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〃They are worth five dollars each； if they're worth a copper。〃
〃Phew！〃 said the trader。 〃you forget fur is an awful risky thing；
what with mildew； moth； mice； and markets； we have a lot of risk。
But I want to please you； so let her go； five each。 There's a
fine black fox； that's worth forty dollars。〃
〃I should think it is；〃 said Rolf； as Quonab； by throwing to his
right an imaginary pinch of sand； made the sign 〃refuse。〃
They had talked over the value of that fox skin and Rolf said；
〃Why； I know of a black fox that sold for two hundred dollars。〃
〃Where？〃
〃Oh； down at Stamford。〃
〃Why； that's near New York。〃
〃Of course； don't you send your fur to New York？〃
〃Yes； but it costs a lot to get it there。
〃Now；〃 said Warren； 〃if you'll take it in trade； I'll meet you
half…way and call it one hundred dollars。〃
〃Make it one hundred and twenty…five dollars and I'll take a
rifle； anyway。〃
〃Phew！〃 whistled the trader。 〃Where do ye get such notions？ 〃
〃Nothing wrong about the notion； old Si Sylvanne offered me
pretty near that； if I'd come out his way with the stuff。〃
This had the desired effect of showing that there were other
traders。 At last the deal was closed。 Besides the fox skin； they
had three hundred dollars' worth of fur。 The exchange for the fox
skin was enough to buy all the groceries and dry goods they
needed。 But Rolf had something else in mind。
He had picked out some packages of candies； some calico prints
and certain bright ribbons； when the trader grasped the idea。 〃I
see； yer goin' visitin'。 Who is it？ Must be the Van Trumpers！ 〃
Rolf nodded and now he got some very intelligent guidance。 He did
not buy Annette's dress； because part of her joy was to be the
expedition in person to pick it out； but he stocked up with some
gorgeous pieces of jewellery that were ten cents each； and
ribbons whose colours were as far beyond expression as were the
joys they could create in the backwoods female heart。
Proudly clutching his new rlile； and carrying in his wallet a
memorandum of three hundred dollars for their joint credit； Rolf
felt himself a person of no little impor… tance。 As he was
stepping out of the store； the trader said； 〃Ye didn't run across
Jack Hoag agin； did ye？〃
〃Did we？ Hmph！〃 and Rolf told briefly of their experience with
that creature。
〃Just like him； just like him； served him right； he was a dirty
cuss。 But； say； don't you be led into taking your fur out Lyons
Falls way。 They're a mean lot in there； and it stands to reason I
can give you better prices； being a hundred miles nearer New
York。〃
And that lesson was not forgotten。 The nearer New York the better
the price； seventy…five dollars at Lyons Falls； one hundred and
twenty…five dollars at Warren's； two hundred dollars at New York。
Rolf pondered long and the idea was one which grew and bore
fruit。
Chapter 51。 Back at Van Trumper's
Nibowaka〃 Quonab always said 〃Nibowaka〃 when he was impressed
with Rolf's astuteness 〃What about the canoe and stuff？〃
〃I think we better leave all here。 Callan will lend us a canoe。〃
So they shouldered the guns； Rolf clung to his； and tramped
across the portage； reaching Callan's in less than two hours。
〃Why； certainly you can have the canoe； but come in and eat
first；〃 was the kindly backwoods greeting。 However； Rolf was keen
to push on； they launched the canoe at once and speedily were
flashing their paddles on the lake。
The place looked sweetly familiar as they drew near。 The crops in
the fields were fair； the crop of chickens at the barn was good；
and the crop of children about the door was excellent。
〃Mein Hemel！ mein Hemel！ 〃 shouted fat old Hendrik； as they
walked up to the stable door。 In a minute he was wringing their
hands and smiling into great red； white； and blue smiles。 〃Coom
in； coom in； lad。 Hi； Marta； here be Rolf and Quonab。 Mein Hemel！
mein Hemel！ what am I now so happy。〃
〃Where's Annette？〃 asked Rolf。
〃Ach； poor Annette； she fever have a little； not mooch； some；〃
and he led over to a corner where on a low cot lay Annette； thin；
pale； and listless。
She smiled faintly； in response； when Rolf stooped and kissed her。
〃Why； Annette； I came back to see you。 I want to take you over to
Warren's store； so you can pick out that dress。 See； I brought
you my first marten and I made this box for you； you must thank
Skookum for the quills on it。〃
〃Poor chile； she bin sick all spring；〃 and Marta used a bunch of
sedge to drive away the flies and mosquitoes that； bass and
treble； hovered around the child。
〃What ails her？〃 asked Rolf anxiously。
〃Dot ve do not know；〃 was the reply。
〃Maybe there's some one here can tell；〃 and Roll glanced at the Indian。
〃Ach； sure！ Have I you that not always told all…vays eet is so。
All…vays； I want sumpin bad mooch。 I prays de good Lord and all…vays；
all…vays； two times now； He it send by next boat。 Ach； how I am spoil；〃
and the good Dutchman's eyes filled with tears of thankfulness。
Quonab knelt by the sufferer。 He felt her hot； dry hand； he
noticed her short； quick breathing； her bright eyes； and the
untouched bowl of mush by her bed。
〃Swamp fever；〃 he said。 〃I bring good medicine。〃 He passed
quietly out into the woods。 When he returned； he carried a bundle
of snake…root which he made into tea。
Annette did not wish to touch it； but her mother persuaded her to
take a few sips from a cup held by Rolf。
〃Wah！ this not good；〃 and Quonab glanced about the close；
fly…infested room。 〃I must make lodge。〃 He turned up the cover of
the bedding； three or four large； fiat brown things moved slowly
out of the light。 〃Yes； I make lodge。〃
It was night now； and all retired； the newcomers to the barn。
They had scarcely entered； when a screaming of poultry gave a
familiar turn to affairs。 On running to the spot； it proved not a
mink or coon； but Skookum； up to his old tricks。 On the appearance
of his masters； he fled with guilty haste； crouched beneath the post
that he used to be； and soon again was； chained to。
In the morning Quonab set about his lodge； and Rolf said： 〃I've
got to go to Warren's for sugar。〃 The sugar was part truth and
part blind。 As soon as he heard the name swamp fever； Rolf
remembered that； in Redding； Jesuit's bark （known later as
quinine） was the sovereign remedy。 He had seen his mother
administer it many times； and； so far as he knew； with uniform
success。 Every frontier （or backwoods； it's the same） trader
carries a stock of medicine； and in two hours Rolf left Warren's
counter with twenty…five pounds of maple sugar and a bottle of
quinine extract in his pack。
〃You say she's bothered with the flies； why don't you take some
of this new stuff for a curtain？ 〃 and the trader held up a web
of mosquito gauze； the first Rolf had seen。 That surely was a
good idea； and ten yards snipped off was a most interesting
addition to his pack。 The amount was charged against him； and in
two hours more he was back at Van Trumper's。
On the cool side of the house； Quonab had built a little lodge；
using a sheet for cover。 On a low bed of pine boughs lay the
child。 Near the door was a smouldering fire of cedar； whose
aromatic fumes on the lazy wind reached every cranny of the lodge。
Sitting by the bed head； with a chicken wing to keep off the few
mosquitoes； was the Indian。 The child's eyes were closed； she was
sleeping peacefully。 Rolf crept gently forward； laid his hand on
hers； it was cool and moist。 He went into the house with his
purchases； the mother greeted him with a happy look： Yes； Annette
was a little better； she had slept quietly ever since she was
taken outdoors。 The mother could not understand。 Why should the
Indian want to have her surrounded by pine boughs？ why
cedar…smoke？ and why that queer song？ Yes； there it was again。
Rolf went out to see and hear。 Softly summing on a tin pan； with
a mudded stick； the Indian sang a song。 The words which Rolf
learned in the after… time were：
〃Come； Kaluskap； drive the witches； Those who came to harm the
dear one。〃
Annette moved not； but softly breathed； as she slept a sweet；
restful slumber； the first for many days。
〃Vouldn't she be better in de house？〃 whispered the anxious mother。
〃No； let Quonab do his own way；〃 and Rolf wondered if any white
man had sat by little Wee…wees to brush away the flies from his
last bed。
Chapter 52。 Annette's New Dress
Deep feelin's ain't any count by themselves； work 'em off； an'
ye're somebody； weep 'em off an' you'd be more use with a heart
o' stone Sayings of Si Sylvanne。
Quonab； I am going out to get her a partridge。〃 〃Ugh； good。〃
So Rolf went off。 For a moment he was inclined to grant Skookom's
prayer for leave to； follow； but another and better plan came in
mind。 S