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one。 〃You surely allow that the British government is trying to
do right； and after all we must admit that that Jilson affair
resected very little credit on our own administration。〃
〃A man ken make one awful big mistake an' still be all right； but
he can't go on making a little mistake every day right along an'
be fit company for a clean crowd；〃 retorted the new senator。
At length the governor rose and led the way to the drawing…room；
where they rejoined the ladies and the conversation took on a
different colour and weight； by which it lost all value for those
who knew not the art of twittering persiflage and found less joy
in a handkerchief flirtation than in the nation's onward march。
Rolf and Quonab enjoyed it now about as much as Skookum had done
all the time。
Chapter 65。 The Grebes and the Singing Mouse
Quonab puzzled long over the amazing fact that young Van
Cortlandt had evident high standing 〃in his own tribe。〃 〃He must
be a wise counsellor； for I know he cannot fight and is a fool at
hunting；〃 was the ultimate decision。
They had a final interview with the governor and his son before
they left。 Rolf received for himself and his partner the promised
one hundred and fifty dollars； and the hearty thanks of all in
the governor's home。 Next； each was presented with a handsome
hunting knife； not unlike the one young Van had carried； but
smaller。 Quonab received his with 〃Ho then； after a pause； 〃He
pull out； maybe； when I need him。〃 〃Ho！ good！〃 he exclaimed；
as the keen blade appeared。
〃Now； Rolf；〃 said the lawyer； 〃I want to come back next year and
bring three companions； and we will pay you at the same rate per
month for each。 What do you say？〃
〃Glad to have you again；〃 said Rolf： 〃we'll come for you on
August fifteenth； but remember you should bring your guitar and
your spectacles。〃
〃One word；〃 said the governor； 〃do you know the canoe route
through Champlain to Canada？ 〃
〃Quonab does。〃
〃Could you undertake to render scout service in that region？〃
The Indian nodded。
〃In case of war； we may need you both； so keep your ears open。〃
And once more the canoe made for the north； with Quonab in the
stern and Skookum in the bow。
In less than a week they were home； and none too soon； for
already the trees were bare； and they had to break the ice on the
river before they ended their trip。
Rolf had gathered many ideas the last two…months。 He did not
propose to continue all his life as a trapper。 He wanted to see
New York。 He wanted to plan for the future。 He needed money for
his plans。 He and Quonab had been running a hundred miles of
traps； but some men run more than that single handed。 They must
get out two new lines at once； before the frost came。 One of
these they laid up the Hudson； above Eagle's Nest； the other
northerly on Blue Mountain； toward Racquet River。 Doing this was
hard work； and when they came again to their cabin the robins had
gone from the bleak and leafless woods； the grouse were making
long night flights； the hollows had tracks of racing deer； there
was a sense of omen； a length of gloom； for the Mad Moon was
afloat in the shimmering sky； its wan light ghasted all the
hills。
Next day the lake was covered with thin； glare ice； on the glassy
surface near the shore were two ducks floundering。 The men went
as near as they could； and Quonab said； 〃 No； not duck； but
Shingebis； divers。
They cannot rise except from water。 In the night the new ice
looks like water； they come down and cannot rise。 I have often
seen it。〃 Two days after； a harder frost came on。 The ice was
safe for a dog； the divers or grebes were still on its surface。
So they sent Skookum。 He soon returned with two beautiful grebes；
whose shining； white breast feathers are as much prized as some
furs。
Quonab grunted as he held them up。 〃Ugh； it is often so in this
Mad Moon。 My father said it is because of Kaluskap's dancing。〃
〃I don't remember that one。〃
〃Yes； long ago。 Kaluskap felt lazy。 He wanted to eat； but did not
wish to hunt； so he called the bluejay and said： 'Tell all the
woods that to…morrow night Kaluskap gives a new dance and teaches
a new song；' and he told the hoot owl to do the same； so one kept
it up all day 'Kaluskap teaches a new dance to…morrow night；'
and the other kept it up all night： 'Kaluskap teaches a new song
at next council。'
〃Thus it came about that all the woods and waters sent their folk
to the dance。
〃Then Kaluskap took his song…drum and said： 'When I drum and sing
you must dance in a circle the same way as the sun； close your
eyes tightly； and each one shout his war whoop； as I cry 〃new
songs〃！'
〃So all began； with Kaluskap drumming in the middle； singing：
〃'New songs from the south； brothers； Close your eyes tightly；
brothers； Dance and learn a new song。
〃As they danced around； he picked out the fattest； and； reaching
out one hand； seized them and twisted their necks； shouting out；
'More war…cries； more poise！ that's it； now you are learning！'
〃At length Shingebis the diver began to have his doubts and he
cautiously opened one eye； saw the trick； and shouted： 'Fly；
brothers； fly！ Kaluskap is killing us ！'
〃Then all was confusion。 Every one tried to escape； and Kaluskap；
in revenge； tried to kill the Shingebis。 But the diver ran for
the water and； just as he reached the edge； Kaluskap gave him a
kick behind that sent him half a mile； but it knocked off all his
tail feathers and twisted his shape so that ever since his legs
have stuck out where his tail was； and he cannot rise from the
land or the ice。 I know it is so； for my father； Cos Cob； told me
it was true； and we ourselves have seen it。 It is ever so。 To go
against Kaluskap brings much evil to brood over。〃
A few nights later； as they sat by their fire in the cabin； a
curious squeaking was heard behind the logs。 They had often heard
it before； but never so much as now。 Skookum turned his head on
one side； set his ears at forward cock。 Presently； from a hole
'twixt logs and chimney； there appeared a small； white breasted
mouse。
Its nose and ears shivered a little； its black eyes danced in the
firelight。 It climbed up to a higher log； scratched its ribs；
then rising on its hind legs； uttered one or two squeaks like
those they had heard so often； but soon they became louder and
continuous：
〃Peg； peo； peo； peo； peo； peo； peo； oo。 Tree； tree； tree； tree；
trrrrrrr； Turr； turr； turr； tur； tur； Wee； wee； wee； we 〃
The little creature was sitting up high on its hind legs； its
belly muscles were working； its mouth was gaping as it poured out
its music。 For fully half a minute this went on； when Skookum
made a dash； but the mouse was quick and it flashed into the
safety of its cranny。
Rolf gazed at Quonab inquiringly。
〃That is Mish…a…boh…quas； the singing mouse。 He always comes to
tell of war。 In a little while there will be fighting。〃
Chapter 66。 A Lesson in Stalking
Did you ever see any fighting； Quonab？〃
〃Ugh！ In Revolution； scouted for General Gates。〃
〃Judging by the talk； we're liable to be called on before a year。
What will you do？ 〃
〃Fight。〃
〃As soldier？〃
〃No！ scout。〃
〃They may not want us。〃
〃Always want scouts；〃 replied the Indian。
〃It seems to me I ought to start training now。〃
〃You have been training。〃
〃How is that？〃
〃A scout is everything that an army is； but it's all in one man。
An' he don't have to keep step。〃
〃I see； I see；〃 replied Rolf； and he realized that a scout is
merely a trained hunter who is compelled by war to hunt his
country's foes instead of the beasts of the woods。
〃See that？〃 said the Indian； and he pointed to a buck that was
nosing for cranberries in the open expanse across the river where
it left the lake。 〃Now； I show you scouting。〃 He glanced at the
smoke from the fire； found it right for his plan； and said： 〃See！
I take my bow。 No cover； yet I will come close and kill that
deer。〃
Then began a performance that was new to Rolf； and showed that
the Indian had indeed reached the highest pitch of woodcraft。 He
took his bow and three good arrows； tied a band around his head；
and into this stuck a lot of twigs and vines； so that his head
looked like a tussock of herbage。 Then he left the shanty door；
and； concealed by the last bushes on the edge； he reached the
open plain。 Two hundred yards off was the buck； nosing among the
herbage； and； from time to time； raising its superb head and
columnar neck to look around。 There was no cover but creeping
herbage。 Rolf suspected that the Indian would decoy the buck by
some whistle or challenge； for the thickness of its neck showed
the deer to be in fighting humour。
Flat on his breast the Indian lay。 His knees and elbow seemed to
develop