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the deer to be in fighting humour。
Flat on his breast the Indian lay。 His knees and elbow seemed to
develop centipedic power； his head was a mere clump of growing
stuff。 He snaked his way quietly for twenty…five yards； then came
to the open； sloping shore； with the river forty yards wide of
level shining ice； all in plain view of the deer； how was this to
be covered？
There is a well…known peculiarity of the white tail that the
Indian was counting on； when its head is down grazing； even
though not hidden； the deer does not see distant objects； before
the head is raised； its tail is raised or shaken。 Quonab knew
that if he could keep the tail in view； he could avoid being
viewed by the head。 In a word； only an ill…timed movement or a
whiff could betray him。
The open ice was； of course； a hard test； and the hunter might
have failed； but that his long form looked like one of the logs
that were lying about half stranded or frozen in the stream。
Watching ever the alert head and tail； he timed his approach；
working hard and moving East when the head was down； but when
warned by a tail…jerk he turned to a log nor moved a muscle。 Once
the ice was crossed； the danger of being seen was less； but of
being smelt was greater； for the deer was moving about； and
Quonab watched the smoke from the cabin for knowledge of the
wind。 So he came within fifty yards； and the buck； still sniffing
along and eagerly champing the few red cranberries it found above
the frozen moss； was working toward a somewhat higher cover。 The
herbage was now fully eighteen inches high； and Quonab moved a
little faster。 The buck found a large patch of berries under a
tussock and dropped on its knees to pick them out； while Quonab
saw the chance and gained ten yards before the tail gave warning。
After so long a feeding…spell； the buck took an extra long
lookout； and then walked toward the timber； whereby the Indian
lost all he had gained。 But the browser's eye was drawn by a
shining bunch of red； then another； and now the buck swung until
there was danger of betrayal by the wind； then down went its head
and Quonab retreated ten yards to keep the windward。 Once the
buck raised its muzzle and sniffed with flaring nostrils； as
though its ancient friend had brought a warning。 But soon he
seemed reassured； for the landscape showed no foe； and nosed back
and forth； while Quonab regained the yards he had lost。 The buck
worked now to the taller cover； and again a tempting bunch of
berries under a low； dense bush caused it to kneel for farther
under…reaching。 Quonab glided swiftly forward； reached the
twenty…five…yard limit； rose to one knee； bent the stark cedar
bow。 Rolf saw the buck bound in air； then make for the wood with
great； high leaps； the dash of disappointment was on him； but
Quonab stood erect； with right hand raised； and shouted：
〃Ho ho。〃
He knew that those bounds were unnecessarily high； and before the
woods had swallowed up the buck； it fell rose and fell
again； to rise not。 The arrow had pierced its heart。
Then Rolf rushed up with kindled eye and exultant pride to slap
his friend on the back； and exclaim：
〃I never thought it possible； the greatest feat in hunting I ever
saw； you are a wonder！〃
To which the Indian softly replied； as he smiled：
〃Ho！ it was so I got eleven British sentries in the war。 They
gave me a medal with Washington's head。〃
〃They did！ how is it I never heard of it？ Where is it？〃
The Indian's face darkened。 〃I threw it after the ship that stole
my Gamowini。〃
Chapter 67。 Rolf Meets a Canuck
The winter might have been considered eventful； had not so many
of the events been repetitions of former experience。 But there
were several that by their newness deserve a place on these
pages； as they did in Rolf's memory。
One of them happened soon after the first sharp frost。 It had
been an autumn of little rain； so that many ponds had dried up；
with the result that hundreds of muskrats were forced out to seek
more habitable quarters。 The first time Rolf saw one of these
stranded mariners on its overland journey； he gave heedless
chase。 At first it made awkward haste to escape； then a second
muskrat was discovered just ahead； and a third。 This added to
Rolf's interest。 In a few bounds he was among them； but it was to
get a surprise。 Finding themselves overtaken； the muskrats turned
in desperation and attacked the common enemy with courage and
fury。 Rolf leaped over the first； but the second sprang； caught
him by the slack of the trouser leg； and hung on。 The third flung
itself on his foot and drove its sharp teeth through the
moccasin。 Quickly the first rallied and sprang on his other leg
with all the force of its puny paws； and powerful jaws。
Meanwhile Quonab was laughing aloud and holding back Skookum；
who； breathing fire and slaughter； was mad to be in the fight。
〃Ho！ a good fight！ good musquas！ Ho； Skookum； you must not always
take care of him； or he will not learn to go alone。
〃Ugh； good！〃 as the third muskrat gripped Rolf by the calf。
There could be but one finish； and that not long delayed。 A
well…placed kick on one； the second swung by the tail； the third
crushed under his heel； and the affair ended。 Rolf had three
muskrats and five cuts。 Quonab had much joy and Skookum a sense
of lost opportunity。
〃This we should paint on the wigwam；〃 said Quonab。 〃Three great
warriors attacked one Sagamore。 They were very brave； but he was
Nibowaka and very strong； he struck them down as the Thunderbird；
Hurakan； strikes the dead pines the fire has left on the hilltop
against the sky。 Now shall you eat their hearts； for they were
brave。 My father told me a fighting muskrat's heart is great
medicine； for he seeks peace while it is possible； then he turns
and fights without fear。〃
A few days later； they sighted a fox。 In order to have a joke on
Skookum； they put him on its track； and away he went； letting off
his joy…whoops at every jump。 The men sat down to wait； knowing
full well that after an hour Skookum would come back with a long
tongue and an air of depression。 But they were favoured with an
unexpected view of the chase。 It showed a fox bounding over the
snow； and not twenty yards behind was their energetic four…legged
colleague。
And； still more unexpected； the fox was overtaken in the next
thicket； shaken to limpness； and dragged to be dropped at
Quonab's feet。 This glorious victory by Skookum was less
surprising； when a closer examination showed that the fox had
been in a bad way。 Through some sad； sudden indiscretion； he had
tackled a porcupine and paid the penalty。 His mouth； jaws and
face； neck and legs； were bristling with quills。 He was sick and
emaciated。 He could not have lasted many days longer； and
Skookum's summary lynching was a blessing in disguise。
The trappers' usual routine was varied by a more important
happening。 One day of deep snow in January； when they were
running the northern line on Racquet River； they camped for the
night at their shelter cabin； and were somewhat surprised at dusk
to hear a loud challenge from Skookum replied to by a human
voice； and a short man with black whiskers appeared。 He raised
one hand in token of friendliness and was invited to come in。
He was a French Canadian from La Colle Mills。 He had trapped here
for some years。 The almost certainty of war between Canada and
the States had kept his usual companions away。 So he had trapped
alone； always a dangerous business； and had gathered a lot of
good fur； but had fallen on the ice and hurt himself inwardly； so
that he had no strength。 He could tramp out on snowshoes； but
could not carry his pack of furs。 He had long known that he had
neighbours on the south； the camp fire smoke proved that； and he
had come now to offer all his furs for sale。
Quonab shook his head； but Rolf said； 〃We'll come over and see
them。〃
A two…hours' tramp in the morning brought them to the Frenchman's
cabin。 He opened out his furs； several otter； many sable； some
lynx； over thirty beaver the whole lot for two hundred
dollars。 At Lyons Falls they were worth double that。
Rolf saw a chance for a bargain。 He whispered； 〃We can double our
money on it； Quonab。 What do ye say？〃
The reply was simply； 〃Ugh！ you are Nibowaka。〃
〃We'll take your offer； if we can fix it up about payment； for I
have no money with me and barely two hundred dollars at the
cabin。〃
〃You half tabac and grosairs？ 〃
〃Yes； plenty。〃
〃You can go 'get 'em ？ Si？〃
Rolf paused； looked down； then straight at the Frenchman。
〃Will you trust me to take half the fur now； when I come back
with the pay I can get the rest。〃
The Frenchman looked puzzled； then； 〃By Gar you look de good
look。 I let um go。 I tink you pretty good fellow； parbleu！〃
So Rolf march