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education； a thorough knowledge of the Bible and of
〃Robinson Crusoe；〃 a vague tradition of God everywhere；
and a deep distrust of those who should have been his
own people。
The day of the little funeral he left the village of Redding
to tramp over the unknown road to the unknown south
where his almost unknown Uncle Michael had a farm and；
possibly； a home for him。
Fifteen miles that day； a night's rest in a barn； twenty…
five miles the next day； and Rolf had found his future
home。
〃Come in； lad；〃 was the not unfriendly reception； for
his arrival was happily fallen on a brief spell of good
humour； and a strong； fifteen…year…old boy is a distinct
asset on a farm。
Chapter 3。 Rolf Catches a Coon and Finds a Friend
Aunt Prue； sharp…eyed and red…nosed； was
actually shy at first； but all formality vanished
as Rolf was taught the mysteries of pig…feeding；
hen…feeding； calf…feeding； cow…milking； and launched by list
only in a vast number of duties familiar to him from his
babyhood。 What a list there was。 An outsider might
have wondered if Aunt Prue was saving anything for herself；
but Rolf was used to toil。 He worked without ceasing
and did his best； only to learn in time that the best could
win no praise； only avert punishment。 The spells of good
nature arrived more seldom in his uncle's heart。 His
aunt was a drunken shrew and soon Rolf looked on the
days of starving and physical misery with his mother as
the days of his happy youth gone by。
He was usually too tired at night and too sleepy in the
morning to say his prayers； and gradually he gave it up
as a daily habit。 The more he saw of his kinsfolk； the
more wickedness came to view； and yet it was with a
shock that he one day realized that some fowls his uncle
brought home by night were there without the owner's
knowledge or consent。 Micky made a jest of it； and
intimated that Rolf would have to 〃learn to do night work
very soon。〃 This was only one of the many things that
showed how evil a place was now the orphan's home。
At first it was not clear to the valiant uncle whether the
silent boy was a superior to be feared； or an inferior to be
held in fear； but Mick's courage grew with non…resistance；
and blows became frequent； although not harder to bear
than the perpetual fault…finding and scolding of his aunt；
and all the good his mother had implanted was being
shrivelled by the fires of his daily life。
Rolf had no chance to seek for companions at the
village store； but an accident brought one to him。
Before sunrise one spring morning he went； as usual；
to the wood lot pasture for the cow； and was surprised to
find a stranger； who beckoned him to come。 On going
near he saw a tall man with dark skin and straight black
hair that was streaked with gray undoubtedly an Indian。
He held up a bag and said； 〃I got coon in that hole。 You
hold bag there； I poke him in。〃 Rolf took the sack
readily and held it over the hole； while the Indian climbed
the tree to a higher opening； then poked in this with a long
pole； till all at once there was a scrambling noise and the
bag bulged full and heavy。 Rolf closed its mouth
triumphantly。 The Indian laughed lightly； then swung to the
ground。
〃Now； what will you do with him？〃 asked Rolf。
〃Train coon dog；〃 was the answer。
〃Where？〃
The Indian pointed toward the Asamuk Pond。
〃Are you the singing Indian that lives under Ab's Rock？
〃Ugh！* Some call me that。 My name is Quonab。〃
〃Wait for an hour and then I will come and help；〃
volunteered Rolf impulsively； for the hunting instinct was
strong in him。
The Indian nodded。 〃Give three yelps if you no find
me；〃 then he shouldered a short stick； from one end of
which； at a safe distance from his back； hung the bag with
the coon。 And Rolf went home with the cow。
He had acted on hasty impulse in offering to come； but
now； in the normal storm state of the household； the
difficulties of the course appeared。 He cudgelled his brain for
some plan to account for his absence； and finally took
refuge unwittingly in ancient wisdom： 〃When you don't
know a thing to do； don't do a thing。〃 Also； 〃If you can't
find the delicate way； go the blunt way。〃
So having fed the horses； cleaned the stable； and milked
the cow； fed the pigs； the hens； the calf； harnessed the
horses； cut and brought in wood for the woodshed； turned
out the sheep； hitched the horses to the wagon； set the milk
out in the creaming pans； put more corn to soak for the
swill barrel； ground the house knife； helped to clear the
breakfast things； replaced the fallen rails of a fence；
brought up potatoes from the root cellar； all to the
maddening music of a scolding tongue； he set out to take the cow
back to the wood lot； sullenly resolved to return when ready。
*Ugh （yes） and wah （no） are Indianisms that continue no matter
how well the English has been acquired。
Chapter 4。 The Coon Hunt Makes Trouble for Rolf
Not one hour； but nearly three； had passed before
Rolf sighted the Pipestave Pond； as it was called。
He had never been there before； but three short
whoops； as arranged； brought answer and guidance。
Quonab was standing on the high rock。 When Rolf came
he led down to the wigwam on its south side。 It was like
stepping into a new life。 Several of the old neighbours at
Redding were hunters who knew the wild Indians and had
told him tales that glorified at least the wonderful
woodcraft of the red man。 Once or twice Rolf had seen Indians
travelling through； and he had been repelled by their sordid
squalour。 But here was something of a different kind；
not the Champlain ideal； indeed； for the Indian wore clothes
like any poor farmer； except on his head and his feet； his
head was bare； and his feet were covered with moccasins
that sparkled with beads on the arch。 The wigwam was
of canvas； but it had one or two of the sacred symbols
painted on it。 The pot hung over the fire was tin…lined
copper； of the kind long made in England for Indian trade；
but the smaller dishes were of birch bark and basswood。
The gun and the hunting knife were of white man's make；
but the bow； arrows； snowshoes； tom…tom； and a quill…
covered gun case were of Indian art； fashioned of the things
that grow in the woods about。
The Indian led into the wigwam。 The dog； although
not fully grown； growled savagely as it smelled the hated
white man odour。 Quonab gave the puppy a slap on the
head； which is Indian for； 〃Be quiet； he's all right；〃 loosed
the rope； and led the dog out。 〃Bring that；〃 and the
Indian pointed to the bag which hung from a stick between
two trees。 The dog sniffed suspiciously in the direction
of the bag and growled； but he was not allowed to come
near it。 Rolf tried to make friends with the dog； but
without success and Quonab said； 〃Better let Skookum* alone。
He make friends