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now； in the normal storm state of the household； the
difficulties of the course appeared。 He cudgelled his brain for
some plan to account for his absence； and finally took
refuge unwittingly in ancient wisdom： 〃When you don't
know a thing to do； don't do a thing。〃 Also； 〃If you can't
find the delicate way； go the blunt way。〃
So having fed the horses； cleaned the stable； and milked
the cow； fed the pigs； the hens； the calf； harnessed the
horses； cut and brought in wood for the woodshed； turned
out the sheep； hitched the horses to the wagon； set the milk
out in the creaming pans； put more corn to soak for the
swill barrel； ground the house knife； helped to clear the
breakfast things； replaced the fallen rails of a fence；
brought up potatoes from the root cellar； all to the
maddening music of a scolding tongue； he set out to take the cow
back to the wood lot； sullenly resolved to return when ready。
*Ugh （yes） and wah （no） are Indianisms that continue no matter
how well the English has been acquired。
Chapter 4。 The Coon Hunt Makes Trouble for Rolf
Not one hour； but nearly three； had passed before
Rolf sighted the Pipestave Pond； as it was called。
He had never been there before； but three short
whoops； as arranged； brought answer and guidance。
Quonab was standing on the high rock。 When Rolf came
he led down to the wigwam on its south side。 It was like
stepping into a new life。 Several of the old neighbours at
Redding were hunters who knew the wild Indians and had
told him tales that glorified at least the wonderful
woodcraft of the red man。 Once or twice Rolf had seen Indians
travelling through； and he had been repelled by their sordid
squalour。 But here was something of a different kind；
not the Champlain ideal； indeed； for the Indian wore clothes
like any poor farmer； except on his head and his feet； his
head was bare； and his feet were covered with moccasins
that sparkled with beads on the arch。 The wigwam was
of canvas； but it had one or two of the sacred symbols
painted on it。 The pot hung over the fire was tin…lined
copper； of the kind long made in England for Indian trade；
but the smaller dishes were of birch bark and basswood。
The gun and the hunting knife were of white man's make；
but the bow； arrows； snowshoes； tom…tom； and a quill…
covered gun case were of Indian art； fashioned of the things
that grow in the woods about。
The Indian led into the wigwam。 The dog； although
not fully grown； growled savagely as it smelled the hated
white man odour。 Quonab gave the puppy a slap on the
head； which is Indian for； 〃Be quiet； he's all right；〃 loosed
the rope； and led the dog out。 〃Bring that；〃 and the
Indian pointed to the bag which hung from a stick between
two trees。 The dog sniffed suspiciously in the direction
of the bag and growled； but he was not allowed to come
near it。 Rolf tried to make friends with the dog； but
without success and Quonab said； 〃Better let Skookum* alone。
He make friends when he ready maybe never。〃
The two hunters now set out for the open plain； two or
three hundred yards to the southward。 Here the raccoon
was dumped out of the sack； and the dog held at a little
distance； until the coon had pulled itself together and
began to run。 Now the dog was released and chivvied on。
With a tremendous barking he rushed at the coon； only to
get a nip that made him recoil； yelping。 The coon ran
as hard as it could； the dog and hunters came after it；
again it was overtaken； and； turning with a fierce snarl； it
taught the dog a second lesson。 Thus； running； dodging；
and turning to fight； the coon got back to the woods； and
there made a final stand under a small； thick tree； and；
when the dog was again repulsed； climbed quickly up into
the branches。
The hunters did all they could to excite the dog； until he
was jumping about； tryng to climb the tree； and barking
uproariously。 This was exactly what they wanted。
Skookum's first lesson was learned the duty of chasing
the big animal of that particular smell； then barking up
the tree it had climbed。
Quonab； armed with a forked stick and a cord noose；
now went up the tree。 After much trouble he got the
noose around the coon's neck； then； with some rather
rough handling； the animal was dragged down； maneuvered
into the sack； and carried back to camp； where it was
chained up to serve in future lessons； the next two or three
being to tree the coon； as before； in the next； the coon
was to be freed and allowed to get out of sight； so that the
dog might find it by trailing； and the last； in which the
coon was to be trailed； treed； and shot out of the tree；
so that the dog should have the final joy of killing a
crippled coon； and the reward of a coon…meat feast。 But
the last was not to be； for the night before it should have
taken place the coon managed to slip its bonds； and nothing
but the empty collar and idle chain were found in the
captive's place next morning。
These things were in the future however。 Rolf was
intensely excited over all he had seen that day。 His hunting
instincts were aroused。 There had been no very obvious
or repellant cruelty； the dog alone had suffered； but
he seemed happy。 The whole affair was so exactly in the
line of his tastes that the boy was in a sort of ecstatic
uplift； and already anticipating a real coon hunt； when
the dog should be properly trained。 The episode so
contrasted with the sordid life he had left an hour before that
he was spellbound。 The very animal smell of the coon
seemed to make his fibre tingle。 His eyes were glowing
with a wild light。 He was so absorbed that he did not
notice a third party attracted by the unusual noise of the
chase； but the dog did。 A sudden； loud challenge called
all attention to a stranger on the ridge behind the camp。
There was no mistaking the bloated face and white
moustache of Rolf's uncle。
〃So； you young scut！ that is how you waste your time。
I'll larn ye a lesson。〃
The dog was tied； the Indian looked harmless； and the
boy was cowed； so the uncle's courage mounted high。 He
had been teaming in the nearby woods； and the blacksnake
whip was in his hands。 In a minute its thong was
lapped； like a tongue of flame； around Rolf's legs。 The
boy gave a shriek and ran； but the man followed and
furiously plied the whip。 The Indian； supposing it was Rolf's
father； marvelled at his method of showing affection； but
said nothing； for the Fifth Commandment is a large one
in the wigwam。 Rolf dodged some of the cruel blows； but
was driven into a corner of the rock。 One end of the lash
crossed his face like a red…hot wire。
〃Now I've got you！〃 growled the bully。
Rolf was desperate。 He seized two heavy stones and
hurled the first with deadly intent at his uncle's head。
Mick dodged in time； but the second； thrown lower； hit
him on the thigh。 Mick gave a roar of pain。 Rolf
hastily seized more stones and shrieked out； 〃You come on
one step and I'll kill you！〃
Then that purple visage turned a sort of ashen hue。
Its owner mouthed in speechless rage。 He 〃knew it was
the Indian had put Rolf up to it。 He'd see to it later；〃 and
muttering； blasting； frothing； the hoary…headed sinner
went limping off to his loaded wagon。
*〃Skookum〃 or 〃Skookum Chuck；〃 in Chinook means 〃Troubled waters。〃
Chapter 5。 Good…bye to Uncle Mike
For counsel comes with the night； and action comes with the day；
But the gray half light； neither dark nor bright； is a time to
hide away。
Rolf had learned one thing at least his uncle was a coward。
But he also knew that he himself was in the wrong； for he was
neglecting his work and he decided to go back at once and face
the worst。 He made little reply to the storm of scolding that
met him。 He would have been disappointed if it had not come。 He
was used to it； it made him feel at home once more。 He worked
hard and silently。
Mick did not return till late。 He had been drawing wood for
Horton that day； which was the reason he happened in Quonab's
neighbourhood； but his road lay by the tavern； and when he
arrived home he was too helpless to do more than mutter。
The next day there was an air of suspended thunder。 Rolf
overheard his uncle cursing 〃that ungrateful young scut … not
worth his salt。〃 But nothing further was said or done。 His aunt
did not strike at him once for two days。 The third night Micky
disappeared。 On the next he returned with another man； they had
a crate of fowls； and Rolf was told to keep away from 〃that there
little barn。〃
So he did all morning； but he peeped in from the hayloft when a
chance came； and saw a beautiful horse。 Next day the 〃little
barn〃 was open and empty as before。
That night this worthy couple had a jollification with some
callers； who were strangers to Rolf。 A