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〃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
fox； or wolf and wolf。〃
〃That is like ourselves； ain't it？ We say； 'Thou shalt not
steal；' and then when we steal the Indian's land or the
Frenchman's ships； we say； 'Oh； that don't mean not steal from
our enemies； they are fair game。'〃
Quonab rose to throw some sticks on the fire； then went out to
turn the smoke flap of the wigwam； for the wind was changed and
another set was needed to draw the smoke。 They heard several
times again the high…pitched 〃yap yurr；〃 and once the deeper
notes； which told that the dog fox； too； was near the camp； and
was doubtless seeking food to carry home。
Chapter 9。 Where the Bow Is Better Than the Gun
Of all popular errors about the Indians； the hardest to down is
the idea that their women do all the work。 They do the
housework； it is true； but all the heavy labour beyond their
strength is done by the men。 Examples of this are seen in the
frightful toil of hunting； canoeing； and portaging； besides a
multitude of kindred small tasks； such as making snowshoes； bows；
arrows； and canoes。
Each warrior usually makes his own bow and arrows； and if； as
often happens； one of them proves more skilful and turns out
better weapons； it is a common thing for others to offer their
own specialty in exchange。
The advantages of the bow over the gun are chiefly its
noiselessness； its cheapness； and the fact that one can make its
ammunition anywhere。 As the gun chiefly used in Quonab's time
was the old…fashioned； smooth…bore flint…lock； there was not much
difference in the accuracy of the two weapons。 Quonab had always
made a highclass bow； as well as high…class arrows； and was a
high… class shot。 He could set up ten clam shells at ten paces
and break all in ten shots。 For at least half of his hunting he
preferred the bow； the gun was useful to him chiefly when flocks
of wild pigeons or ducks were about； and a single charge of
scattering shot might bring down a dozen birds。
But there is a law in all shooting to be expert； you must
practise continually and when Rolf saw his host shoot nearly
every day at some mark； he tried to join in the sport。
It took not many trys to show that the bow was far too strong for
him to use； and Quonab was persuaded at length to make an outfit
for his visitor。
From the dry store hole under the rock； he produced a piece of
common red cedar。 Some use hickory； it is less liable to break
and will stand more abuse； but it has not the sharp； clean action
of cedar。 The latter will send the arrow much farther； and so
swiftly does it leave the string that it baffles the eye。 But
the cedar bow must be cared for like a delicate machine；
overstring it； and it breaks； twang it without an arrow； and it
sunders the cords； scratch it； and it may splinter； wet it； and
it is dead； let it lie on the ground； even； and it is weakened。
But guard it and it will serve you as a matchless servant； and as
can no other timber in these woods。
Just where the red heart and the white sap woods join is the
bowman's choice。 A piece that reached from Rolf's chin to the
ground was shaved down till it was flat on the white side and
round on the red side； tapering from the middle； where it was one
inch wide and one inch thick to the ends； where it was three
fourths of an inch wide and five eighths of an inch thick； the
red and white wood equal in all parts。
The string was made of sinew from the back of a cow； split from
the long； broad sheath that lies on each side the spine； and the
bow strung for trial。 Now； on drawing it （flat or white side in
front）； it was found that one arm bent more than the other； so a
little more scraping was done on the strong side； till both bent
alike。
Quonab's arrows would answer； but Rolf needed a supply of his
own。 Again there was great choice of material。 The long；
straight shoots ol' the arrowwood （Viburnuin dentatum） supplied
the ancient Indians； but Quonab had adopted a better way； since
the possession of an axe made it possible。 A 25…inch block of
straight…grained ash was split and split until it yielded enough
pieces。 These were shaved down to one fourth of an inch tbick；
round； smooth； and perfectly straight。 Each was notched deeply
at one end； three pieces of split goose feather were lashed on
the notched end； and three different kinds of arrows were made。
All were alike in shaft and in feathering； but differed in the
head。 First； the target arrows： these were merely sharpened； and
the points hardened by roasting to a brown colour。 They would
have been better with conical points of steel； but none of these
were to be had。 Second； the ordinary hunting arrows with barbed
steel heads； usuauy bought ready…made； or filed out of a hoop：
these were for use in securing such creatures as muskrats； ducks
close at hand； or deer。 Third； the bird bolts： these were left
with a large； round； wooden head。 They were intended for quail；
partridges； rabbits； and squirrels； but also served very often；
and most admirably； in punishing dogs； either the Indian's own
when he was not living up to the rules and was too far off for a
cuff or kick； or a farmer's dog that was threatening an attack。
Now the outfit was complete； Rolf thought； but one other touch
was necessary。 Quonab painted the feather part of the shaft
bright red； and Rolf learned why。 Not for ornament； not as an
owner's mark； but as a finding mark。 Many a time that brilliant
red； with the white feather next it； was the means of saving the
arrow from loss。 An uncoloured arrow among the sticks and leaves
of the woods was usually hidden； but the bright…coloured shaft
could catch the eye ioo yards away。
It was very necessary to keep the bow and arrows from the wet。
For this； every hunter provides a case； usually of buckskin； but
failing that they made a good quiver of birch bark laced with
spruce roots for the arrows； and for the bow itself a long cover
of tarpaulin。
Now came the slow drilling in archery； the arrow held and the bow
drawn with three fingers on the cord … the thumb and little
finger doing nothing。 The target was a bag of hay set at twenty
feet； until the beginner could hit it every time： then by degrees
it was moved away until at the standard distance of forty yards
he could do fair shooting； although of course he never shot as
well as the Indian； who had practised since he was a baby。
There are three different kinds of archery tests： the first for
aim： Can you shoot so truly as to hit a three…inch mark； ten
times in succession； at ten paces？
Next for speed： Can you shoot so quickly and so far up； as to
have five arrows in the air at once？ If so； you are good： Can
you keep up six？ Then you are very good。 Seven is wonderful。
The record is said to be eight。 Last for power： Can you pull so
strong a bow and let the arrow go so clean that it will fly for
250 yards or will pass through a deer at ten paces？ There is a
record of a Sioux who sent an arrow through three antelopes at
one shot； and it was not unusual to pierce the huge buffalo
through and through； on one occasion a warrior with one shot
pierced the buffalo and killed her calf running at the other
side。
If you excel in these three things； you can down your partridge
and squirrel every time； you can get five or six out of each
flock of birds； you can kill your deer at twenty… five yards； and
so need never starve in the woods where there is game。
Of course； Rolf was keen to go forth and try in the real chase；
but it was many a shot he missed and many an arrow lost or
broken； before he brought in even a red squirrel； and he got； at
least； a higher appreciation of the skill of those who could
count on the bow for their food。
For those； then； who think themselves hunters and woodmen；
let this be a test and standard： Can you go forth alone into
the wilderness where there is game； take only a bow and arrows for
weapons； and travel afoot 250 miles； living on the country as you go？
Chapter 10。 Rolf Works Out with Many Results
He is the dumbest kind of a dumb fool that ain't king in some little
corner。 Sayings of Si Sylvanne
THE man who has wronged you will never forgive you； and he who has
helped you will be forever grateful。 Yes； there is nothing that
draws you to a man so much as the knowledge that you have helped him。
Quonab helped Rolf； and so was more drawn to him than to many of the
neighbours that he had known for years； he was ready to like him。
Their coming together was accidental； but it was soon very clear
that a friendship was springing up between them。 Rolf was too much
of a child to think about the remote future； and so was Quonab。 Most
Indians are merely tall children。
B