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Then he danced to the sound； his face skyward； his eyes closed；
his feet barely raised； but rythmically moved。 So went he three
times round to the chant in three sun circles； dancing a sacred
measure； as royal David might have done that day when he danced
around the Ark of the Covenant on its homeward joumey。 His face
was illumined； and no man could have seen him then without
knowing that this was a true heart's worship of a true God； who
is in all things He has made。
Chapter 17。 Canoeing on the Upper Hudson
There is only one kind of a man I can't size up； that's the
faller that shets up and says nothing。 …Sayings of Si Sylvanne。
A settler named Hulett had a scow that was borrowed by the
neighbours whenever needed to take a team across the lake。 On
the morning of their journey； the Dutchman's team and wagon； the
canoe and the men； were aboard the scow； Skookum took his proper
place at the prow； and all was ready for 〃Goodbye。〃 Rolf found it
a hard word to say。 The good old Dutch mother had won his heart；
and the children were like his brothers and sisters。
〃Coom again； lad； coom and see us kvick。〃 She kissed him； he
kissed Annette and the three later issues。 They boarded the scow
to ply the poles till the deep water was reached； then the oars。
An east wind springing up gave them a chance to profit by a
wagon…cover rigged as a sail； and two hours later the scow was
safely landed at West Side； where was a country store； and the
head of the wagon road to the Schroon River。
As they approached the door； they saw a rough…looking man
slouching against the building； his hands in his pockets； his
blear eyes taking in the new…comers with a look of contemptuous
hostility。 As they passed； he spat tobacco juice on the dog and
across the feet of the men。
Old Warren who kept the store was not partial to Indians； but he
was a good friend of Hendrik and very keen to trade for fur； so
the new trappers were well received； and now came the settling of
accounts。 Flour； oatmeal； pork； potatoes； tea； tobacco； sugar；
salt； powder； ball； shot； clothes； lines； an inch…auger； nails；
knives； awls； needles； files； another axe； some tin plates； and a
frying pan were selected and added to Hendrik's account。
〃If I was you； I'd take a windy…sash； you'll find it mighty
convenient in cold weather。〃 The store keeper led them into an
outhouse where was a pile of six…lighted window…frames all
complete。 So the awkward thing was added to their load。
〃Can't I sell you a fine rifle？〃 and he took down a new； elegant
small bore of the latest pattern。 〃Only twenty… five dollars。〃
Rolf shook his head； 〃part down； and I'll take the rest in fur
next spring。〃 Rolf was sorely tempted； however； he had an early
instilled horror of debt。 He steadfastly said： 〃No。〃 But many
times he regretted it afterward！ The small balance remaining was
settled in cash。
As they were arranging and selecting； they heard a most hideous
yelping outdoors； and a minnute later Skookum limped in； crying
as if half…killed。 Quonab was out in a moment。
〃Did you kick my dog？〃
The brutal loafer changed countenance as he caught the red man's
eye。 〃Naw！ never touched him； hurted himself on that rake。〃
It was obviously a lie； but better to let it pass； and Quonab
came in again。
Then the rough stranger appeared at the door and growled： 〃Say；
Warren！ ain't you going to let me have that rifle？ I guess my
word's as good as the next man's。〃
〃No；〃 said Warren； 〃I told you； no！〃
〃Then you can go to blazes； and you'll never see a cent's worth
of fur from the stuff I got last year。〃
〃I don't expect to；〃 was the reply； 〃I've learned what your
word's worth。〃 And the stranger slouched away。
〃Who vas he？〃 asked Hendrik。
〃I only know that his name is Jack Hoag； he's a little bit of a
trapper and a big bit of a bum； stuck me last year。 He doesn't
come out this way； they say he goes out by the west side of the
mountains。〃
New light on their course was secured from Warren； and above all；
the important information that the mouth of Jesup's River was
marked by an eagle's nest in a dead pine。 〃Up to that point keep
the main stream； and don't forget next spring I'm buying fur。〃
The drive across Five…mile portage was slow。 It took over two
hours to cover it； but late that day they reached the Schroon。
Here the Dutchman said 〃Good…bye： Coom again some noder time。〃
Skookum saluted the farmer with a final growl； then Rolf and
Quonab were left alone in the wilderness。
It was after sundown； so they set about camping for the night。 A
wise camper always prepares bed and shelter in daylight； if
possible。 While Rolf made a fire and hung the kettle； Quonab
selected a level； dry place between two trees； and covered it
with spruce boughs to make the beds； and last a low tent was made
by putting the lodge cover over a pole between the trees。 The
ends of the covers were held down by loose green logs quickly cut
for the purpose； and now they were safe against weather。
Tea； potatoes； and fried pork； with maple syrup and hard…tack；
made their meal of the time； after which there was a long smoke。
Quonab took a stick of red willow； picked up…in the daytime； and
began shaving it toward one end； leaving the curling shreds still
on the stick。 When these were bunched in a fuzzy mop； he held
them over the fire until they were roasted brown； then； grinding
all up in his palm with some tobacco； and filling his pipe he
soon was enveloped in that odour of woodsy smoke called the
〃Indian smell；〃 by many who do not know whence or how it comes。
Rolf did not smoke。 He had promised his mother that he would not
until he was a man； and something brought her back home now with
overwhehning force； that was the beds they had made of fragrant
balsam boughs。 〃Cho…ko… tung or blister tree〃 as Quonab called
it。 His mother had a little sofa pillow； brought from the North
a 〃northern pine〃 pillow they called it； for it was stuffed
with pine needles of a kind not growing in Connecticut。 Many a
time had Rolf as a baby pushed his little round nose into that
bag to inhale the delicious odour it gave forth； and so it became
the hallowed smell of all that was dear in his babyhood； and it
never lost its potency。 Smell never does。 Oh； mighty aura！ that；
in marching by the nostrils； can reach and move the soul； how
wise the church that makes this power its handmaid； and through
its incense overwhelms all alien thought when the worshipper；
wandering； doubting； comes again to see if it be true； that here
doubt dies。 Oh； queen of memory that is master of the soul！ how
fearful should we be of letting evil thought associated grow with
some recurrent odour that we love。 Happy； indeed； are they that
find some ten times pure and consecrated fragrance； like the
pine； which entering in is master of their moods； and yet through
linking thoughts has all its power； uplifting； full of sweetness
and blessed peace。 So came to Rolf his medicine tree。
The balsam fir was his tree of hallowed memory。 Its odour never
failed； and he slept that night with its influence all about him。
Starting in the morning was no easy matter。 There was so much to
be adjusted that first day。 Packs divided in two； new
combinations to trim the canoe； or to raise such and such a
package above a possible leak。 The heavy things； like axes and
pans； had to be fastened to the canoe or to packages that would
float in case of an upset。 The canoe itself had to be gummed in
one or two places； but they got away after three hours； and began
the voyage down the Schroon。
This was Rolf's first water journey。 He had indeed essayed the
canoe on the Pipestave Pond； but that was a mere ferry。 This was
real travel。 He marvelled at the sensitiveness of the frail
craft； the delicacy of its balance； its quick response to the
paddle； the way it seemed to shrink from the rocks； and the
unpleasantly suggestive bend…up of the ribs when the bottom
grounded upon a log。 It was a new world for him。 Quonab taught
him never to enter the canoe except when she was afloat； never to
rise in her or move along without hold of the gunwale； never to
make a sudden move； and he also learned that it was easier to
paddle when there were six feet of water underneath than when
only six inches。
In an hour they had covered the five miles that brought them to
the Hudson； and here the real labour began； paddling up stream。
Before long they came to a shallow stretch with barely enough
water to float the canoe。 Here they jumped out and waded in the
stream； occasionally lifting a stone to one side； till they
reached the upper stretch of deep water and again went merrily
paddling。 Soon they came to an impassable rapid； and Rolf had his
first taste of a real carry or portage。 Quonab's eye was
watching the ba