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own。 Again there was great choice of material。 The long；
straight shoots ol' the arrowwood （Viburnuin dentatum） supplied
the ancient Indians； but Quonab had adopted a better way； since
the possession of an axe made it possible。 A 25…inch block of
straight…grained ash was split and split until it yielded enough
pieces。 These were shaved down to one fourth of an inch tbick；
round； smooth； and perfectly straight。 Each was notched deeply
at one end； three pieces of split goose feather were lashed on
the notched end； and three different kinds of arrows were made。
All were alike in shaft and in feathering； but differed in the
head。 First； the target arrows： these were merely sharpened； and
the points hardened by roasting to a brown colour。 They would
have been better with conical points of steel； but none of these
were to be had。 Second； the ordinary hunting arrows with barbed
steel heads； usuauy bought ready…made； or filed out of a hoop：
these were for use in securing such creatures as muskrats； ducks
close at hand； or deer。 Third； the bird bolts： these were left
with a large； round； wooden head。 They were intended for quail；
partridges； rabbits； and squirrels； but also served very often；
and most admirably； in punishing dogs； either the Indian's own
when he was not living up to the rules and was too far off for a
cuff or kick； or a farmer's dog that was threatening an attack。
Now the outfit was complete； Rolf thought； but one other touch
was necessary。 Quonab painted the feather part of the shaft
bright red； and Rolf learned why。 Not for ornament； not as an
owner's mark； but as a finding mark。 Many a time that brilliant
red； with the white feather next it； was the means of saving the
arrow from loss。 An uncoloured arrow among the sticks and leaves
of the woods was usually hidden； but the bright…coloured shaft
could catch the eye ioo yards away。
It was very necessary to keep the bow and arrows from the wet。
For this； every hunter provides a case； usually of buckskin； but
failing that they made a good quiver of birch bark laced with
spruce roots for the arrows； and for the bow itself a long cover
of tarpaulin。
Now came the slow drilling in archery； the arrow held and the bow
drawn with three fingers on the cord … the thumb and little
finger doing nothing。 The target was a bag of hay set at twenty
feet； until the beginner could hit it every time： then by degrees
it was moved away until at the standard distance of forty yards
he could do fair shooting； although of course he never shot as
well as the Indian； who had practised since he was a baby。
There are three different kinds of archery tests： the first for
aim： Can you shoot so truly as to hit a three…inch mark； ten
times in succession； at ten paces？
Next for speed： Can you shoot so quickly and so far up； as to
have five arrows in the air at once？ If so； you are good： Can
you keep up six？ Then you are very good。 Seven is wonderful。
The record is said to be eight。 Last for power： Can you pull so
strong a bow and let the arrow go so clean that it will fly for
250 yards or will pass through a deer at ten paces？ There is a
record of a Sioux who sent an arrow through three antelopes at
one shot； and it was not unusual to pierce the huge buffalo
through and through； on one occasion a warrior with one shot
pierced the buffalo and killed her calf running at the other
side。
If you excel in these three things； you can down your partridge
and squirrel every time； you can get five or six out of each
flock of birds； you can kill your deer at twenty… five yards； and
so need never starve in the woods where there is game。
Of course； Rolf was keen to go forth and try in the real chase；
but it was many a shot he missed and many an arrow lost or
broken； before he brought in even a red squirrel； and he got； at
least； a higher appreciation of the skill of those who could
count on the bow for their food。
For those； then； who think themselves hunters and woodmen；
let this be a test and standard： Can you go forth alone into
the wilderness where there is game； take only a bow and arrows for
weapons； and travel afoot 250 miles； living on the country as you go？
Chapter 10。 Rolf Works Out with Many Results
He is the dumbest kind of a dumb fool that ain't king in some little
corner。 Sayings of Si Sylvanne
THE man who has wronged you will never forgive you； and he who has
helped you will be forever grateful。 Yes； there is nothing that
draws you to a man so much as the knowledge that you have helped him。
Quonab helped Rolf； and so was more drawn to him than to many of the
neighbours that he had known for years； he was ready to like him。
Their coming together was accidental； but it was soon very clear
that a friendship was springing up between them。 Rolf was too much
of a child to think about the remote future； and so was Quonab。 Most
Indians are merely tall children。
But there was one thing that Rolf did think of he had no right to
live in Quonab's lodge without contributing a fair share of the things
needful。 Quonab got his living partly by hunting； partly by fishing；
partly by selling baskets； and partly by doing odd jobs for the
neighbours。 Rolf's training as a loafer had been wholly neglected；
and when he realized that he might be all summer with Quonab he said
bluntly：
〃You let me stay here a couple of months。 I'll work out odd days；
and buy enough stuff to keep myself any way。〃 Quonab said nothing；
but their eyes met； and the boy knew it was agreed to。
Rolf went that very day to the farm of Obadiah Timpany； and offered
to work by the day； hoeing corn and root crops。 What farmer is not
glad of help in planting time or in harvest？ It was only a question
of what did he know and how much did he want？ The first was soon made
clear； two dollars a week was the usual thing for boys in those times；
and when he offered to take it half in trade； he was really getting
three dollars a week and his board。 Food was as low as wages； and at
the end of a week； Rolf brought back to camp a sack of oatmeal； a sack
of cornmeal； a bushel of potatoes； a lot of apples； and one dollar cash。
The dollar went for tea and sugar； and the total product was enough to
last them both a month； so Rolf could share the wigwam with a good
conscience。
Of course； it was impossible to keep the gossipy little town of Myanos
from knowing； first； that the Indian had a white boy for partner； and；
later； that that boy was Rolf。 This gave rise to great diversity of
opinion in the neighbourhood。 Some thought it should not be allowed；
but Horton； who owned the land on which Quonab was camped； could not
see any reason for interfering。
Ketchura Peck； spinster； however； did see many most excellent reasons。
She was a maid with a mission； and maintained it to be an outrage that
a Christian boy should be brought up by a godless pagan