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of all the feats of woodcraft。
Chapter 49。 Rolf Gets Lost
Every one who lives in the big woods gets lost at some time。 Yes；
even Daniel Boone did sometimes go astray。 And whether it is to
end as a joke or a horrible tragedy depends entirely on the way
in which the person takes it。 This is； indeed； the grand test of
a hunter and scout； the trial of his knowledge； his muscle； and；
above everything； his courage； and； like all supreme trials； it
comes without warning。
The wonderful flocks of wild pigeons had arrived。 For a few days
in May they were there in millions； swarming over the ground in
long…reaching hordes； walking along； pecking and feeding； the
rearmost flying on ahead； ever to the front。 The food they sought
so eagerly now was chiefly the seeds of the slippery elm； tiny
nuts showered down on wings like broad…brimmed hats。 And when the
flock arose at some alarm； the sound was like that of the sea
beach in a storm。
There seemed to be most pigeons in the low country southeast of
the lake； of course； because； being low； it had most elms。 So
Rolf took his bow and arrows； crossed in the canoe； and
confidently set about gathering in a dozen or two for broilers。
It is amazing how well the game seems to gauge the range of
your weapon and keep the exact safe distance。 It is marvellous
how many times you may shoot an arrow into a flock of pigeons and
never kill one。 Rolf went on and on； always in sight of the long；
straggling flocks on the ground or in the air； but rarely within
range of them。 Again and again he fired a random shot into the
distant mass； without success for two hours。 Finally a pigeon was
touched and dropped； but it rose as he ran forward； and flew ten
yards； to drop once more。 Again he rushed at it； but it fluttered
out of reach and so led him on and on for about half an hour's
breathless race； until at last he stopped； took deliberate aim；
and killed it with an arrow。
Now a peculiar wailing and squealing from the woods far ahead
attracted him。 He stalked and crawled for many minutes before he
found out； as he should have known； that it was caused by a
mischievous bluejay。
At length he came to a spring in a low hollow； and leaving his
bow and arrows on a dry log； he went down to get a drink
As he arose； he found himself face to face with a doe and a fat；
little yearling buck； only twenty yards away。 They stared at him；
quite unalarmed； and； determining to add the yearling to his bag；
Rolf went back quietly to his bow and arrows。
~The deer were just out of range now； but inclined to take a
curious interest in the hunter。 Once when he stood still for a
long time； they walked forward two or three steps； but whenever
he advanced； they trotted farther away。
To kill a deer with an arrow is quite a feat of woodcraft； and
Rolf was keen to show his prowess； so he kept on with varying
devices； and was continually within sight of the success that did
not actually arrive。
Then the deer grew wilder and loped away； as he entered another
valley that was alive with pigeons。
He was feeling hungry now； so he plucked the pigeon he had
secured； made a fire with the flint and steel he always carried；
then roasted the bird carefully on a stick。 and having eaten it；
felt ready for more travel。
The day was cloudy； so he could not see the sun； but he knew it
was late； and he made for camp。
The country he found himself in was entirely strange to him； and
the sun's whereabouts doubtful； but he knew the general line of
travel and strode along rapidly toward the place where he had
left the canoe。
After two hours' tramping； he was surprised at not seeing the
lake through the trees； and he added to his pace。
Three hours passed and still no sign of the water。
He began to think he had struck too far to the north； so
corrected his course and strode along with occasional spells of
trotting。 But another hour wore away arid no lake appeared。
Then Rolf knew he was off his bearings。 He climbed a tree and got
a partial view of the country。 To the right was a small hill。 He
made for that。 The course led him through a hollow。 In this he
recognized two huge basswood trees； that gave him a reassuring
sense。 A little farther he came on a spring； strangely like the
one he had left some hours ago。 As he stooped to drink； he saw
deer tracks； then a human track。 He studied it。 Assuredly it was
his own track； though now it seemed on the south side instead of
the north。 He stared at the dead gray sky； hoping for sign of
sun； but it gave no hint。 He tramped off hastily toward the hill
that promised a lookout。 He went faster and faster。 In half an
hour the woods opened a little； then dipped。 He hastened down；
and at the bottom found himself standing by the same old spring；
though again it had changed its north bearing。
He was stunned by this succession of blows。 He knew now he was
lost in the woods； had been tramping in a circle。
The spring whirled around him； it seemed now north and now south。
His first impulse was to rush madly northwesterly； as he
understood it。 He looked at all the trees for guidance。 Most moss
should be on the north side。 It would be so； if all trees were
perfectly straight and evenly exposed； but alas！ none are so。 All
lean one way or another； and by the moss he could prove any given
side to be north。 He looked for the hemlock top twigs。 Tradition
says they always point easterly； but now they differed among
themselves as to which was east。
Rolf got more and more worried。 He was a brave boy； but grim fear
came into his mind as he realized that he was too far from camp
to be heard； the ground was too leafy for trailing him； without
help he could not get away from that awful spring。 His head began
to swim； when all at once he remembered a bit of advice his guide
had given him long ago： 〃Don't get scared when you're lost。
Hunger don't kill the lost man； and it ain't cold that does it；
it's being afraid。 Don't be afraid； and everything will come out
all right。〃
So； instead of running； Rolf sat down to think it over。
〃Now；〃 said he； 〃I went due southeast all day from the canoe。〃
Then he stopped； like a shock it came to him that he had not seen
the sun all day。 Had he really gone southeast？ It was a
devastating thought； enough to unhinge some men； but again Rolf
said to himself 〃Never mind； now； don't get scared； and it'll be
all right。 In the morning the sky will be clear。〃
As he sat pondering； a red squirrel chippered and scolded from a
near tree； closer and closer the impudent creature came to
sputter at the intruder。
Rolf drew his bow； and when the blunt arrow dropped to the
ground； there also dropped the red squirrel； turned into
acceptable meat。 Rolf put this small game into his pocket；
realizing that this was his supper。
It would soon be dark now； so he prepared to spend the night。
While yet he could see； he gathered a pile of dry wood into a
sheltered hollow。 Then he made a wind…break and a bed of balsam
boughs。 Flint； steel； tinder； and birch bark soon created a
cheerful fire； and there is no better comforter that the lone
lost man can command。
The squirrel roasted in its hide proved a passable supper； and
Rolf curled up to sleep。 The night would have been pleasant and
uneventful； but that it turned chilly； and when the fire burnt
low； the cold awakened him； so he had a succession of naps and
fire…buildings。
Soon after dawn； he heard a tremendous roaring； and in a few
minutes the wood was filled again with pigeons。
Rolf was living on the country now； so he sallied forth with his
bow。 Luck was with him； at the first shot he downed a big； fat
cock。 At the second he winged another； and as it scrambled
through the brush； he rushed headlong in pursuit。 It fluttered
away beyond reach； halfflying； half…running； and Rolf； in
reckless pursuit； went sliding and tumbling down a bank to land
at the bottom with a horrid jar。 One leg was twisted under him；
he thought it was broken； for there was a fearful pain in the
lower part。 But when he pulled himself together he found no
broken bones； indeed； but an ankle badly sprained。 Now his
situation was truly grave； for he was crippled and incapable of
travelling。
He had secured the second bird； and crawling painfully and slowly
back to the fire； he could not but feel more and more despondent
and gloomy as the measure of his misfortune was realized。
〃There is only one thing that can shame a man； that is to be
afraid。〃 And again； 〃There's always a way out。〃 These were the
sayings that came ringing through his head to his heart； one was
from Quonab； the other from old Sylvanne。 Yes； there's always a
way； and the stout heart can always find it。
Rolf prepared and cooked the two birds； made a breakfast of one
and put the other in his pocket