按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
bird fell dead； and in Rolf's heart there swelled up a little
gush of joy； which he believed was all for the sake of the
invalid； but which a finer analysis might have proved to be due
quite as much to pride in himself and his newly bought gun。
Night was coming on when he got back； and he found the Dutch
parents in some excitement。 〃Dot Indian he gay no bring Annette
indoors for de night。 How she sleep outdoors like dog like
Bigger like tramp？ Yah it is bad； ain't it？〃 and poor old
Hendrik looked sadly upset and mystified。
〃Hendrik； do you suppose God turns out worse air in the night
than in the day？〃
〃Ach； dunno。〃
〃Well； you see Quonab knows what he's doing。〃
〃Yah。〃
〃Well； let him do it。 He or I'll sleep alongside the child she'll
be all right；〃 and Rolf thought of those horrible brown crawlers
under the bedding indoors。
Rolf had much confidence in the Indian as a doctor； but he had
more in his own mother。 He was determined to give Annette the
quinine； yet he hesitated to interfere。 At length； he said： 〃It
is cool enough now； I will put these thin curtains round her
bed。〃
〃Ugh； good！〃 but the red man sat there while it was being done。
〃You need not stay now； I'll watch her； Quonab。〃
〃Soon； give more medicine；〃 was the reply that Rolf did not want。
So he changed his ruse。 〃I wish you'd take that partridge and
make soup of it。 I've had my hands in poison ivy； so I dare not
touch it。〃
〃Ach； dot shall I do。 Dot kin myself do；〃 and the fat mother；
laying the recent baby in its cradle； made cumbrous haste to cook
the bird。
〃Foiled again；〃 was Rolf's thought； but his Yankee wit was with
him。 He laid one hand on the bowl of snake…root tea。 It was
lukewarm。 〃Do you give it hot or cold； Quonab？〃
〃Hot。〃
〃I'll take it in and heat it。〃 He carried it off； thinking； 〃If
Quonab won't let me give the bark extract； I'll make him give
it。〃 In the gloom of the kitchen he had no difficulty in adding
to the tea； quite unseen； a quarter of the extract； when heated；
he brought it again； and the Indian himself gave the dose。
As bedtime drew near； and she heard the red man say he would
sleep there； the little one said feebly； 〃Mother； mother；〃 then
whispered in her mother's ear； 〃I want Rolf。〃
Rolf spread his blanket by the cot and slept lightly。 Once or
twice he rose to look at Annette。 She was moving in her sleep；
but did not awake。 He saw to it that the mosquito bar was in
place； and slept till morning。
There was no question that the child was better。 The renewed
interest in food was the first good symptom； and the partridge
served the end of its creation。 The snakeroot and the quinine
did noble work； and thenceforth her recovery was rapid。 It was
natural for her mother to wish the child back indoors。 It was a
matter of course that she should go。 It was accepted as an
unavoidable evil that they should always have those brown
crawlers about the bed。
But Rolf felt differently。 He knew what his mother would have
thought and done。 It meant another visit to Warren's； and the
remedy he brought was a strong…smelling oil； called in those days
〃rock oil〃 a crude petroleum。 When all cracks in the bed and
near wall were treated with this； it greatly mitigated； if it did
not quite end； the nuisance of the 〃plague that walks in the
dark。〃
Meanwhile； Quonab had made good his welcome by working on the
farm。 But when a week had flown； he showed signs of restlessness。
〃We have enough money； Nibowaka； why do we stay？〃
Rolf was hauling a bucket of water from the well at the time。 He
stopped with his burden on the well…sweep； gazed into the well；
and said slowly： 〃I don't know。〃 If the truth were set forth； it
would be that this was the only home circle he knew。 It was the
clan feeling that held him； and soon it was clearly the same
reason that was driving Quonab to roam。
〃I have heard；〃 said the Indian； 〃that my people still dwell in
Canada； beyond Rouse's Point。 I would see them。 I will come
again in the Red Moon （August）。〃
So they hired a small canoe； and one bright morning； with Skookum
in the bow； Quonab paddled away on his voyage of 120 miles on the
plead waters of Lakes George and Champlain。 His canoe became a
dark spot on the water； slowly it faded till only the flashing
paddle was seen； and that was lost around a headland。
The next day Rolf was sorry he let Quonab go alone； for it was
evident that Van Trumper needed no help for a month yet； that is；
he could not afford to hire； and while it was well enough for
Rolf to stay a few days and work to equalize his board； the
arrangement would not long continue satisfactory to both。
Yet there was one thing he must do before leaving； take Annette
to pick out her dress。 She was well again now； and they set off
one morning in the canoe； she and Rolf。 Neither father nor mother
could leave the house。 They had their misgivings； but what could
they do？ She was bright and happy； full of the childish joy that
belongs to that age； and engaged on such an important errand for
the first time in her life。
There was something more than childish joy showing in her face；
an older person would have seen that； but it was largely lost on
Rolf。 There was a tendency to blush when she laughed； a
disposition to tease her 〃big brother；〃 to tyrannize over him in
little things。
〃Now； you tell me some more about 'Robinson Crusoe；'〃 she began；
as soon as they were in the canoe； and Rolf resumed the ancient；
inspiring tale to have it listened to eagerly； but criticized
from the standpoint of a Lake George farm。 〃Where was his wife？〃
〃How could he have a farm without hens？〃 〃Dried grapes must be
nice； but I'd rather have pork than goat；〃 etc。
Rolf； of course； took the part of Robinson Crusoe； and it gave
him a little shock to hear Quonab called his man Friday。
At the west side they were to invite Mrs。 Callan to join their
shopping trip； but in any case they were to borrow a horse and
buckboard。 Neither Mrs。 Callan nor the buckboard was available；
but they were welcome to the horse。 So Annette was made
comfortable on a bundle of blankets； and chattered incessantly
while Rolf walked alongside with the grave interest and
superiority of a much older brother。 So they crossed the
five…mile portage and came to Warren's store。 Nervous and
excited； with sparkling eyes； Annette laid down her marten skin；
received five dollars； and set about the tremendous task of
selecting her first dress of really； truly calico print； and Rolf
realized that the joy he had found in his new rifle was a very
small affair； compared with the epoch…making； soul…filling；
life…absorbing； unspeakable； and cataclysmal bliss that a small
girl can have in her first chance of unfettered action in choice
of a cotton print。
〃Beautiful？〃 How can mere words do justice to masses of yellow
corn； mix