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wounded； not a mile travelled； and not an hour lost。 And yet it
seemed much more full of interesting thrills than did any one of
the many stirring bear hunts that Rolf and Quonab shared together
in the days that were to come。
Chapter 19。 The Footprint on the Shore
Jesup's River was a tranquil stream that came from a region of
swamps； and would have been easy canoeing but for the fallen
trees。 Some of these had been cut years ago； showing that the
old trapper had used this route。 Once they were unpleasantly
surprised by seeing a fresh chopping on the bank； but their
mourning was changed into joy when they found it was beaver…work。
Ten miles they made that day。 In the evening they camped on the
shore of Jesup's Lake； proud and happy in the belief that they
were the rightful owners of it all。 That night they heard again
and again the howling of wolves； but it seemed on the far side of
the lake。 In the morning they went out on foot to explore； and
at once had the joy of seeing five deer； while tracks showed on
every side。 It was evidently a paradise for deer； and there were
in less degree the tracks of other animals mink in fair
abundance； one or two otters； a mountain lion； and a cow moose
with her calf。 It was thrilling to see such a feast of
possibilities。 The hunters were led on and on； revelling in the
prospect of many joys before them； when all at once they came on
something that turned their joy to grief the track of a man；
the fresh imprint of a cowhide boot。 It was maddening。 At first
blush； it meant some other trapper ahead of them with a prior
claim to the valley； a claim that the unwritten law would allow。
They followed it a mile。 It went striding along the shore at a
great pace； sometimes running； and keeping down the west shore。
Then they found a place where he had sat down and broken a lot of
clam shells； and again had hastened on。 But there was no mark of
gunstock or other weapon where he sat； and why was he wearing
boots？ The hunters rarely did。
For two miles the Indian followed with Rolf； and sometimes found
that the hated stranger had been running hard。 Then they turned
back； terribly disappointed。 At first it seemed a crushing blow。
They had three courses open to them … to seek a location farther
north； to assume that one side of the lake was theirs； or to find
out exactly who and what the stranger was。 They decided on the
last。 The canoe was launched and loaded； and they set out to look
for what they hoped they would not find； a trapper's shanty on
the lake。
After skirting the shore for four or five miles and disturbing
one or two deer； as well as hosts of ducks； the voyagers landed
and there still they found that fateful bootmark steadily
tramping southward。 By noon they had reached the south end of
the west inlet that leads to another lake； and again an
examination of the shore showed the footmarks； here leaving the
lake and going southerly。 Now the travellers retired to the main
lake and by noon had reached the south end。 At no point had they
seen any sign of a cabin； though both sides of the lake were in
plain view all day。 The travelling stranger was a mystery； but
he did not live here and there was no good reason why they should
not settle。
Where？ The country seemed equally good at all points； but it is
usually best to camp on an outlet。 Then when a storm comes up；
the big waves do not threaten your canoe； or compel you to stay
on land。 It is a favourite crossing for animals avoiding the
lake； and other trappers coming in are sure to see your cabin
before they enter。
Which side of the outlet？ Quonab settled that the west。 He
wanted to see the sun rise； and； not far back from the water； was
a hill with a jutting； rocky pinnade。 He pointed to this and
uttered the one word； 〃Idaho。〃 Here； then； on the west side；
where the lake enters the river； they began to clear the ground
for their home。
Chapter 20。 The Trappers' Cabin
It's a smart fellow that knows what he can't do。 …Sayings of Si Sylvanne。
I suppose every trapper that ever lived； on first building a
cabin； said； 〃Oh； any little thing will do； so long as it has a
roof and is big enough to lie down in。〃 And every trapper has
realized before spring that he made a sad mistake in not having
it big enough to live in and store goods in。 Quonab and Rolf
were new at the business； and made the usual mistake。 They
planned their cabin far too small； 10 X 12 ft。； instead of 12 X
20 ft。 they made it； and 6…ft。 walls； instead of 8…ft。 walls。
Both were expert axemen。 Spruce was plentiful and the cabin rose
quickly。 In one day the walls were up。 An important thing was
the roof。 What should it be？ Overlapping basswood troughs； split
shingles； also called shakes； or clay？ By far the easiest to
make； the warmest in winter and coolest in summer； is the clay
roof。 It has three disadvantages： It leaks in long…continued wet
weather； it drops down dust and dirt in dry weather； and is so
heavy that it usually ends by crushing in the log rafters and
beams； unless they are further supported on posts； which are much
in the way。 But its advantages were so obvious that the builders
did not hesitate。 A clay roof it was to be。
When the walls were five feet high； the doorway and window were
cut through the logs； but leaving in each case one half of the
log at the bottom of the needed opening。 The top log was now
placed； then rolled over bottom up； wlile half of its thickness
was cut away to fit over the door： a similar cut out was made
over the window。 Two flat pieces of spruce were prepared for
door jambs and two shorter ones for window jambs。 Auger holes
were put through； so as to allow an oak pin to be driven through
the jamb into each log； and the doorway and window opening were done。
In one corner they planned a small fireplace； built of clay and
stone。 Not stone from the lake； as Rolf would have had it； but
from the hillside； and why？ Quonab said that the lake stone was
of the water spirits； and would not live near fire； but would
burst open； while the hillside stone was of the sun and fire
spirit； and in the fire would add its heat。
The facts are that lake stone explodes when greatly heated and
hill stone does not； and since no one has been able to improve
upon Quonab's explanation； it must stand for the present。
The plan of the fireplace was simple。 Rolf had been present at
the building of several； and the main point was to have the
chimney large enough； and the narrowest point just above the fire。
The eaves logs； end logs； and ridge logs were soon in place； then
came the cutting of small poles； spruce and tamarack； long enough
to reach from ridge to eaves； and in sufficient number to
completely cover the roof。 A rank sedge meadow near by afforded
plenty of coarse grass with which the poles were covered deeply；
and lastly clay dug out with a couple of hand…made； axe…hewn
wooden spades was thrown evenly on the grass to a depth of six
inches； this； when trampled flat； made a roof that served them well。
The chinks of the logs when large were filled with split pieces
of wood； when small they were plugged with moss。 A door was made
of hewn planks； and hinged very simply on two pins； one made by
letting the plank project as a point； the other by nailing on a
pin after the door was placed； both pins fitting； of course； into
inch auger holes。
A floor was not needed； but bed bunks were； and in making these
they began already to realize that the cabin was too small。 But
now after a week's work it was done。 It had a sweet fragrance of
wood and moss； and the pleasure it gave to Rolf at least was
something he never again could expect to find in equal measure
about any other dwelling he might make。
Quonab laid the fire carefully； then lighted his pipe； sang a
little crooning song about the 〃home spirits；〃 which we call
〃household gods；〃 walked around the shanty； offering the pipestem
to each of the four winds in turn； then entering lighted the flre
from his pipe； threw some tobacco and deer hair on the blaze； and
the house…warming was ended。
Nevertheless； they continued to sleep in the tent they had used
all along； for Quonab loved not the indoors； and Rolf was growing
daily more of his mind。
Chapter 21。 Rolf's First Deer
Anxious to lose no fine day they had worked steadily on the
shanty； not even going after the deer that were seen occasionally
over the lake； so that now they were out of fresh meat； and Rolf
saw a chance he long had looked for。 〃Quonab； I want to go out
alone and get a deer； and I want your gun。
〃Ugh！ you shall go。 To…night is good。〃
〃To…night〃 meant evening； so Rolf set out alone as soon as the
sun was low； for during the heat of the day the deer are commonly
lying in some thicket。 In general； h