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Chapter 2。 Rolf Kittering and the Soldier Uncle
A feller that chatters all the time is bound to talk a certain
amount of drivel。 The Sayings of Si Sylvanne
This was the Crow Moon； the white man's March。
The Grass Moon was at hand； and already the
arrow bands of black…necked honkers were passing
northward from the coast； sending down as they flew
the glad tidings that the Hunger Moon was gone； that
spring was come； yea； even now was in the land。 And the
flicker clucked from a high； dry bough； the spotted
woodwale drummed on his chosen branch； the partridge
drummed in the pine woods； and in the sky the wild
ducks； winging； drummed their way。 What wonder that
the soul of the Indian should seek expression in the drum
and the drum song of his race？
Presently； as though remembering something； he went
quietly to the southward under the ridge； just where it
breaks to let the brook go by； along the edge of Strickland's
Plain； and on that hill of sliding stone he found； as
he always had； the blue…eyed liver…leaf smiling； the first
sweet flower of spring！ He did not gather it； he only sat
down and looked at it。 He did not smile； or sing； or
utter words； or give it a name； but he sat beside it and
looked hard at it； and； in the first place； he went there
knowingly to find it。 Who shall say that its beauty did
not reach his soul？
He took out his pipe and tobacco bag； but was reminded
of something lacking the bag was empty。 He returned
to his wigwam； and from their safe hanger or swinging
shelf overhead； he took the row of stretched skins； ten
muskrats and one mink； and set out along a path which
led southward through the woods to the broad； open place
called Strickland's Plain； across that； and over the next
rock ridge to the little town and port of Myanos。
SILAS PECK
Trading Store
was the sign over the door he entered。 Men and women
were buying and selling； but the Indian stood aside shyly
until all were served； and Master Peck cried out：
〃Ho； Quonab！ what have ye got for trade to…day？〃
Quonab produced his furs。 The dealer looked at them
narrowly and said：
〃They are too late in the season for primes； I cannot
allow you more than seven cents each for the rats and
seventy…five cents for the mink； all trade。〃
The Indian gathered up the bundle with an air of 〃that
settles it；〃 when Silas called out：
〃Come now； I'll make it ten cents for the rats。〃
〃Ten cents for rats； one dollar for mink； all cash； then
I buy what I like；〃 was the reply。
It was very necessary to Silas's peace that no customer
of his should cross the street to the sign；
SILAS MEAD
Trading Store
So the bargain； a fair one now； was made； and the Indian
went off with a stock of tobacco； tea； and sugar。
His way lay up the Myanos River； as he had one or two
traps set along the banks for muskrats； although in constant
danger of having them robbed or stolen by boys； who
considered this an encroachment on their trapping grounds。
After an hour he came to Dumpling Pond； then set out
for his home； straight through the woods； till he reached
the Catrock line； and following that came to the farm and
ramshackle house of Micky Kittering。 He had been told
that the man at this farm had a fresh deer hide for sale；
and hoping to secure it； Quonab walked up toward the
house。 Micky was coming from the barn when he saw
the Indian。 They recognized each other at a glance。
That was enough for Quonab； he turned away。 The
farmer remembered that he had been 〃insulted。〃 He
vomited a few oaths； and strode after the Indian； 〃To
take it out of his hide〃； his purpose was very clear。 The
Indian turned quickly； stood； and looked calmly at Michael。
Some men do not know the difference between shyness
and cowardice； but they are apt to find it out unexpectedly
Something told the white man； 〃Beware！ this red man is
dangerous。〃 He muttered something about； 〃Get out
of that； or I'll send for a constable。〃 The Indian stood
gazing coldly； till the farmer backed off out of sight； then
he himself turned away to the woods。
Kittering was not a lovely character。 He claimed to
have been a soldier。 He certainly looked the part； for
his fierce white moustache was curled up like horns on his
purple face； at each side of his red nose； in a most milita
style。 His shoulders were square and his gait was
swaggering； beside which； he had an array of swear words that
was new and tremendously impressive in Connecticut。 He
had married late in life a woman who would have made him
a good wife； had he allowed her。 But； a drunkard himself
he set deliberately about bringing his wife to his own ways
and with most lamentable success。 They had had no
children； but some months before a brother's child；
fifteen…year…old lad； had become a charge on their hands
and； with any measure of good management； would have
been a blessing to all。 But Micky had gone too far。 His
original weak good…nature was foundered in rum。 Always
blustery and frothy； he divided the world in two
superior officers； before whom he grovelled； and inferiors
to whom he was a mouthy； foul…tongued； contemptible
bully； in spite of a certain lingering kindness of heart that
showed itself at such rare times when he was neither
roaring drunk nor crucified by black reaction。 His
brother's child； fortunately； had inherited little of the
paternal family traits； but in both body and brain favoured
his mother； the daughter of a learned divine who had spent
unusual pains on her book education； but had left her
penniless and incapable of changing that condition。
Her purely mental powers and peculiarities were such
that； a hundred years before； she might have been burned
for a witch； and fifty years later might have been honoured
as a prophetess。 But she missed the crest of the wave
both ways and fell in the trough； her views on religious
matters procured neither a witch's grave nor a prophet's
crown； but a sort of village contempt。
The Bible was her standard so far so good but
she emphasized the wrong parts of it。 Instead of
magnifying the damnation of those who follow not the truth （as
the village understood it）； she was content to semi…quote：
〃Those that are not against me are with me；〃 and
〃A kind heart is the mark of His chosen。〃 And then
she made a final utterance； an echo really of her father：
〃If any man do anything sincerely； believing that thereby
he is worshipping God； he is worshipping God。〃
Then her fate was sealed； and all who marked the blazing
eyes； the hollow cheeks； the yet more hollow chest and
cough； saw in it all the hand of an offended God destroying
a blasphemer； and shook their heads knowingly when
the end came。
So Rolf was left alone in life； with a common school
education； a thorough knowledge of the Bible and of
〃Robinson Crusoe；〃 a vague tradition