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first taste of a real carry or portage。 Quonab's eye was
watching the bank as soon as the fierce waters appeared； for the
first question was； where shall we land？ and the next； how far do
we carry？ There are no rapids on important rivers in temperate
America that have not been portaged more or less for ages。 No
canoe man portages without considering most carefully when；
where； and how to land。 His selection of the place； then； is the
result of careful study。 He cannot help leaving some mark at the
place； slight though it be； and the next man looks for that mark
to save himself time and trouble。
〃Ugh〃 was the only sound that Rolf heard from his companion； and
the canoe headed for a flat rock in the pool below the rapids。
After landing； they found traces of an old camp fire。 It was
near noon now； so Rolf prepared the meal while Quonab took a
light pack and went on to learn the trail。 It was not well
marked； had not been used for a year or two； evidently； but there
are certain rules that guide one。 The trail keeps near the
water； unless there is some great natural barrier； and it is
usually the easiest way in sight。 Quonab kept one eye on the
river； for navigable water was the main thing； and in about one
hundred yards he was again on the stream's edge； at a good
landing above the rapid。
After the meal was finished and the Indian had smoked； they set
to work。 In a few loads each； the stuff was portaged across； and
the canoe was carried over and moored to the bank。
The cargo replaced； they went on again； but in half an hour after
passing more shoal water； saw another rapid； not steep； but too
shallow to float the canoe； even with both men wading。 Here
Quonab made what the Frenchmen call a demi…charge。 He carried
half the stuff to the bank； then； wading； one at each end； they
hauled the canoe up the portage and reloaded her above。 Another
strip of good going was succeeded by a long stretch of very swift
water that was two or three feet deep and between shores that
were densely grown with alders。 The Indian landed； cut two
light； strong poles； and now； one at the bow； the other at the
stern； they worked their way foot by foot up the fierce current
until safely on the upper level。
Yet one more style of canoe propulsion was forced on them。 They
came to a long stretch of smooth； deep； very swift water； almost
a rapid…one of the kind that is a joy when you are coming down
stream。 It differed from the last in having shores that were not
alder…hidden； but open gravel banks。 Now did Quonab take a long；
strong line from his war sack。 One end he fastened； not to the
bow； but to the forward part of the canoe； the other to a
buckskin band which he put across his breast。 Then； with Rolf in
the stern to steer and the Indian hauling on the bank； the canoe
was safely 〃tracked〃 up the 〃strong waters。〃
Thus they fought their way up the hard river； day after day；
making sometimes only five miles after twelve hours' toilsome
travel。 Rapids； shoals； portages； strong waters； abounded； and
before they had covered the fifty miles to the forks of Jesup's
River； they knew right well why the region was so little entered。
It made a hardened canoe man of Rolf； and when； on the evening of
the fifth day； they saw a huge eagle's nest in a dead pine tree
that stood on the edge of a long swamp； both felt they had
reached their own country； and were glad。
Chapter 18。 Animal Life Along the River
It must not be supposed that； because it has been duly mentioned；
they saw no wild life along the river。 The silent canoe man has
the best of opportunities。 There were plenty of deer tracks
about the first camp； and that morning； as they turned up the
Hudson； Rolf saw his first deer。 They had rounded a point in
rather swift water when Quonab gave two taps on the gunwale； the
usual sign； 〃Look out；〃 and pointed to the shore。 There； fifty
yards away on bank； gazing at them； was a deer。 Stock still he
stood like a red statue； for he was yet in the red coat。 With
three or four strong strokes； Quonab gave a long and mighty
forward spurt； then reached for his gun。 But the deer's white
flag went up。 It turned and bounded away； the white flag the
last thing to disappear。 Rolf sat spellbound。 It was so sudden；
so easy； it soon melted into the woods again。 He trembled after
it was gone。
Many a time in the evening they saw muskrats in the eddies； and
once they glimpsed a black； shiny something like a monstrous
leech rolling up and down as it travelled in the stream。 Quonab
whispered； 〃Otter；〃 and made ready his gun； but it dived and
showed itself no more。 At one of the camps they were awakened by
an extraordinary tattoo in the middle of the night a harsh
rattle close by their heads； and they got up to find that a
porcupine was rattling his teeth on the frying…pan in an effort
to increase the amount of salt that he could taste on it。
Skookum； tied to a tree； was vainly protesting against the
intrusion and volunteered to make a public example of the
invader。 The campers did not finally get rid of the spiny one
till all their kitchen stuff was hung beyond his reach。
Once they heard the sharp； short bark of a fox； and twice or
thrice the soft； sweet； moaning call of the gray wolf out to
hunt。 Wild fowl abounded； and their diet was varied by the ducks
that one or other of the hunters secured at nearly every camp。
On the second day they saw three deer； and on the third morning
Quonab loaded his gun with buckshot； to be ready； then sallied
forth at dawn。 Rolf was following； but the Indian shook his
head； then said： 〃Don't make fire for half an hour。〃
In twenty minutes Rolf heard the gun； then later the Indian
returned with a haunch of venison； and when they left that camp
they stopped a mile up the river to add the rest of the venison
to their cargo。 Seven other deer were seen； but no more killed；
yet Rolf was burning to try his hand as a hunter。 Many other
opportunities he had； and improved some of them。 On one wood
portage he； or rather Skookum； put up a number of ruffed grouse。
These perched in the trees above their heads and the travellers
stopped。 While the dog held their attention Rolf with blunt
arrows knocked over five that proved most acceptable as food。
But his thoughts were now on deer； and his ambition was to go out
alone and return with a load of venison。
Another and more thrilling experience followed quickly。 Rounding
a bend in the early dawn they sighted a black bear and two cubs
rambling along the gravelly bank and stopping now and then to eat
something that turned out to be crayfish。
Quonab had not seen a bear since childhood； when he and his
father hunted along the hardwood ridges back of Myanos； and now
he was excited。 He stopped paddling； warned Rolf to do the same；
and let the canoe drift backward until out of sight； then made
for the land。 Quickly tying up the canoe he took his gun and Rolf
his hunting arrows； and； holding Skookum in a leash； they dashed
into the woods。 Then； keeping out of sight； they ran as fast and
as silently as possible in the direction of the bears。 Of
course； the wind was toward the hunters； or they never could have
got so near。 Now they were opposite the family group and needed
only a chance for a fair shot。 Sneaking forward with the utmost
caution； they were surely within twenty…five yards； but still the
bushes screened the crab…eaters。 As the hunters sneaked； the old
bear stopped and sniffed suspiciously； the wind changed； she got
an unmistakable whiff； then gave a loud warning 〃Koff！ Koff！
Koff！ Koff！〃 and ran as fast as she could。 The hunters knowing
they were discovered rushed out； yelling as loudly as possible；
in hopes of making the bears tree。 The old bear ran like a horse
with Skookum yapping bravely in her rear。 The young ones； left
behind； lost sight of her； and； utterly bewildered by the noise；
made for a tree conveniently near and scrambled up into the
branches。 〃Now；〃 Rolf thought； judging by certain tales he had
heard； 〃that old bear will come back and there will be a fight。〃
〃Is she coming back？〃 he asked nervously。
The Indian laughed。 〃No； she is running yet。 Black bear always
a coward； they never fight when they can run away。〃
The little ones up the tree were； of course； at the mercy of the
hunters； and in this case it was not a broken straw they depended
on； but an ample salvation。 〃We don't need the meat and can't
carry it with us； let's leave them；〃 said Rolf； but added； 〃Will
they find their mother？〃
〃Yes； bime…by； they come down and squall all over woods。 She
will hang round half a mile away and by night all will be
together。〃
Their first bear hunt was over。 Not a shot fired； not a bear
wounded； not a mile travelled； and not an hour lost。 And yet it
seemed much more full