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dark stranger； he pushed off the canoe： 〃Yo take care for my
babies；〃 and turned his brimming eyes away。
The farmhouse was only two miles off； and the evening calm； no
time was lost： what woman will not instantly drop all work and
all interests； to come to the help of another in the trial time
of motherhood？
Within an hour the neighbour's wife was holding hands with the
mother of the banished tow…heads。 He who tempers the wind and
appoints the season of the wild deer hinds had not forgotten the
womanhood beyond the reach of skilful human help； and with the
hard and lonesome life had conjoined a sweet and blessed
compensation。 What would not her sister of the city give for such
immunity； and long before that dark； dread hour of night that
brings the ebbing life force low； the wonderful miracle was
complete； there was another tow…top in the settler's home； and
all was well。
Chapter 16。 Life with the Dutch Settler
The Indians slept in the luxuriant barn of logs； with blankets；
plenty of hay； and a roof。 They were more than content； for now；
on the edge of the wilderness； they were very close to wild life。
Not a day or a night passed without bringing proof of that。
One end of the barn was portioned off for poultry。 In this the
working staff of a dozen hens were doing their duty； which； on
that first night of the 〃brown angels' visit；〃 consisted of
silent slumber； when all at once the hens and the new hands were
aroused by a clamorous cackling； which speedily stopped。 It
sounded like a hen falling in a bad dream； then regaining her
perch to go to sleep again。 But next morning the body of one of
these highly esteemed branches of the egg…plant was found in the
corner； partly devoured。 Quonab examined the headless hen； the
dust around； and uttered the word； 〃Mink。〃
Rolf said； 〃Why not skunk？〃
〃Skunk could not climb to the perch。〃
〃Weasel then。〃
〃Weasel would only suck the blood； and would kill three or four。〃
〃Coon would carry him away； so would fox or wildcat； and a marten
would not come into the building by night。〃
There was no question； first； that it was a mink； and； second；
that he was hiding about the barn until the hunger pang should
send him again to the hen house。 Quonab covered the hen's body
with two or three large stones so that there was only one
approach。 In the way of this approach he buried a 〃number one〃
trap。
That night they were aroused again； this time by a frightful
screeching； and a sympathetic； inquiring cackle from the fowls。
Arising； quickly they entered with a lantem。 Rolf then saw a
sight that gave him a prickling in his hair。 The mink； a large
male； was caught by one front paw。 He was writhing and foaming；
tearing； sometimes at the trap； sometimes at the dead hen； and
sometimes at his own imprisoned foot； pausing now and then to
utter the most ear…piercing shrieks； then falling again in crazy
animal fury on the trap； splintering his sharp white teeth；
grinding the cruel metal with bruised and bloody jaws； frothing；
snarling； raving mad。 As his foemen entered he turned on them a
hideous visage of inexpressible fear and hate； rage and horror。
His eyes glanced back green fire in the lantern light； he
strained in renewed efforts to escape； the air was rank with his
musky smell。 The impotent fury of his struggle made a picture
that continued in Rolf's mind。 Quonab took a stick and with a
single blow put an end to the scene； but never did Rolf forget
it； and never afterward was he a willing partner when the
trapping was done with those relentless jaws of steel。
A week later another hen was missing； and the door of the hen
house left open。 After a careful examination of the dust； inside
and out of the building； Quonab said； 〃Coon。〃 It is very unusual
for coons to raid a hen house。 Usually it is some individual with
abnormal tastes； and once he begins； he is sure to come back。
The Indian judged that he might be back the next night； so
prepared a trap。 A rope was passed from the door latch to a
tree； on this rope a weight was hung； so that the door was
selfshutting； and to make it self…locking he leaned a long pole
against it inside。 Now he propped it open with a single
platform； so set that the coon must walk on it once he was
inside； and so release the door。 The trappers thought they would
hear in the night when the door closed； but they were sleepy；
they knew nothing until next morning。 Then they found that the
self…shutter had shut； and inside； crouched in one of the nesting
boxes； was a tough； old fighting coon。 Strange to tell； he had
not touched a second hen。 As soon as he found himself a prisoner
he had experienced a change of heart； and presently his skin was
nailed on the end of the barn and his meat was hanging in the
larder。
〃Is this a marten；〃 asked little Annette。 And when told not； her
disappointment elicited the information that old Warren； the
storekeeper； had promised her a blue cotton dress for a marten
skin。
〃You shall have the first one I catch；〃 said Rolf。
Life in Van Trumper's was not unpleasant。 The mother was going
about again in a week。 Annette took charge of the baby； as well
as of the previous arrivals。 Hendrik senior was gradually
overcoming his difficulties； thanks to the unexpected help； and a
kindly spirit made the hard work not so very hard。 The shyness
that was at first felt toward the Indians wore off； especially in
the case of Rolf； he was found so companionable； and the
Dutchman； after puzzling over the combination of brown skin and
blue eyes； decided that Rolf was a half…breed。
August wore on not unpleasantly for the boy； but Quonab was
getting decidedly restless。 He could work for a week as hard as
any white man； but his race had not risen to the dignity of
patient； unremitting； life…long toil。
〃How much money have we now； Nibowaka？〃 was one of the mid…August
indications of restlessness。 Rolf reckoned up； half a month for
Quonab； 15。00； for himself； 10。00； for finding the cows 2。00
27。00 in all。 Not enough。
Three days later Quonab reckoned up again。 Next day he said： 〃We
need two months' open water to find a good country and build a
shanty。〃 Then did Rolf do the wise thing； he went to fat Hendrik
and told him all about it。 They wanted to get a canoe and an
outfit； and seek for a trapping or hunting ground that would not
encroach on those already possessed； for the trapping law is
rigid； even the death penalty is not considered too high in
certain cases of trespass； provided the injured party is ready to
be judge； jury； and executioner。 Van Trumper was able to help
them not a little in the matter of location there was no use
trying on the Vermont side； nor anywhere near Lake Champlain； nor
near Lake George； neither was it worth while going to the far
North； as the Frenchmen came in there； and they were keen
hunters； so that Hamilton County was more promising than any
other； but it was almost inaccessible； remote from all the great
waterways； and of course without roads； its inaccessibility was
the reason why it was little known。 So far so good； but happy
Hendrik was unpleasantly surprised to learn that the new help
were for leaving at once。 Finally he made this offer： If they
would stay till September first； and so leave all in 〃good shape
fer der vinter；〃 he would； besides the wages agreed； give them
the canoe； one axe； six mink traps； and a fox trap now hanging in
the barn； and carry them in his wagon as far as the Five… mile
portage from Lake George to Schroon River； down which they could
go to its junction with the upper Hudson； which； followed up
through forty miles of rapids and hard portages； would bring them
to a swampy river that enters from the southwest； and ten miles
up this would bring them to Jesup's Lake； which is two miles wide
and twelve miles long。 This country abounded with game； but was
so hard to enter that after Jesup's death it was deserted。
There was only one possible answer to such an offer they stayed。
In spare moments Quonab brought the canoe up to the barn；
stripped off some weighty patches of bark and canvas and some
massive timber thwarts； repaired the ribs； and when dry and
gummed； its weight was below one hundred pounds； a saving of at
least forty pounds on the soggy thing he crossed the lake in that
first day on the farm。
September came。 Early in the morning Quonab went alone to the
lakeside； there on a hill top he sat； looking toward the sunrise；
and sang a song of the new dawn； beating； not with a tom…tom
he had none but with one stick on another。 And when the
sunrise possessed the earth he sang again the hunter's song：
〃Father； guide our feet； Lead us to the good hunting。〃
Then he danced to the sound； his face skyward； his eyes closed；
his feet barely raised； but rythm