； and executioner。 Van Trumper was able to help
them not a little in the matter of location there was no use
trying on the Vermont side； nor anywhere near Lake Champlain； nor
near Lake George； neither was it worth while going to the far
North； as the Frenchmen came in there； and they were keen
hunters； so that Hamilton County was more promising than any
other； but it was almost inaccessible； remote from all the great
waterways； and of course without roads； its inaccessibility was
the reason why it was little known。 So far so good； but happy
Hendrik was unpleasantly surprised to learn that the new help
were for leaving at once。 Finally he made this offer： If they
would stay till September first； and so leave all in 〃good shape
fer der vinter；〃 he would； besides the wages agreed； give them
the canoe； one axe； six mink traps； and a fox trap now hanging in
the barn； and carry them in his wagon as far as the Five… mile
portage from Lake George to Schroon River； down which they could
go to its junction with the upper Hudson； which； followed up
through forty miles of rapids and hard portages； would bring them
to a swampy river that enters from the southwest； and ten miles
up this would bring them to Jesup's Lake； which is two miles wide
and twelve miles long。 This country abounded with game； but was
so hard to enter that after Jesup's death it was deserted。
There was only one possible answer to such an offer they stayed。
In spare moments Quonab brought the canoe up to the barn；
stripped off some weighty patches of bark and canvas and some
massive timber thwarts； repaired the ribs； and when dry and
gummed； its weight was below one hundred pounds； a saving of at
least forty pounds on the soggy thing he crossed the lake in that
first day on the farm。
September came。 Early in the morning Quonab went alone to the
lakeside； there on a hill top he sat； looking toward the sunrise；
and sang a song of the new dawn； beating； not with a tom…tom
he had none but with one stick on another。 And when the
sunrise possessed the earth he sang again the hunter's song：
〃Father； guide our feet； Lead us to the good hunting。〃
Then he danced to the sound； his face skyward； his eyes closed；
his feet barely raised； but rythmically moved。 So went he three
times round to the chant in three sun circles； dancing a sacred
measure； as royal David might have done that day when he danced
around the Ark of the Covenant on its homeward joumey。 His face
was illumined； and no man could have seen him then without
knowing that this was a true heart's worship of a true God； who
is in all things He has made。
Chapter 17。 Canoeing on the Upper Hudson
There is only one kind of a man I can't size up； that's the
faller that shets up and says nothing。 …Sayings of Si Sylvanne。
A settler named Hulett had a scow that was borrowed by the
neighbours whenever needed to take a team across the lake。 On
the morning of their journey； the Dutchman's team and wagon； the
canoe and the men； were aboard the scow； Skookum took his proper
place at the prow； and all was ready for 〃Goodbye。〃 Rolf found it
a hard word to say。 The good old Dutch mother had won his heart；
and the children were like his brothers and sisters。
〃Coom again； lad； coom and see us kvick。〃 She kissed him； he
kissed Annette and the three later issues。 They boarded the scow
to ply the poles till the deep water was reached； then the oars。
An east wind springing up gave them a chance to profit by a
wagon…cover rigged as a sail； and two hours later the scow was
safely landed at West Side； where was a country store； and the
head of the wagon road to the Schroon River。
As they approached the door； they saw a rough…looking man
slouching against the building； his hands in his pockets； his
blear eyes taking in the new…comers with a look of contemptuous
hostility。 As they passed； he spat tobacco juice on the dog and
across the feet of the men。
Old Warren who kept the store was not partial to Indians； but he
was a good friend of Hendrik and very keen to trade for fur； so
the new trappers were well received； and now came the settling of
accounts。 Flour； oatmeal； pork； potatoes； tea； tobacco； sugar；
salt； powder； ball； shot； clothes； lines； an inch…auger； nails；
knives； awls； needles； files； another axe； some tin plates； and a
frying pan were selected and added to Hendrik's account。
〃If I was you； I'd take a windy…sash； you'll find it mighty
convenient in cold weather。〃 The store keeper led them into an
outhouse where was a pile of six…lighted window…frames all
complete。 So the awkward thing was added to their load。
〃Can't I sell you a fine rifle？〃 and he took down a new； elegant
small bore of the latest pattern。 〃Only twenty… five dollars。〃
Rolf shook his head； 〃part down； and I'll take the rest in fur
next spring。〃 Rolf was sorely tempted； however； he had an early
instilled horror of debt。 He steadfastly said： 〃No。〃 But many
times he regretted it afterward！ The small balance remaining was
settled in cash。
As they were arranging and selecting； they heard a most hideous
yelping outdoors； and a minnute later Skookum limped in； crying
as if half…killed。 Quonab was out in a moment。
〃Did you kick my dog？〃
The brutal loafer changed countenance as he caught the red man's
eye。 〃Naw！ never touched him； hurted himself on that rake。〃
It was obviously a lie； but better to let it pass； and Quonab
came in again。
Then the rough stranger appeared at the door and growled： 〃Say；
Warren！ ain't you going to let me have that rifle？ I guess my
word's as good as the next man's。〃
〃No；〃 said Warren； 〃I told you； no！〃
〃Then you can go to blazes； and you'll never see a cent's worth
of fur from the stuff I got last year。〃
〃I don't expect to；〃 was the reply； 〃I've learned what your
word's worth。〃 And the stranger slouched away。
〃Who vas he？〃 asked Hendrik。
〃I only know that his name is Jack Hoag； he's a little bit of a
trapper and a big bit of a bum； stuck me last year。 He doesn't
come out this way； they say he goes out by the west side of the
mountains。〃
New light on