友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
九色书籍 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

rolf in the woods-第8章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




The whole time taken; from lifting the sticks to the blazing

fire; was less than one minute。



This is the ancient way of the Indian; Rolf had often heard of it

as a sort of semi…myth; never before had he seen it; and so far

as he could learn from the books; it took an hour or two of hard

work; not a few deft touches and a few seconds of time。



He soon learned to do it himself; and in the years which

followed; he had the curious experience of showing it to many

Indians who had forgotten how; thanks to the greater portability

of the white man's flint and steel。



As they walked in the woods that day; they saw three trees that

had been struck by lightning during the recent storm; all three

were oaks。  Then it occurred to Rolf that he had never seen any

but an oak struck by lightning。



〃Is it so; Quonab?〃



〃No; there are many others; the lightning strikes the oaks most

of all; but it will strike the pine; the ash; the hemlock; the

basswood; and many more。  Only two trees have I never seen

struck; the balsam and the birch。〃



〃Why do they escape?〃



〃My father told me when I was a little boy it was because they

sheltered and warmed the Star…girl; who was the sister of the

Thunder…bird。〃



〃I never heard that; tell me about it。〃



〃Sometime maybe; not now。〃







Chapter 12。 Hunting the Woodchucks



Cornmeal and potatoes; with tea and apples; three times a day;

are apt to lose their charm。 Even fish did not entirely satisfy

the craving for flesh meat。  So Quonab and Rolf set out one

morning on a regular hunt for food。  The days of big game were

over on the Asamuk; but there were still many small kinds and

none more abundant than the woodchuck; hated of farmers。  Not

without reason。  Each woodchuck hole in the field was a menace to

the horses' legs。  Tradition; at least; said that horses' legs

and riders' necks had been broken by the steed setting foot in

one of these dangerous pitfalls: besides which; each chuck den

was the hub centre of an area of desolation whenever located; as

mostly it was; in the cultivated fields。  Undoubtedly the damage

was greatly exaggerated; but the farmers generally agreed that

the woodchuck was a pest。



Whatever resentment the tiller of the soil might feel against the

Indian's hunting quail on his land; he always welcomed him as a

killer of woodchucks。



And the Indian looked on this animal as fair game and most

excellent eating。



Rolf watched eagerly when Quonab; taking his bow and arrows; said

they were going out for a meat hunt。 Although there were several

fields with woodchucks resident; they passed cautiously from one

to another; scanning the green expanse for the dark…brown spots

that meant woodchucks out foraging。  At length they found one;

with a large and two small moving brown things among the clover。

The large one stood up on its hind legs from time to time; ever

alert for danger。  It was a broad; open field; without cover; but

close to the cleared place in which; doubtless; was the den;

there was a ridge that Quonab judged would help him to approach。



Rolf was instructed to stay in hiding and make some Indian signs

that the hunter could follow when he should lose sight of the

prey。  First; 〃Come on〃 (beckoning); and; second; 〃Stop;〃 (hand

raised; palm forward); 〃All right〃 (hand drawn across level and

waist high); forefinger moved forward; level; then curved

straight down; meant 〃gone in hole。〃 But Rolf was not to sign

anything or move; unless Quonab asked him by making the question

sign (that is waving his hand with palm forward and spread

fingers)。



Quonab went back into the woods; then behind the stone walls to

get around to the side next the ridge; and crawling so flat on

his breast in the clover that; although it was but a foot high;

he was quite invisible to any one not placed much above him。



In this way he came to the little ridge back of the woodchuck

den; quite unknown to its occupants。  But now he was in a

difficulty。  He could not see any of them。



They were certainly beyond range of his bow; and it was difficult

to make them seek the den without their rushing into it。  But he

was equal to the occasion。  He raised one hand and made the query

sign; and watching Rolf he got answer; 〃All well; they are there。〃

(A level sweep of the flat hand and a finger pointing steadily。)

Then he waited a few seconds and made exactly the same sign;

getting the same answer。



He knew that the movement of the distant man would catch the eye

of the old woodchuck; she would sit up high to see what it was;

and when it came a second time she would; without being exactly

alarmed; move toward the den and call the young ones to follow。



The hunter had not long to wait。  He heard her shrill; warning

whistle; then the big chuck trotted and waddled into sight;

stopping occasionally to nibble or look around。 Close behind her

were the two fat cubs。  Arrived near the den their confidence was

restored; and again they began to feed; the young ones close to

the den。  Then Quonab put a blunt bird dart in his bow and laid

two others ready。  Rising as little as possible; he drew the bow。

'Tsip! the blunt arrow hit the young chuck on the nose and turned

him over。  The other jumped in surprise and stood up。  So did the

mother。  'Tsip! another bolt and the second chuck was kicking。

But the old one dashed like a flash into the underground safety

of her den。  Quonab knew that she had seen nothing of him and

would likely come forth very soon。  He waited for some time; then

the gray…brown muzzle of the fat old clover…stealer came partly

to view; but it was not enough for a shot; and she seemed to have

no idea of coming farther。  The Indian waited what seemed like a

long time; then played an ancient trick。  He began to whistle a

soft; low air。  Whether the chuck thinks it is another woodchuck

calling; or merely a pleasant sound; is not known; but she soon

did as her kind always does; came out of the hole slowly and ever

higher; till she was half out and sitting up; peering about。



This was Quonab's chance。  He now drew a barbed hunting arrow to

the head and aimed it behind her shoulders。 'Tsip! and the chuck

was transfixed by a shaft that ended her life a minute later; and

immediately pre… vented that instinctive scramble into the hole;

by which so many chucks elude the hunter; even when mortally

wounded。



Now Quonab stood up without further concealment; and beckoned to

Rolf; who came running。  Three fat woodchucks meant abundance of

the finest fresh meat for a week; and those who have not tried it

have no idea what a delicacy is a young; fat; clover…fed

woodchuck; pan…roasted; with potatoes; and served at a blazing

campfire to a hunter who is young; strong; and exceedingly hungry。







Chapter 13。 The Fight with the Demon of the Deep



One morning; as they passed the trail that skirts the pond;

Quonab pointed to the near water。 There was someting afloat like

a small; round leaf; with two beads well apart; on it。  Then Rolf

noticed; two feet away; a larger floating leaf; and now he knew

that the first was the head and eyes; the last the back; of a

huge snapping turtle。  A moment more and it quickly sank from

view。  Turtles of three different kinds were common; and snappers

were well known to Rolf; but never before had he seen such a huge

and sinister…looking monster of the deep。



〃That is Bosikado。  I know him; he knows me;〃 said the red man。

〃There has long been war between us; some day we will settle it。

I saw him here first three years ago。  I had shot a duck; it

floated on the water。  Before I could get to it something pulled

it under; and that was the last of it。  Then a summer duck came

with young ones。 One by one he took them; and at last got her。

He drives all ducks away; so I set many night lines for him。  I

got some little snappers; eight and ten pounds each。  They were

good to eat; and three times already I took Bosikado on the

hooks; but each time when I pulled him up to the canoe; he broke

my biggest line and went down。  He was as broad as the canoe; his

claws broke through the canoe skin; he made it bulge and tremble。

He looked like the devil of the lake。  I was afraid!



〃But my father taught me there is only one thing that can shame a

man  that is to be afraid; and I said I will never let fear be

my guide。  I will seek a fair fight with Bosikado。  He is my

enemy。  He made me afraid once; I will make him much afraid。  For

three years we have been watching each other。  For three years he

has kept all summer ducks away; and robbed my fish…lines; my

nets; and my muskrat traps。  Not often do I see him  mostly

like today。



〃Before Skookum I had a little dog; Nindai。  He was a good little

dog。  He could tree a coon; catch a rabbit; or bring out a duck;

although he was very small。  We were very good friends。  One tim
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!