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away to the north。
〃Ugh！ good；〃 was all he said as he rejoined Rolf； and they set
out； as the sun went down； on their long journey due northward；
Quonab； Rolf； and Skookum。 They had not gone a hundred yards
before the dog turned back； raced to a place where he had a bone
in cache and rejoining there trotted along with his bone。
The high road would have been the easier travelling； but it was
very necessary to be unobserved； so they took the trail up the
brook Asamuk； and after an hour's tramp came out by the Cat…Rock
road that runs westerly。 Again they were tempted by the easy
path； but again Quonab decided on keeping to the woods。 Half an
hour later they were halted by Skookum treeing a coon。 After
they had secured the dog； they tramped on through the woods for
two hours more； and then； some eight miles from the Pipestave；
they halted； Rolf； at least； tired out。 It was now midnight。
They made a hasty double bed of the canvas cover over a pole
above them； and slept till morning； cheered； as they closed their
drowsy eyes； by the 〃Hoo； Hoo； Hoo； Hoo； yah； hoo；〃 of their
friend； the barred owl； still to the northward。
The sun was high； and Quonab had breakfast ready before Rolf
awoke。 He was so stiff with the tramp and the heavy pack that it
was with secret joy he learned that they were to rest； concealed
in the woods； that day； and travel only by night； until in a
different region； where none knew or were likely to stop them。
They were now in York State； but that did not by any means imply
that they were beyond pursuit。
As the sun rose high； Rolf went forth with his bow and blunt
arrows； and then； thanks largely to Skookum； he succeeded in
knocking over a couple of squirrels； which； skinned and roasted；
made their dinner that day。 At night they set out as before；
making about ten miles。 The third night they did better； and the
next day being Sunday； they kept out of sight。 But Monday
morning； bright and clear； although it was the first morning when
they were sure of being missed； they started to tramp openly
along the highway； with a sense of elation that they had not
hitherto known on the joumey。 Two things impressed Rolf by their
novelty： the curious stare of the country folk whose houses and
teams they passed； and the violent antagonism of the dogs。
Usually the latter could be quelled by shaking a stick at them；
or by pretending to pick up a stone； but one huge and savage
brindled mastiff kept following and barking just out of stick
range； and managed to give Skookum a mauling； until Quonab drew
his bow and let fly a blunt arrow that took the brute on the end
of the nose； and sent him howl… ing homeward； while Skookum got a
few highly satisfactory nips at the enemy's rear。 Twenty miles
they made that day and twenty…five the next； for now they were on
good roads； and their packs were lighter。 More than once they
found kind farmer folk who gave them a meal。 But many times
Skookum made trouble for them。 The farmers did not like the way
he behaved among their hens。 Skookum never could be made to
grasp the fine zoological distinction between partridges which
are large birds and fair game； and hens which are large birds；
but not fair game。 Such hair splitting was obviously unworthy of
study； much less of acceptance。
Soon it was clearly better for Rolf； approaching a house； to go
alone； while Quonab held Skookum。 The dogs seemed less excited
by Rolf's smell； and remembering his own attitude when tramps
came to one or another of his ancient homes； he always asked if
they would let him work for a meal； and soon remarked that his
success was better when he sought first the women of the house；
and then； smiling to show his very white teeth； spoke in clear
and un…Indian English； which had the more effect coming from an
evident Indian。
〃Since I am to be an Indian； Quonab； you must give me an Indian
name；〃 he said after one of these episodes。
〃Ugh！ Good！ That's easy！ You are 'Nibowaka；' the wise one。〃 For
the Indian had not missed any of the points； and so he was named。
Twenty or thirty miles a day they went now； avoiding the
settlements along the river。 Thus they saw nothing of Albany；
but on the tenth day they reached Fort Edward； and for the first
time viewed the great Hudson。 Here they stayed as short a time
as might be； pushed on by Glen's Falls； and on the eleventh night
of the journey they passed the old； abandoned fort； and sighted
the long stretch of Lake George； with its wooded shore； and
glimpses of the mountains farther north。
Now a new thought possessed them 〃If only the had the canoe
that they had abandoned on the Pipestave。〃 It came to them both
at the sight of the limit less water； and especially when Rolf
remembered that Lake George joined with Champlain； which again
was the highway to all the wilderness。
They camped now as they had fifty times before； and made their
meal。 The bright blue water dancing near was alluring；
inspiring； as they sought the shore Quonab pointed to a track and
said； 〃Deer。〃 He did not show much excitement； but Rolf did； and
they returned to the camp fire with a new feeling of elation …
they had reached the Promised Land。 Now they must prepare for
the serious work of finding a hunting ground that was not already
claimed。
Quonab； remembering the ancient law of the woods； that parcels
off the valleys； each to the hunter first arriving； or succeeding
the one who had； was following his own line of thought。 Rolf was
puzzling over means to get an outfit； canoe； traps； axes； and
provisions。 The boy broke silence。
〃Quonab； we must have money to get an outfit； this is the
beginning of harvest； we can easily get work for a month。 That
will feed us and give us money enough to live on； and a chance to
learn something about the country。〃
The reply was simple； 〃You are Nibowaka。〃
The farms were few and scattered here； but there were one or two
along the lake。 To the nearest one with standing grain Rolf led
the way。 But their reception； from the first brush with the dog
to the final tilt with the farmer； was unpleasant 〃He didn't
want any darn red…skins around there。 He had had two St。 Regis
Indians last year； and they were a couple of drunken good…
for…nothings。〃
The next was the house of a fat Dutchman； who was just wondering
how he should meet the compounded accumulated emergencies of late
hay； early oats； weedy potatoes； lost cattle； and a prospective
increase of his family； when two angels of relief appeared at his
door； in copper…coloured skins。
〃Cahn yo work putty goood？
〃Yes； I have always lived on a farm；〃 and Rolf showed his hands；
broad and heavy for his years。
〃Cahn yo mebby find my lost cows； which I haf not find； already
yet？〃
Could they！ it would be fun to try。
〃I giff yo two dollars you pring dem putty kvick。〃
So Quonab took the trail to the woods； and Rolf started into the
potatoes with a hoe； but he was stopped by a sudden outcry of
poultry。 Alas！ It was Skookum on an ill…judged partridge hunt。
A minute later he was ignominiously chained to a penitential
post； nor left it during the travellers' sojourn。
In the afternoon Quonab returned with the cattle； and as he told
Rolf he saw five deer； there was an unmisakable hunter gleam in
his eye。
Three cows in milk； and which had not been milked for two days；
was a serious matter； needing immediate attention。 Rolf had
milked five cows twice a day for five years； and a glance showed
old Van Trumper that the boy was an expert。
〃Good； good！ I go now make feed swine。〃
He went into the outhouse； but a tow…topped； redcheeked girl ran
after him。 〃Father； father； mother says 〃 and the rest was
lost。
〃Myn Hemel！ Myn Hemel！ I thought it not so soon；〃 and the fat
Dutchman followed the child。 A moment later he reappeared； his
jolly face clouded with a look of grave concern。 〃Hi yo big
Injun； yo cahn paddle canoe？〃 Quonab nodded。 〃Den coom。
Annette； pring Tomas und Hendrik。〃 So the father carried
two…year…old Hendrik； while the Indian carried six…year…old
Tomas； and twelve…year…old Annette followed in vague；
uncomprehended alarm。 Arrived at the shore the children were
placed in the canoe； and then the difficulties came fully to the
father's mind he could not leave his wife。 He must send the
children with the messenger In a sort of desperation； 〃Cahn
you dem childen take to de house across de lake； and pring back
Mrs。 Callan？ Tell her Marta Van Trumper need her right now mooch
very kvick。〃 The Indian nodded。 Then the father hesitated； but
a glance at the Indian was enough。 Something said； 〃He is safe；〃
and in spite of sundry wails from the little ones left with a
dark stranger； he pushed off the canoe： 〃Yo take care for my
babies；〃 and turned his brimming eyes away。
The farmhouse was