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the Indian； was a constant reminder that the perfect man is a
harmonious development of mind； morals； and physique。
His training had been somewhat warped by the ultraclassic fashion
of the times； so he persisted in seeing in Quonab a sort of
discoloured； barbaric clansman of Alaric or a camp follower of
Xenophon's host； rather than an actual living； interesting；
native American； exemplifying in the highest degree the sinewy；
alert woodman； and the saturated mystic and pantheist of an age
bygone and out of date； combined with a middle…measure
intelligence。 And Rolf； tall； blue…eyed with brown； curling
hair； was made to pose as the youthful Achilles； rather than as a
type of America's best young manhood； cleaner； saner； and of far
higher ideals and traditions than ever were ascribed to Achilles
by his most blinded worshippers。 It recalled the case of
Wordsworth and Southey living side by side in England； Southey；
the famous； must needs seek in ancient India for material to
write his twelve…volume romance that no one ever looks at；
Wordsworth； the unknown； wrote of the things of his own time；
about his own door？ and produced immortal verse。
What should we think of Homer； had he sung his impressions of the
ancient Egyptians？ or of Thackeray； had he novelized the life of
the Babylonians？ It is an ancient blindness； with an ancient wall
to bruise one's head。 It is only those who seek ointment of the
consecrated clay that gives back sight； who see the shining way
at their feet； who beat their face against no wall； who safely
climb the heights。 Henry van Cortlandt was a man of rare parts；
of every advantage； but still he had been taught steadfastly to
live in the past。 His eyes were yet to be opened。 The living
present was not his but yet to be。
The young lawyer had been assembling his outfit at Vandam's
warehouse； for； in spite of scoffing friends； he knew that Rolf
was coming back to him。
When Rolf saw the pile of stuff that was gathered for that
outfit； he stared at it aghast； then looked at Vandam； and
together they roared。 There was everything for light housekeeping
and heavy doctoring； even chairs； a wash stand； a mirror； a
mortar； and a pestle。 Six canoes could scarcely have carried the
lot。
〃'Tain't so much the young man as his mother；〃 explained Big
Pete； 〃at first I tried to make 'em understand； but it was no
use； so I says； 'All right； go ahead； as long as there's room in
the warehouse。' I reckon I'll set on the fence and have some fun
seein' Rolf ontangle the affair。〃
〃Phew； pheeeww ph…e…e…e…e…w；〃 was all Rolf could say in
answer。 But at last； 〃Wall； there's always a way。 I sized him up
as pretty level headed。 We'll see。〃
There was a way and it was easy； for； in a secret session； Rolf；
Pete； and Van Cortlandt together sorted out the things needed。 A
small tent； blankets； extra clothes； guns； ammunition； delicate
food for three months； a few medicines and toilet articles a
pretty good load for one canoe； but a trifle compared with the
mountain of stuff piled up on the floor。
〃Now； Mr。 van Cortlandt；〃 said Rolf； 〃will you explain to your
mother that we are going on with this so as to travel quickly；
and will send back for the rest as we need it？〃
A quiet chuckle was now heard from Big Pete。 〃Good！ I wondered
how he'd settle it。〃
The governor and his lady saw them off； therefore； there was a
crowd。 The mother never before had noted what a frail and
dangerous thing a canoe is。 She cautioned her son never to
venture out alone； and to be sure that he rubbed his chest with
the pectoral balm she had made from such and such a famous
receipt； the one that saved the life but not the limb of old
Governor Stuyvesant； and come right home if you catch a cold； and
wait at the first camp till the other things come； and （in a
whisper） keep away from that horrid red Indian with the knife；
and never fail to let every one know who you are； and write
regularly； and don't forget to take your calomel Monday；
Wednesday； and Friday； alternating with Peruvian bark Tuesday；
Thursday； and Saturday； and squills on Sunday； except every other
week； when he should devote Tuesdays； Fridays； and Sundays to
rhubarb and catnip tea； except in the full moon； when the catnip
was to be replaced with graveyard bergamot and the squills with
opodeldoc in which an iron nail had been left for a week。
So Henry was embraced； Rolf was hand…shaken； Quonab was nodded
at； Skookum was wisely let alone； and the trim canoe swung from
the dock。 Amid hearty cheers； farewells； and 〃God speed ye's〃 it
breasted the flood for the North。
And on the dock； with kerchief to her eyes； stood the mother；
weeping to think that her boy was going far； far away from his
home and friends in dear； cultured； refined Albany； away； away；
to that remote and barbarous inaccessible region almost to the
shore land of Lake Champlain。
Chapter 58。 Back to Indian Lake
Young Van Cortlandt； six feet two in his socks and thirty… four
inches around the chest； was； as Rolf long afterward said； 〃awful
good raw material； but awful raw。〃 Two years out of college；
half of which had been spent at the law； had done little but
launch him as a physical weakling and a social star。 But his
mental make…up was more than good； it was of large promise。 He
lacked neither courage nor sense； and the course he now followed
was surely the best for man…making。
Rolf never realized how much a farmer…woodman…
canoeman…hunter…camper had to know； until now he met a man who
did not know anything； nor dreamed how many wrong ways there were
of doing a job； till he saw his new companion try it。
There is no single simple thing that is a more complete measure
of one's woodcraft than the lighting of a fire。 There are a dozen
good ways and a thousand wrong ones。 A man who can light thirty
fires on thirty successive days with thirty matches or thirty
sparks from flint and steel is a graduated woodman； for the feat
presupposes experience of many years and the skill that belongs
to a winner。
When Quonab and Rolf came back from taking each a load over the
first little portage； they found Van Cortlandt getting ready for
a fire with a great； solid pile of small logs； most of them wet
and green。 He knew how to use flint and steel； because that was
the established household way of the times。 Since childhood had
he lighted the candle at home by this primitive means。 When his
pile of soggy logs was ready； he struck his flint； caught a spark
on the tinder that is always kept on hand； blew it to a flame；
thrust in between two of the wet logs； waited for all to blaze
up； and wondered why the tiny blaze went out at once； no matter
how often he tried。
When the others came back； Van Cortlandt remarked： 〃It doesn't
seem to burn。〃 The Indian turned away in silent contempt。 Rolf
had hard work to keep the forms of respect； until the