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The small birds from the South appear with a few short notes of
spring； and the pert chicadees that have braved it all winter；
now lead the singing with their cheery 〃I told you so〃 notes；
till robins and blackbirds join in； and with their more ambitious
singing make all the lesser roundelays forgot。
Once the winter had taken a backward step spring found it easy
to turn retreat into panic and rout； and the ten days Quonab stayed
away were days of revolutionary change。 For in them semi…winter
gave place to smiling spring； with all the snow…drifts gone；
except perhaps in the shadiest hollows of the woods。
It was a bright morning； and a happy one for Rolf； when he heard
the Indian's short 〃Ho；〃 outside； and a minute later had Skookum
dancing and leaping about him。 On Hoag the effect was quite
different。 He was well enough to be up； to hobble about painfully
on a stick； to be exceedingly fault…finding； and to eat three
hearty meals a day； but the moment the Indian appeared； he withdrew
into himself； and became silent and uneasy。 Before an hour passed；
he again presented the furs； the gun； the canoe； and the traps to Rolf；
on condition that he should get him out to his folks。
All three were glad to set out that very day on the outward trip
to Lyons Falls。
Down Little Moose River to Little Moose Lake and on to South
Branch of Moose； then by the Main Moose； was their way。 The
streams were flush； there was plenty of water； and this
fortunately reduced the number of carries； for Hoag could not
walk and would not hobble。 They sweat and laboured to carry him
over every portage； but they covered the fifty miles in three
days； and on the evening of the third； arrived at the little
backwoods village of Lyons Falls。
The change that took place fn Hoag now was marked and unpleasant。
He gave a number of orders； where； the day before； he would have
made whining petitions。 He told them to 〃land easy； and don't
bump my canoe。〃 He hailed the loungers about the mill with an
effusiveness that they did not resdond to。 Their cool； 〃Hello；
Jack； are you back？〃 was little but a passing recognition。 One
of them was persuaded to take Rolf's place in carrying Hoag to
his cabin。 Yes； his folks were there； but they did not seem
overjoyed at his arrival。 He whispered to the boy； who sullenly
went out to the river and returned with the rifle； Rolf's rifle now；
the latter supposed； and would have taken the bundle of furs had
not Skookum sprung on the robber and driven him away from the canoe。
And now Hoag showed his true character。 〃Them's my furs and my
canoe；〃 he said to one of the mill hands； and turning to the two
who had saved him； he said： 〃An' you two dirty； cutthroat；
redskin thieves； you can get out of town as fast as ye know how；
or I'll have ye jugged；〃 and all the pent…up hate of his hateful
nature frothed out in words insulting and unprintable。
〃Talks like a white man；〃 said Quonab coldly。 Rolf was speechless。
To toil so devotedly； and to have such filthy； humiliating words
for thanks！ He wondered if even his Uncle Mike would have shown
so vile a spirit。
Hoag gave free rein to his tongue； and found in his pal； Bill Hawkins；
one with ready ears to hear his tale of woe。 The wretch began to feel
himself frightfully ill…used。 So； fired at last by the evermore lurid
story of his wrongs； the 〃partner〃 brought the magistrate； so they
could swear out a warrant； arrest the two 〃outlaws；〃 and especially
secure the bundle of 〃Hoag's furs〃 in the canoe。
Old Silas Sylvanne； the mill…owner and pioneer of the place； was
also its magistrate。 He was tall； thin； blacklooking； a sort of
Abe Lincoln in type； physically； and in some sort； mentally。 He
heard the harrowing tale of terrible crime； robbery； and torture；
inflicted on poor harmless Hoag by these two ghouls in human shape；
he listened； at first shocked； but little by little amused。
〃You don't get no warrant till I hear from the other side；〃
he said。 Roff and Quonab came at call。 The old pioneer sized
up the two； as they stood； then； addressing Rolf； said：
〃Air you an Injun？〃 〃No； sir。〃 〃Air you half…breed？〃 〃No； sir。〃
〃Well； let's hear about this business；〃 and he turned his
piercing eyes full on the lad's face。
Rolf told the simple； straight story of their acquaintance with Hoag；
from the first day at Warren's to their arrival at the Falls。
There is never any doubt about the truth of a true story；
if it be long enough； and this true story； presented in its
nakedness to the shrewd and kindly old hunter； trader； mill…owner
and magistrate； could have only one effect。
〃Sonny；〃 he said； slowly and kindly； 〃I know that ye have told me
the truth。 I believe every word of it。 We all know that Hoag is
the meanest cuss and biggest liar on the river。 He's a nuisance；
and always was。 He only promised to give ye the canoe and the
rifle； and since he don't want to； we can't help it。 About the
trouble in the woods； you got two witnesses to his one； and ye
got the furs and the traps； it's just as well ye left the other
furs behind； or ye might have had to divide 'em； so keep them and
call the hull thing square。 We'll find ye a canoe to get out of
this gay metropolis； and as to Hoag； ye needn't a…worry； his
travelling days is done。〃
A man with a bundle of high…class furs is a man of means in any
frontier town。 The magistrate was trader； too； so they set about
disposing of their furs and buying the supplies they needed。
The day was nearly done before their new canoe was gummed and
ready with the new supplies。 When dealing； old Sylvanne had a
mild； quiet manner； and a peculiar way of making funny remarks
that led some to imagine he was 〃easy〃 in business； but it was
usual to find at the end that he had lost nothing by his manners；
and rival traders shunned an encounter with Long Sylvanne of the
unruffled brow。
When business was done keen and complete he said： 〃Now；
I'm a goin' to give each of ye a present；〃 and handed out two
double…bladed jackknives； new things in those days； wonderful
things； precious treasures in their eyes； sources of endless joy；
and even had they known that one marten skin would buy a quart of
them； their pleasant surprise and childish joy would not have
been in any way tempered or alloyed。
〃Ye better eat with me； boys； an' start in the morning。〃 So they
joined the miller's long； continuous family； and shared his
evening meal。 Afterward as they sat for three hours and smoked
on the broad porch that looked out on the river； old Sylvanne；
who had evidently taken a fancy to Rolf； regaled them with a
long； rambling talk on 〃fellers and things；〃 that was one of the
most interesting Rolf had ever listened to。 At the time it was
simply amusing； it was not till years after that the lad realized
by its effect on himself； its insight； and its hold on his
memory； that Si Sylvanne's talk w