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after the leader。 They made for the ford as for some familiar
path； and splashed through； almost without swimming。 As they
landed； Rolf waited a clear view； then gave a short sharp 〃Hist！〃
It was like a word of magic； for it turned the three moving deer
to three stony…still statues。 Rolf's sights were turned on the
smaller buck； and when the great cloud following the bang had
deared away； the two were gone and the lesser buck was kicking on
the ground some fifty yards away。
〃We have found the good hunting； the deer walk into camp；〃 said
Quonab； and the product of the chase was quickly stored； the
first of the supplies to be hung in the new storehouse。
The entrails were piled up and covered with brush and stones。
〃That will keep off ravens and jays； then in winter the foxes
will come and we can take their coats。〃
Now they must decide for the morning。 Skookum was somewhat
better； but still very sick； and Rolf suggested： 〃Quonab； you
take the gun and axe and lay a new line。 I will stay behind and
finish up the cabin for the winter and look after the dog。〃 So
it was agreed。 The Indian left the camp alone this time and
crossed to the east shore of the lake； there to follow up another
stream as before and to return in three or four days to the cabin。
Chapter 28。 Alone in the Wilderness
Rolf began the day by giving Skookum a bath as hot as he could
stand it； and later his soup。 For the first he whined feebly and
for the second faintly wagged his tail； but clearly he was on the
mend。
Now the chinking and moss…plugging of the new cabin required all
attention。 That took a day and looked like the biggest job on
hand； but Rolf had been thinking hard about the winter。 In
Connecticut the wiser settlers used to bank their houses for the
cold weather； in the Adiron… dacks he knew it was far； far
colder； and he soon decided to bank the two shanties as deeply as
possible with earth。 A good spade made of white oak； with its
edge hardened by roasting it brown； was his first necessity； and
after two days of digging he had the cabin with its annex buried
up to 〃the eyes〃 in fresh； clean earth。
A stock of new； dry wood for wet weather helped to show how much
too small the cabin was； and now the heavier work was done； and
Rolf had plenty of time to think。
Which of us that has been left alone in the wilderness does not
remember the sensations of the first day！ The feeling of
self…dependency； not unmixed with unrestraint； the ending of
civilized thought； the total reversion to the primitive； the
nearness of the wood…folk； a sense of intimacy； a recurrent
feeling of awe at the silent inexorability of all around； and a
sweet pervading sense of mastery in the very freedom。 These were
among the feelings that swept in waves through Rolf； and when the
first night came； he found such comfort yes； he had to confess
it in the company of the helpless little dog whose bed was by
his own。
But these were sensations that come not often； in the four days
and nights that he was alone they lost all force。
The hunter proverb about 〃strange beasts when you have no gun〃
was amply illustrated now that Quonab had gone with their only
firearm。 The second night before turning in （he slept in the
shanty now）； he was taking a last look at the stars； when a
large； dark form glided among the tree trunks between him and the
shimmering lake； stopped； gazed at him； then silently disappeared
along the shore。 No wonder that he kept the shanty door closed
that night； and next morning when he studied the sandy ridges he
read plainly that his night visitor had been not a lynx or a fox；
but a prowling cougar or panther。
On the third morning as he went forth in the still early dawn he
heard a snort； and looking toward the spruce woods； was amazed to
see towering up； statuesque； almost grotesque； with its mulish
ears and antediluvian horns； a large bull moose。
Rolf was no coward； but the sight of that monster so close to him
set his scalp a…prickling。 He felt so helpless without any
firearms。 He stepped into the cabin； took down his bow and
arrows； then gave a contemptuous 〃Humph； all right for partridge
and squirrels； but give me a rifle for the woods！〃 He went out
again； there was the moose standing as before。 The lad rushed
toward it a few steps； shouting； it stared unmoved。 But Rolf was
moved； and he retreated to the cabin。 Then remembering the
potency of fire he started a blaze on the hearth。 The thick
smoke curled up on the still air； hung low； made swishes through
the grove； until a faint air current took a wreath of it to the
moose。 The great nostrils drank in a draught that conveyed
terror to the creature's soul； and wheeling it started at its
best pace to the distant swamp； to be seen no more。
Five times； during these four days； did deer come by and behave
as though they knew perfectly well that this young human was
harmless； entirely without the power of the far…killing mystery。
How intensely Rolf wished for a gun。 How vividly came back the
scene in the trader's store； when last month he had been
offered a beautiful rifle for twenty…five dollars； to be paid for
in fur next spring； and savagely he blamed himself for not
realizing what a chance it was。 Then and there he made resolve
to be the owner of a gun as soon as another chance came； and to
make that chance come right soon。
One little victory he had in that time。 The creature that had
torn open the venison bag was still around the camp； that was
plain by the further damage on the bag hung in the storehouse；
the walls of which were not chinked。 Mindful of Quonab's remark；
he set two marten traps； one on the roof； near the hole that had
been used as entry； the other on a log along which the creature
must climb to reach the meat。 The method of setting is simple； a
hollow is made； large enough to receive the trap as it lies open；
on the pan of the trap some grass is laid smoothly； on each side
of the trap a piece of prickly brush is placed； so that in
leaping over these the creature will land on the lurking snare。
The chain was made fast to a small log。
Although so seldom seen there is no doubt that the marten comes
out chiefly by day。 That night the trap remained unsprung； next
morning as Rolf went at silent dawn to bring water from the lake；
he noticed a long； dark line that proved to be ducks。 As he sat
gazing he heard a sound in the tree beyond the cabin。 It was
like the scratching of a squirrel climbing about。 Then he saw
the creature； a large； dark squirrel； it seemed。 It darted up
this tree and down that； over logs and under brush； with the
lightning speed of a lightning squirrel； and from time to time it
stopped still as a bump while it gazed at some far and suspicious
object。 Up one trunk it went like a brown flash； and a moment
later； out； cackling from its top； flew two partridges。 Down to
the ground； sinuous； graceful； incessantly active flashed the
marten。 Along a log it raced in undulating leaps； in the middle
it stopped as though frozen； to gaze intently into a bed of
sedge； with three billowy bounds its sleek form reached the
sedge； flashed in and out again with a mouse in its snarling
jaws； a side leap now； and another squeaker was squeakless； and
another。 The three were slain； then thrown aside； as the brown
terror scanned a flight of ducks passing over。 Into a thicket of
willow it disap… peared and out again like an eel going through
the mud； then up a tall stub where woodpecker holes were to be
seen。 Into the largest it went so quickly Rolf could scarcely see
how it entered； and out in a few seconds bearing a flying
squirrel whose skull it had crushed。 Dropping the squirrel it
leaped after it； and pounced again on the quivering form with a
fearsome growl； then shook it savagely； tore it apart； cast it
aside。 Over the ground it now undulated； its shining yellow
breast like a target of gold。 Again it stopped。 Now in pose
like a pointer； exquisitely graceful； but oh； so wicked！ Then
the snaky neck swung the cobra head in the breeze and the brown
one sniffed and sniffed； advanced a few steps； tried the wind and
the ground。 Still farther and the concentrated interest showed in
its outstretched neck and quivering tail。 Bounding into a
thicket it went； when out of the other side there leaped a
snowshoe rabbit； away and away for dear life。 Jump； jump； jump；
twelve feet at every stride； and faster than the eye could
follow； with the marten close behind。 What a race it was； and
how they twinkled through the brush！ The rabbit is； indeed；
faster； but courage counts for much； and his was low； but luck
and his good stars urged him round to the deer trail crossing of
the stream； once there he could not turn。 There was only one
course。 He sprang into the open river and swam for his life。