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although he was very small。 We were very good friends。 One time
I shot a duck； it fell into the lake； I called Nindai。 He jumped
into the water and swam to the duck。 Then that duck that I
thought dead got up and flew away； so I called Nindai。 He came
across the water to me。 By and by； over that deep place； he
howled and splashed。 Then he yelled； like he wanted me。 I ran
for the canoe and paddled quick； I saw my little dog Nindai go
down。 Then I knew it was that Bosikado again。 I worked a long
time with a pole； but found nothing； only five days later one of
Nindai's paws floated down the stream。 Some day I will tear open
that Bosikado！
〃Once I saw him on the bank。 He rolled down like a big stone to
the water。 He looked at me before he dived； and as we looked in
each other's eyes I knew he was a Manito； but he is evil； and my
father said； 'When an evil Manito comes to trouble you； you must
kill him。'
〃One day； when I swam after a dead duck； he took me by the toe；
but I reached shallow water and escaped him； and once I drove my
fish…spear in his back； but it was not strong enough to hold him。
Once he caught Skookum's tail； but the hair came out； the dog has
not since swum across the pond。
〃Twice I have seen him like today and might have killed him with
the gun； but I want to meet him fighting。 Many a time I have sat
on the bank and sung to him the 'Coward's Song；' and dared him to
come and fight in the shallow water where we are equals。 He
hears me。 He does not come。
〃I know he made me sick last winter； even now he is making
trouble with his evil magic。 But my magic must prevail； and some
day we shall meet。 He made me afraid once。 I uill make him much
afraid； and will meet him in the water。〃
Not many days were to pass before the meeting。 Rolf had gone for
water at the well； which was a hole dug ten feet from the shore
of the lake。 He had learned the hunter's cautious trick of going
silently and peering about； before he left cover。 On a mud bank
in a shallow bay； some fifty yards off； he described a peculiar
gray and greenish form that he slowly made out to be a huge
turtle； sunning itself。 The more he looked and gauged it with
things about； the bigger it seemed。 So he slunk back quickly and
silently to Quonab。 〃He is out sunning himself Bosikado on
the bank！〃
The Indian rose quickly； took his tomahawk and a strong line。
Rolf reached for the gun； but Quonab shook his head。 They went
to the lake。 Yes！ There was the great； goggle…eyed monster；
like a mud…coloured log。 The bank behind him was without cover。
It would be impossible to approach the watchful creature within
striking distance before he could dive。 Quonab would not use the
gun； in this case he felt he must atone by making an equal fight。
He quickly formed a plan； he fastened the tomahawk and the coiled
rope to his belt； then boldly and silently slipped into the lake；
to approach the snapper from the water side quite the easiest
in this case； not only because the snapper would naturally watch
on the land side； but because there was a thick clump of rushes
behind which the swimmer could approach。
Then； as instructed； Rolf went back into the woods； and came
silently to a place whence he could watch the snapper from a
distance of twenty yards。
The boy's heart beat fast as he watched the bold swimmer and the
savage reptile。 There could be little doubt that the creature
weighed a hundred pounds。 It is the strongest for its size and
the fiercest of all reptiles。 Its jaws； though toothless； have
cutting edges； a sharp beak； and power to the crushing of bones。
Its armour makes it invulnerable to birds and beasts of prey。
Like a log it lay on the beach； with its long alligator tail
stretched up the bank and its serpentine head and tiny wicked
eyes vigilantly watching the shore。 Its shell； broad and
ancient； was fringed with green moss； and its scaly armpits
exposed； were decked with leeches； at which a couple of peetweets
pecked with eager interest； apparently to the monster's
satisfaction。 Its huge limbs and claws were in marked contrast
to the small； red eyes。 But the latter it was that gave the
thrill of unnervement。
Sunk down nearly out of sight； the Indian slowly reached the
reeds。 Here he found bottom； and pausing； he took the rope in
one hand； the tomahawk in the other； and dived； and when he
reappeared he was within ten yards of the enemy； and in water but
four feet deep。
With a sudden rush the reptile splashed into the pond and out of
sight； avoiding the rope noose。 But Quonab clutched deep in the
water as it passed； and seized the monster's rugged tail。 Then
it showed its strength。 In a twinkling that mighty tail was
swung sidewise； crushing the hand with terrible force against the
sharp…edged points of the back armour。 It took all the Indian's
grit to hold on to that knife…edged war club。 He dropped his
tomahawk； then with his other hand swung the rope to catch the
turtle's head； but it lurched so quickly that the rope missed
again； slipped over the shell； and； as they struggled； encircled
one huge paw。 The Indian jerked it tight； and they were bound
together。 But now his only weapon was down at the bottom and the
water all muddied。 He could not see； but plunged to grope for
the tomahawk。 The snapper gave a great lurch to escape； releasing
the injured hand； but jerking the man off his legs。 Then；
finding itself held by a forepaw； it turned with gaping； hissing
jaws； and sprang on the foe that struggled in bottom of the
water。
The snapper has the bulldog habit to seize and hold till the
piece tears out。 In the muddy water it had to seize in the dark；
and fending first the left arm of its foe； fastened on with
fierce beak and desperate strength。 At this moment Quonab
recovered his tomahawk； rising into the air he dragged up the
hanging snapper； and swung the weapon with all the force of his
free arm。 The blow sank through the monster's shell； deep into
its back； without any visible effect； except to rob the Indian of
his weapon as he could not draw it out。
Then Rolf rushed into the water to help。 But Quonab gasped； 〃No；
no； go back I'm alone。〃
The creature's jaws were locked on his arm； but its front claws；
tearing downward and outward； were demolishing the coat that had
protected it； and long lines of mingled blood were floating on
the waves。
After a desperate plunge toward shallow water； Quonab gave
another wrench to the tomahawk … it moved； loosed； another； and
it was free。 Then 〃chop； chop； chop；〃 and that long； serpentine
neck was severed； the body； waving its great scaly legs and
lashing its alligator tail； went swimming downward； but the huge
head； blinking its bleary； red eyes and streaming with blood； was
clinched on his arm。 The Indian made for the bank hauling the
rope that held the living body； and fastened it to a tree； then
drew his knife to cut the jaw muscles of the head that ground its
beak into his flesh。 But the muscles were protected by armour
plates and bone； he could not deal a stab to end their power。 In
vain he fumbled and slashed； until in a spasmodic quiver the jaws
gaped wide and the bloody head fell to the ground。 Again it
snapped； but a tree branch bore the brunt； on this the strong
jaws clinched； and so remained。
For over an hour the headless body crawled； or tried to crawl；
always toward the lake。 And now they could look at the enemy。
Not his size so much as his weight surprised them。 Although
barely four feet long； he was so heavy that Rolf could not lift
him。 Quonab's scratches were many but slight； only the deep bill
wound made his arm and the bruises of the jaws were at all
serious and of these he made light。 Headed by Skookum in full
'yap；' they carried the victim's body to camp； the head； still
dutching the stick； was decorated with three feathers； then set
on a pole near the wigwam。 And the burden of the red man's song
when next he sang was：
〃Bosikado； mine enemy was mighty； But I went into his country And
made him afraid！〃
Chapter 14。 Selectman Horton Appears at the Rock
Summer was at its height on the Asamuk。 The woodthrush was
nearing the end of its song； a vast concourse of young robins in
their speckled plumage joined chattering every night in the
thickest cedars； and one or two broods of young ducks were seen
on the Pipestave Pond。
Rolf had grown wonderfully well into his wigwam life。 He knew now
exactly how to set the flap so as to draw out all the smoke； no
matter which way the wind blew； he had learned the sunset signs；
which tell what change of wind the night might bring。 He knew
without going to the shore whether the tide was a little ebb；
with poor chances； or a mighty outflow that would expose the
fattest oyster beds。 His practiced fingers told at a