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with poor chances； or a mighty outflow that would expose the
fattest oyster beds。 His practiced fingers told at a touch
whether it was a turtle or a big fish on his night line； and by
the tone of the tom…tom he knew when a rainstorm was at hand。
Being trained in industry； he had made many improvements in their
camp； not the least of which was to clean up and burn all the
rubbish and garbage that attracted hordes of flies。 He had
fitted into the camp partly by changing it to fit himself； and he
no longer felt that his stay there was a temporary shift。 When
it was to end； he neither knew nor cared。 He realized only that
he was enjoying life as he never had done before。 His canoe had
passed a lot of rapids and was now in a steady； unbroken stream
but it was the swift shoot before the fall。 A lull in the
clamour does not mean the end of war； but a new onset preparing；
and； of course； it came in the way least looked for。
Selectman Horton stood well with the community； he was a man of
good judgment； good position； and kind heart。 He was owner of
all the woods along the Asamuk； and thus the Indian's landlord on
the Indian's ancestral land。 Both Rolf and Quonab had worked for
Horton； and so they knew him well； and liked him for his
goodness。
It was Wednesday morning； late in July； when Selectman Horton；
clean…shaven and large； appeared at the wigwam under the rock。
〃Good morrow to ye both！〃 Then without wasting time he plunged
in。 〃There's been some controversy and much criticism of the
selectmen for allowing a white lad； the child of Christian
parents； the grandson of a clergyman； to leave all Christian folk
and folds； and herd with a pagan； to become； as it were； a mere
barbarian。 I hold not； indeed； with those that out of hand would
condemn as godless a good fellow like Quonab； who； in my certain
knowledge and according to his poor light； doth indeed maintain
in some kind a daily worship of a sort。 Nevertheless； the
selectmen； the magistrates； the clergy； the people generally； and
above all the Missionary Society； are deeply moved in the matter。
It hath even been made a personal charge against myself； and with
much bitterness I am held up as unzealous for allowing such a
nefarious stronghold of Satan to continue on mine own demesne；
and harbour one； escaped； as it were； from grace。 Acting；
therefore； not according to my heart； but as spokesman of the
Town Council； the Synod of Elders； and the Society for the
Promulgation of Godliness among the Heathen； I am to state that
you； Rolf Kittering； being without kinsfolk and under age； are in
verity a ward of the parish； and as such； it hath been arranged
that you become a member of the household of the most worthy
Elder Ezekiel Peck； a household filled with the spirit of
estimable piety and true doctrine； a man； indeed； who；
notwithstanding his exterior coldness and severity； is very sound
in all matters regarding the Communion of Saints； and； I may even
say in a measure a man of fame for some most excellent remarks he
hath passed on the shorter catechism； beside which he hath gained
much approval for having pointed out two hidden meanings in the
27th verse of the 12th chapter of Hebrews； one whose very
presence； therefore； is a guarantee against levity； laxity； and
false preachment。
〃There； now； my good lad； look not so like a colt that feels the
whip for the first time。 You will have a good home； imbued with
the spirit of a most excellent piety that will be ever about
you。〃
〃Like a colt feeling the whip；〃 indeed！ Rolf reeled like a
stricken deer。 To go back as a chore…boy drudge was possible；
but not alluring； to leave Quonab； just as the wood world was
opening to him； was devastating； but to exchange it all for
bondage in the pious household of Old Peck； whose cold cruelty
had driven off all his own children； was an accumulation of
disasters that aroused him。
〃I won't go！〃 he blurted out； and gazed defiantly at the broad
and benevolent selectman。
〃Come now； Rolf； such language is unbecoming。 Let not a hasty
tongue betray you into sin。 This is what your mother would have
wished。 Be sensible； you will soon find it was all for the best。
I have ever liked you； and will ever be a friend you can count
on。
〃Acting； not according to my instructions； but according to my
heart； I will say further that you need not come now； you need
not even give answer now； but think it over。 Nevertheless；
remember that on or before Monday morning next； you will be
expected to appear at Elder Peck's； and I fear that； in case you
fail； the messenger next arriving will be one much less friendly
than myself。 Come now； Rolf； be a good lad； and remember that in
your new home you will at least be living for the glory of God。〃
Then； with a friendly nod； but an expression of sorrow； the
large； black messenger turned and tramped away。
Rolf slowly； limply； sank down on a rock and stared at the fire。
After awhile Quonab got up and began to prepare the mid…day meal。
Usually Rolf helped him。 Now he did nothing but sullenly glare
at the glowing coals。 In half an hour the food was ready。 He
ate little； then went away in the woods by himself。 Quonab saw
him lying on a flat rock； looking at the pond； and throwing
pebbles into it。 Later Quonab went to Myanos。 On his return he
found that Rolf had cut up a great pile of wood； but not a word
passed between them。 The look of sullen anger and rebellion on
Rolf's face was changing to one of stony despair。 What was
passing in each mind the other could not divine。
The evening meal was eaten in silence； then Quonab smoked for an
hour； both staring into the fire。 A barred owl hooted and
laughed over their heads； causing the dog to jump up and bark at
the sound that ordinarily he would have heeded not at all。 Then
silence was restored； and the red man's hidden train of thought
was in a flash revealed。
〃Rolf； let's go to the North Woods！〃
It was another astounding idea。 Rolf had realized more and more
how much this valley meant to Quonab； who worshipped the memory
of his people。
〃And leave all this？〃 he replied； making a sweep with his hand
toward the rock； the Indian trail； the site of bygone Petuquapen；
and the graves of the tribe。
For reply their eyes met； and from the Indian's deep chest came
the single word； 〃Ugh。〃 One syllable； deep and descending； but
what a tale it told of the slowly engendered and strong…grown
partiality； of a struggle that had continued since the morning
when the selectman came with words of doom； and of friendship's
victory won。
Rolf realized this； and it gave him a momentary choking in his
throat； and； 〃I'm ready if you really mean it。〃
〃Ugh I go； but some day come back。〃
There was a long silence； then Rolf； 〃When shall we start？〃 and
the answer； 〃To…morrow night；〃
Chapter 15。 Bound for the North Woods
When Quonab left camp in the morning he went heavy laden； and the
trail he took led to Myanos。 There was nothing surprising in it
when he appeared at Silas Peck's counter and offered for sale a
pair of snowshoes； a bundle of traps； some dishes of birch bark
and basswood； and a tom…tom； receiving in exchange some tea；
tobacco； gunpowder； and two dollars in cash。 He turned without
comment； and soon was back in camp。 He now took the kettle into
the woods and brought it back filled with bark； fresh chipped
from a butternut tree。 Water was added； and the whole boiled
till it made a deep brown liquid。 When this was cooled he poured
it into a flat dish； then said to Rolf： 〃Come now； I make you a
Sinawa。〃
With a soft rag the colour was laid on。 Face； head； neck； and
hands were all at first intended； but Rolf said； 〃May as well do
the whole thing。〃 So he stripped off； the yellow brown juice on
his white skin turned it a rich copper colour； and he was changed
into an Indian lad that none would have taken for Rolf Kittering。
The stains soon dried； and Rolf； re…clothed； felt that already he
had burned a bridge。
Two portions of the wigwam cover were taken off； and two packs
were made of the bedding。 The tomahawk； bows； arrows； and gun；
with the few precious food pounds in the copper pot； were divided
between them and arranged into packs with shoulder straps； then
all was ready。 But there was one thing more for Quonab； he went
up alone to the rock。 Rolf knew what he went for； and judged it
best not to follow。
The Indian lighted his pipe； blew the four smokes to the four
winds； beginning with the west； then he sat in silence for a
time。 Presently the prayer for good hunting came from the rock：
〃Father lead us！
Father； help us！
Father； guide us to the good hunting。〃
And when that ceased a barred owl hooted in the woods；
away to the north。
〃Ugh！ good；〃 was all he said as he rejoined Rolf； and