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plenty of coarse grass with which the poles were covered deeply；
and lastly clay dug out with a couple of hand…made； axe…hewn
wooden spades was thrown evenly on the grass to a depth of six
inches； this； when trampled flat； made a roof that served them well。
The chinks of the logs when large were filled with split pieces
of wood； when small they were plugged with moss。 A door was made
of hewn planks； and hinged very simply on two pins； one made by
letting the plank project as a point； the other by nailing on a
pin after the door was placed； both pins fitting； of course； into
inch auger holes。
A floor was not needed； but bed bunks were； and in making these
they began already to realize that the cabin was too small。 But
now after a week's work it was done。 It had a sweet fragrance of
wood and moss； and the pleasure it gave to Rolf at least was
something he never again could expect to find in equal measure
about any other dwelling he might make。
Quonab laid the fire carefully； then lighted his pipe； sang a
little crooning song about the 〃home spirits；〃 which we call
〃household gods；〃 walked around the shanty； offering the pipestem
to each of the four winds in turn； then entering lighted the flre
from his pipe； threw some tobacco and deer hair on the blaze； and
the house…warming was ended。
Nevertheless； they continued to sleep in the tent they had used
all along； for Quonab loved not the indoors； and Rolf was growing
daily more of his mind。
Chapter 21。 Rolf's First Deer
Anxious to lose no fine day they had worked steadily on the
shanty； not even going after the deer that were seen occasionally
over the lake； so that now they were out of fresh meat； and Rolf
saw a chance he long had looked for。 〃Quonab； I want to go out
alone and get a deer； and I want your gun。
〃Ugh！ you shall go。 To…night is good。〃
〃To…night〃 meant evening； so Rolf set out alone as soon as the
sun was low； for during the heat of the day the deer are commonly
lying in some thicket。 In general； he knew enough to travel up
wind； and to go as silently as possible。 The southwest wind was
blowing softly； and so he quickened his steps southwesterly which
meant along the lake。 Tracks and signs abounded； it was
impossible to follow any one trail。 His plan was to keep on
silently； trusting to luck； nor did he have long to wait。 Across
a little opening of the woods to the west he saw a movement in
the bushes； but it ceased； and he was in doubt whether the
creature； presumably a deer； was standing there or had gone on。
〃Never quit till you are sure；〃 was one of Quonab's wise adages。
Rolf was bound to know what it was that had moved。 So he stood
still and waited。 A minute passed； another； many； a long time；
and still he waited； but got no further sign of life from the
bush。 Then he began to think he was mistaken； yet it was good
huntercraft to find out what that was。 He tried the wind several
times； first by wetting his finger； which test said 〃southwest〃；
second； by tossing up some handfuls of dried grass； which said
〃yes； southwest； but veering southerly in this glade。〃 So he knew
he might crawl silentlv to the north side of that bush。 He
looked to the priming of his gun and began a slow and stealthy
stalk； selecting such openings as might be passed without effort
or movement of bushes or likelihood of sound。 He worked his way
step by step； each time his foot was lifted he set it down again
only after trying the footing。 At each step he paused to look
and listen。 It was only one hundred yards to the interesting
spot； but Rolf was fifteen minutes in covering the distance； and
more than once； he got a great start as a chicadee flew out or a
woodpecker tapped。 His heart beat louder and louder； so it
seemed everything near must hear； but he kept on his careful
stalk； and at last had reached the thicket that had given him
such thrills and hopes。 Here he stood and watched for a full
minute。 Again he tried the wind； and proceeded to circle slowly
to the west of the place。
After a long； tense crawl of twenty yards he came on the track
and sign of a big buck； perfectly fresh； and again his heart
worked harder； it seemed to be pumping his neck full of blood； so
he was choking。 He judged it best to follow this hot trail for a
time； and holding his gun ready cocked he stepped softly onward。
A bluejay cried out； 〃jay； jay！〃 with startling loudness； and
seemingly enjoyed his pent…up excitement。 A few steps forward at
slow； careful stalk； and then behind him he heard a loud
whistling hiss。 Instantly turning he found himself face to face
with a great； splendid buck in the short blue coat。 There not
thirty yards away he stood； the creature he had been stalking so
long； in plain view now； broadside on。 They gazed each at the
other； perfectly still for a few seconds； then Rolf without undue
movement brought the gun to bear； and still the buck stood
gazing。 The gun was up； but oh； how disgustingly it wabbled and
shook！ and the steadier Rolf tried to bold it； the more it
trembled； until from that wretched gun the palsy spread all over
his body； his breath came tremulously； his legs and arms were
shaking； and at last； as the deer moved its head to get a better
view and raised its tail； the lad； making an effort at
selfcontrol； pulled the trigger。 Bang！ and the buck went lightly
bounding out of sight。
Poor Rolf； how disgusted he felt； positively sick with
self…contempt。 Thirty yards； standing； broadside on； full
daylight； a big buck； a clean miss。 Yes； there was the bullet
hole in a tree； five feet above the deer's head。 〃I'm no good；
I'll never be a hunter；〃 he groaned； then turned and slowly
tramped back to camp。 Quonab looked inquiringly； for； of course；
he heard the shot。 He saw a glum and sorry…looking youth； who in
response to his inquiring look gave merely a head…shake； and hung
up the gun with a vicious bang。
Quonab took down the gun； wiped it out； reloaded it； then turning
to the boy said： 〃Nibowaka； you feel pretty sick。 Ugh！ You know
why？ You got a good chance； but you got buck fever。 It is
always so； every one the first time。 You go again to…morrow and
you get your deer。〃
Rolf made no reply。 So Quonab ventured； 〃You want me to go？〃
That settled it for Rolf； his pride was touched。
〃No； I'll go again in the morning。〃
In the dew time he was away once more on the hunting trail。
There was no wind； but the southwest was the likeliest to spring
up。 So he went nearly over his last night's track。 He found it
much easier to go silently now when all the world was dew wet；
and travelled quickly。 Past the fateful glade he went； noted
again the tree torn several feet too high up； and on。 Then the
cry of a bluejay rang out； this is often a notification of deer
at hand。 It always is warning of something doing； and no wise
hunter ignores it。
Rolf stood for a m