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realizing that this was his supper。
It would soon be dark now； so he prepared to spend the night。
While yet he could see； he gathered a pile of dry wood into a
sheltered hollow。 Then he made a wind…break and a bed of balsam
boughs。 Flint； steel； tinder； and birch bark soon created a
cheerful fire； and there is no better comforter that the lone
lost man can command。
The squirrel roasted in its hide proved a passable supper； and
Rolf curled up to sleep。 The night would have been pleasant and
uneventful； but that it turned chilly； and when the fire burnt
low； the cold awakened him； so he had a succession of naps and
fire…buildings。
Soon after dawn； he heard a tremendous roaring； and in a few
minutes the wood was filled again with pigeons。
Rolf was living on the country now； so he sallied forth with his
bow。 Luck was with him； at the first shot he downed a big； fat
cock。 At the second he winged another； and as it scrambled
through the brush； he rushed headlong in pursuit。 It fluttered
away beyond reach； halfflying； half…running； and Rolf； in
reckless pursuit； went sliding and tumbling down a bank to land
at the bottom with a horrid jar。 One leg was twisted under him；
he thought it was broken； for there was a fearful pain in the
lower part。 But when he pulled himself together he found no
broken bones； indeed； but an ankle badly sprained。 Now his
situation was truly grave； for he was crippled and incapable of
travelling。
He had secured the second bird； and crawling painfully and slowly
back to the fire； he could not but feel more and more despondent
and gloomy as the measure of his misfortune was realized。
〃There is only one thing that can shame a man； that is to be
afraid。〃 And again； 〃There's always a way out。〃 These were the
sayings that came ringing through his head to his heart； one was
from Quonab； the other from old Sylvanne。 Yes； there's always a
way； and the stout heart can always find it。
Rolf prepared and cooked the two birds； made a breakfast of one
and put the other in his pocket for lunch； not realizing at the
time that his lunch would be eaten on this same spot。 More than
once； as he sat； small flocks of ducks flew over the trees due
northward。 At length the sky； now clear； was ablaze with the
rising sun； and when it came； it was in Rolf's western sky。
Now he comprehended the duck flight。 They were really heading
southeast for their feeding grounds on the Indian Lake； and Rolf；
had he been able to tramp； could have followed； but his foot was
growing worse。 It was badly swollen； and not likely to be of
service for many a day … perhaps weeks and it took all of his
fortitude not to lie down and weep over this last misfortune。
Again came the figure of that grim； kindly； strong old pioneer；
with the gray…blue eyes and his voice was saying： 〃Jest when
things looks about as black as they can look； if ye hold steady；
keep cool and kind； something sure happens to make it all easy。
There's always a way and the stout heart will find it。〃
What way was there for him？ He would die of hunger and cold
before Quonab could find him； and again came the spectre of fear。
If only he could devise some way of letting his comrade know。 He
shouted once or twice； in the faint hope that the still air might
carry the sound； but the silent wood was silent when he ceased。
Then one of his talks with Quonab came to mind。 He remembered how
the Indian； as a little papoose； had been lost for three days。
Though； then but ten years old； he had built a smoke fire that
brought him help。 Yes； that was the Indian way； two smokes means
〃I am lost〃； 〃double for trouble。〃
Fired by this new hope； Rolf crawled a little apart from his camp
and built a bright fire； then smothered it with rotten wood and
green leaves。 The column of smoke it sent up was densely white
and towered above the trees。
Then painfully he hobbled and crawled to a place one hundred
yards away； and made another smoke。 Now all he could do was wait。
A fat pigeon； strayed from its dock； sat on a bough above his
camp； in a way to tempt Providence。 Rolf drew a blunt arrow to
the head and speedily had the pigeon in hand for some future meal。
As he prepared it； he noticed that its crop was crammed with the
winged seed of the slippery elm； so he put them all back again
into the body when it was cleaned； knowing well that they are a
delicious food and in this case would furnish a welcome variant
to the bird itself。
An hour crawled by。 Rolf had to go out to the far fire； for it
was nearly dead。 Instinctively he sought a stout stick to help
him； then remembered how Hoag had managed with one leg and two
crutches。 〃Ho！〃 he exclaimed。 〃That is the answer this is the
'way。〃'
Now his attention was fixed on all the possible crutches。 The
trees seemed full of them； but all at impossible heights。 It was
long before he found one that he could cut with his knife。
Certainly he was an hour working at it； then he heard a sound
that made his blood jump。
From far away in the north it came； faint but reaching；
〃Ye…hoo…o。〃
Rolf dropped his knife and listened with the instinctively open
mouth that takes all pressure from the eardrums and makes them
keen。 It came again： 〃 Ye…hoo…o。〃 No mistake now； and Rolf sent
the ringing answer back：
〃Ye…hoo…o； ye…hoo…o。〃
In ten minutes there was a sharp 〃 yap； yap；〃 and Skookum bounded
out of the woods to leap and bark around Rolf； as though he knew
all about it； while a few minutes later； came Quonab striding。
〃Ho； boy；〃 he said； with a quiet smile； and took Rolf's hand。
〃Ugh！ That was good；〃 and he nodded to the smoke fire。 〃I knew
you were in trouble。〃
〃Yes；〃 and Rolf pointed to the swollen ankle。
The Indian picked up the lad in his arms and carried him back to
the little camp。 Then； from his light pack； he took bread and tea
and made a meal for both。 And； as they ate； each heard the
other's tale。
〃I was troubled when you did not come back last night； for you
had no food or blanket。 I did not sleep。 At dawn I went to the
hill； where I pray； and looked away southeast where you went in
the canoe。 I saw nothing。 Then I went to a higher hill； where I
could see the northeast； and even while I watched； I saw the two
smokes； so I knew my son was alive。〃
〃You mean to tell me I am northeast of camp？ 〃
〃About four miles。 I did not come very quickly； because I had to
go for the canoe and travel here。
〃How do you mean by canoe？〃 said Rolf； in surprise。
You are only half a mile from Jesup River；〃 was the reply。 〃I
soon bring you home。〃
It was incredible at first； but easy of proof。 With the hatchet
they made a couple of serviceable crutches and set out together。
In twenty minutes they were afloat in the canoe； in an hour they
were safely home again。
And Rolf pondered it not a little。 At the very moment of blackes