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Quonab。 Most Indians are merely tall children。
But there was one thing that Rolf did think of he
had no right to live in Quonab's lodge without contributing
a fair share of the things needful。 Quonab got his living
partly by hunting； partly by fishing； partly by selling
baskets； and partly by doing odd jobs for the neighbours。
Rolf's training as a loafer had been wholly neglected； and
when he realized that he might be all summer with Quonab
he said bluntly：
〃You let me stay here a couple of months。 I'll work
out odd days； and buy enough stuff to keep myself any
way。〃 Quonab said nothing； but their eyes met； and the
boy knew it was agreed to。
Rolf went that very day to the farm of Obadiah Timpany；
and offered to work by the day； hoeing corn and root
crops。 What farmer is not glad of help in planting time
or in harvest？ It was only a question of what did he know
and how much did he want？ The first was soon made
clear； two dollars a week was the usual thing for boys in
those times； and when he offered to take it half in trade；
he was really getting three dollars a week and his board。
Food was as low as wages； and at the end of a week； Rolf
brought back to camp a sack of oatmeal； a sack of cornmeal；
a bushel of potatoes； a lot of apples； and one dollar
cash。 The dollar went for tea and sugar； and the total
product was enough to last them both a month； so Rolf
could share the wigwam with a good conscience。
Of course； it was impossible to keep the gossipy little
town of Myanos from knowing； first； that the Indian had
a white boy for partner； and； later； that that boy was Rolf。
This gave rise to great diversity of opinion in the
neighbourhood。 Some thought it should not be allowed； but
Horton； who owned the land on which Quonab was camped； could
not see any reason for interfering。
Ketchura Peck； spinster； however； did see many most
excellent reasons。 She was a maid with a mission； and
maintained it to be an outrage that a Christian boy should
be brought up by a godless pagan。 She worried over it
almost as much as she did over the heathen in Central
Africa； where there are no Sunday schools； and clothes
are as scarce as churches。 Failing to move Parson Peck
and Elder Knapp in the matter； and despairing of an early
answer to her personal prayers； she resolved on a bold move；
〃An' it was only after many a sleepless； prayerful night；〃
namely； to carry the Bible into the heathen's stronghold。
Thus it was that one bright morning in June she might
have been seen； prim and proper almost glorified； she
felt； as she set her lips just right in the mirror making
for the Pipestave Pond； Bible in hand and spectacles clean
wiped； ready to read appropriate selections to the unregenerate。
She was full of the missionary spirit when she left Myanos；
and partly full when she reached the Orchard Street Trail；
but the spirit was leaking badly； and the woods did appear
so wild and lonely that she wondered if women had any
right to be missionaries。 When she came in sight of the
pond； the place seemed unpleasantly different from Myanos
and where was the Indian camp？ She did not dare to
shout； indeed； she began to wish she were home again；
but the sense of duty carried her fully fifty yards along the
pond； and then she came to an impassable rock； a sheer
bank that plainly said； 〃Stop！〃 Now she must go back
or up the bank。 Her Yankee pertinacity said； 〃Try first
up the bank；〃 and she began a long； toilsome ascent；
that did not end until she came out on a bigh； open rock
which； on its farther side； had a sheer drop and gave a
view of the village and of the sea。
Whatever joy she had on again seeing her bome was
speedily queued in the fearsome discovery that she was
right over the Indian camp； and the two inmates looked so
utterly； dreadfully savage that she was thankful they had
not seen her。 At once she shrank back； but on recovering
sufficiently to again peer down； she saw something roasting
before the fire 〃a tiny arm with a hand that bore
five fmgers；〃 as she afterward said； and 〃a sickening
horror came over her。 〃 Yes； she had heard of such things。
If she could only get home in safety！ Why had she
tempted Providence thus？ She backed softly and prayed
only to escape。 What； and never even deliver the Bible？
〃It would be wicked to return with it！〃 In a cleft of
the rock she placed it； and then； to prevent the wind
blowing off loose leaves； she placed a stone on top； and
fled from the dreadful place。
That night； when Quonab and Rolf had finished their
meal of corn and roasted coon； the old man climbed the
rock to look at the sky。 The book caught his eye at once；
evidently hidden there carefully； and therefore in cache。
A cache is a sacred thing to an Indian。 He disturbed it
not； but later asked Rolf； 〃That yours？〃
〃No。〃
It was doubtless the property of some one who meant
to return for it； so they left it untouched。 It rested
there for many months； till the winter storms came down；
dismantling the covers； dissolving the pages； but leaving
such traces as； in the long afterward； served to identify
the book and give the rock the other name； the one it
bears to…day … 〃Bible Rock； where Quonab； the son of
Cos Cob； used to live。〃
Chapter 8。 The Law of Property Among Our Four…Footed Kin
Night came down on the Asamuk woods； and the two in the wigwam
were eating their supper of pork； beans； and tea； for the Indian
did not； by any means object to the white man's luxuries； when a
strange 〃yap…yurr〃 was heard out toward the plain。 The dog was up
at once with a growl。 Rolf looked inquiringly； and Quonab said；
〃Fox；〃 then bade the dog be still。
〃Yap…yurr； yap…yurr；〃 and then； 〃yurr； yeow；〃 it came again and
again。 〃Can we get him？〃 said the eager young hunter。 The
Indian shook his head。
〃Fur no good now。 An' that's a she…one； with young ones on the
hillside。〃
〃How do you know？〃 was the amazed inquiry。 〃I know it's a
she…one； 'cause she says：
〃Yap…yurr〃 （high pitched）
If it was a he…one he'd say：
〃Yap…yurr〃 （low pitched）
〃And she has cubs； 'cause all have at this season。 And they are
on that hillside； because that's the nearest place where any fox
den is； and they keep pretty much to their own hunting grounds。
If another fox should come hunting on the beat of this pair； he'd
have to fight for it。 That is the way of the wild animals； each
has his own run； and for that he will fight an outsider that he
would be afraid of at any other place。 One knows he is right
that braces him up； the other knows he is wrong and that
weakens him。〃 Those were the Indian's views； expressed much less
connectedly than here given； and they led Rolf on to a train of
thought。 He remembered a case that was much to the point。
Their little dog Skookum several times had been worsted by the
dog on the Horton farm； when； following his master； he had come
into the house yard。 There was no question that the Horton dog
was stronger。 But Skookum had buried a bone under some brushes
by the plain and next day the hated Horton dog appeared。 Skookum
watched him with suspicion and fear； until it was no longer
doubtful that the enemy had smelled the hidden food and was going
for it。 Then Skookum； braced up by some instinctive feeling；
rushed forward with bristling mane and gleaming teeth； stood over
his cache； and said in plainest dog； 〃You can't touch that while
I live！〃
And the Horton dog accustomed to domineer over the small
yellow cur growled contemptuously； scratched with his hind
feet； smelled around an adjoining bush； and pretending not to see
or notice； went off in another direction。
What was it that robbed him of his courage； but the knowledge
that he was in the wrong？
Continuing with his host Rolf said； 〃Do you think they have any
idea that it is wrong to steal？〃
〃Yes； so long as it is one of their own tribe。 A fox will take
all he can get from a bird or a rabbit or a woodchuck； but he
won't go far on the hunting grounds of another fox。 He won't go
into another fox's den or touch one of its young ones； and if he
finds a cache of food with another fox's mark on it； he won't
touch it unless he is near dead of hunger。〃
〃How do you mean they cache food and how do they mark it？〃
〃Generally they bury it under the leaves and soft earth； and the
only mark is to leave their body scent。 But that is strong
enough； and every fox knows it。〃
〃Do wolves make food caches？〃
〃Yes； wolves； cougars； weasels； squirrels； bluejays； crows； owls；
mice； all do； and all have their own way of marking a place。〃
〃Suppose a fox finds a wolf cache； will he steal from it？〃
〃Yes； always。 There is no law between fox and wolf。 They are
always at war with each other。 There is law only between fox and
fo