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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 for lunch； not realizing at the
time that his lunch would be eaten on this same spot。 More than
once； as he sat； small flocks of ducks flew over the trees due
northward。 At length the sky； now clear； was ablaze with the
rising sun； and when it came； it was in Rolf's western sky。
Now he comprehended the duck flight。 They were really heading
southeast for their feeding grounds on the Indian Lake； and Rolf；
had he been able to tramp； could have followed； but his foot was
growing worse。 It was badly swollen； and not likely to be of
service for many a day … perhaps weeks and it took all of his
fortitude not to lie down and weep over this last misfortune。
Again came the figure of that grim； kindly； strong old pioneer；
with the gray…blue eyes and his voice was saying： 〃Jest when
things looks about as black as they can look； if ye hold steady；
keep cool and kind； something sure happens to make it all easy。
There's always a way and the stout heart will find it。〃
What way was there for him？ He would die of hunger and cold
before Quonab could find him； and again came the spectre of fear。
If only he could devise some way of letting his comrade know。 He
shouted once or twice； in the faint hope that the still air might
carry the sound； but the silent wood was silent when he ceased。
Then one of his talks with Quonab came to mind。 He remembered how
the Indian； as a little papoose； had been lost for three days。
Though； then but ten years old； he had built a smoke fire that
brought him help。 Yes； that was the Indian way； two smokes means
〃I am lost〃； 〃double for trouble。〃
Fired by this new hope； Rolf crawled a little apart from his camp
and built a bright fire； then smothered it with rotten wood and
green leaves。 The column of smoke it sent up was densely white
and towered above the trees。
Then painfully he hobbled and crawled to a place one hundred
yards away； and made another smoke。 Now all he could do was wait。
A fat pigeon； strayed from its dock； sat on a bough above his
camp； in a way to tempt Providence。 Rolf drew a blunt arrow to
the head and speedily had the pigeon in hand for some future meal。
As he prepared it； he noticed that its crop was crammed with the
winged seed of the slippery elm； so he put them all back again
into the body when it was cleaned； knowing well that they are a
delicious food and in this case would furnish a welcome variant
to the bird itself。
An hour crawled by。 Rolf had to go out to the far fire； for it
was nearly dead。 Instinctively he sought a stout stick to help
him； then remembered how Hoag had managed with one leg and two
crutches。 〃Ho！〃 he exclaimed。 〃That is the answer this is the
'way。〃'
Now his attention was fixed on all the possible crutches。 The
trees seemed full of them； but all at impossible heights。 It was
long before he found one that he could cut with his knife。
Certainly he was an hour working at it； then he heard a sound
that made his blood jump。
From far away in the north it came； faint but reaching；
〃Ye…hoo…o。〃
Rolf dropped his knife and listened with the instinctively open
mouth that takes all pressure from the eardrums and makes them
keen。 It came again： 〃 Ye…hoo…o。〃 No mistake now； and Rolf sent
the ringing answer back：
〃Ye…hoo…o； ye…hoo…o。〃
In ten minutes there was a sharp 〃 yap； yap；〃 and Skookum bounded
out of the woods to leap and bark around Rolf； as though he knew
all about it； while a few minutes later； came Quonab striding。
〃Ho； boy；〃 he said； with a quiet smile； and took Rolf's hand。
〃Ugh！ That was good；〃 and he nodded to the smoke fire。 〃I knew
you were in trouble。〃
〃Yes；〃 and Rolf pointed to the swollen ankle。
The Indian picked up the lad in his arms and carried him back to
the little camp。 Then； from his light pack； he took bread and tea
and made a meal for both。 And； as they ate； each heard the
other's tale。
〃I was troubled when you did not come back last night； for you
had no food or blanket。 I did not sleep。 At dawn I went to the
hill； where I pray； and looked away southeast where you went in
the canoe。 I saw nothing。 Then I went to a higher hill； where I
could see the northeast； and even while I watched； I saw the two
smokes； so I knew my son was alive。〃
〃You mean to tell me I am northeast of camp？ 〃
〃About four miles。 I did not come very quickly； because I had to
go for the canoe and travel here。
〃How do you mean by canoe？〃 said Rolf； in surprise。
You are only half a mile from Jesup River；〃 was the reply。 〃I
soon bring you home。〃
It was incredible at first； but easy of proof。 With the hatchet
they made a couple of serviceable crutches and set out together。
In twenty minutes they were afloat in the canoe； in an hour they
were safely home again。
And Rolf pondered it not a little。 At the very moment of blackest
despair； the way had opened； and it had been so simple； so natural；
so effectual。 Surely； as long as he lived； he would remember it？
〃There is always a way； and the stout heart will find it。〃
Chapter 50。 Marketing the Fur
If Rolf had been at home with his mother； she would have rubbed
his black and swollen ankle with goose grease。 The medical man at
Stamford would have rubbed it with a carefully prepared and
secret ointment。 His Indian friend sang a little crooning song
and rubbed it with deer's fat。 All different； and all good；
because each did something to reassure the patient； to prove that
big things were doing on his behalf； and each helped the process
of nature by frequent massage。
Three times a day； Quonab rubbed that blackened ankle。 The grease
saved the skin from injury； and in a week Rolf had thrown his
crutches away。
The month of May was nearly gone； June was at hand； that is； the
spring was over。 ！
In all ages； man has had the impulse； if not the habit； of spring
migration。 Yielding to it he either migrated or made some radical
change in his life。 Most of the Adirondack men who trapped in the
winter sought work on the log drives in spring； some who had
families and a permanent home set about planting potatoes and
plying the fish nets。 Rolf and Quonab having neither way open；
yet feeling the impulse； decided to go out to Warren's with the fur。
Quonab wanted tobacco and a change。
Rolf wanted a rifle； and to see the Van Trumpers and a change。
So June Ist saw them all aboard； with Quonab steering at the
stern； and Skookum bow…wowing at the bow； bound for the great
centre of Warren's settlement one store and three houses； very
wide apart。
There was a noble flush of water in the streams； and； thanks to
their axe work in September； they passed down Jesup's River
without a pause； and camped on the Hudson that night； fully
twenty…five miles from home。
Long； stringing flocks of pigeons going north were the most
numerous forms of life。 But a porcupine on the bank and a bear in
the water aroused Skookum to a pitch of frightful enthusiasm and
vaulting ambition that he was forced to restrain。
On the evening of the third day they landed at Warren's and found
a hearty welcome from the trader； who left a group of loafers and
came forward：
〃Good day to ye； boy。 My； how ye have growed。〃
So he had。 Neither Rolf nor Quonab had remarked it； but now they
were much of the same height。 〃Wall； an' how'd ye make out with
yer hunt？ Ah； that's fine！〃 as each of them dropped a fur pack
on the counter。 〃Wall； this is fine； we must have a drink on the
head of it；〃 and the trader was somewhat nonplussed when both the
trappers refused。 He was disappointed； too； for that refusal
meant that they would get much better prices for their fun But he
concealed his chagrin and rattled on： 〃I reckon I'll sell you the
finest rifle in the country this time； 〃and he knew by Rolf's
face that there was business to do in that line。
Now came the listing of the fur； and naturally the bargaining was
between the shrewd Yankee boy and the trader。 The Indian stood
shyly aside； but he did not fail to help with significant grunts
and glances。
〃There； now；〃 said Warren； as the row of martens were laid out
side by side； 〃 thirty martens a leetle pale worth three
dollars and fifty cents each； or； to be generous； we'll say four
dollars。〃 Rolf glanced at Quonab； who； unseen by the trader shook
his head； held his right hand out； open hollow up； then raised it
with a jerk for two inches。
Quickly Rolf caught the idea and said； 〃No； I don't reckon them
pale。 I call them prime dark； every one of them。〃 Quonab spread
his hand with all five fingers pointed up； and Rolf continued；
〃They are worth five dollars each； if they're worth a copper。〃
〃Phew！〃 said th