rolf in the woods-第14部分

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for　their　home。







Chapter　20。　The　Trappers'　Cabin



It's　a　smart　fellow　that　knows　what　he　can't　do。　…Sayings　of　Si　Sylvanne。



I　suppose　every　trapper　that　ever　lived；　on　first　building　a

cabin；　said；　〃Oh；　any　little　thing　will　do；　so　long　as　it　has　a

roof　and　is　big　enough　to　lie　down　in。〃　　And　every　trapper　has

realized　before　spring　that　he　made　a　sad　mistake　in　not　having

it　big　enough　to　live　in　and　store　goods　in。　　Quonab　and　Rolf

were　new　at　the　business；　and　made　the　usual　mistake。　They

planned　their　cabin　far　too　small；　10　X　12　ft。；　instead　of　12　X

20　ft。　they　made　it；　and　6…ft。　walls；　instead　of　8…ft。　walls。

Both　were　expert　axemen。　　Spruce　was　plentiful　and　the　cabin　rose

quickly。　　In　one　day　the　walls　were　up。　An　important　thing　was

the　roof。　　What　should　it　be？　Overlapping　basswood　troughs；　split

shingles；　also　called　shakes；　or　clay？　　By　far　the　easiest　to

make；　the　warmest　in　winter　and　coolest　in　summer；　is　the　clay

roof。　　It　has　three　disadvantages：　It　leaks　in　long…continued　wet

weather；　it　drops　down　dust　and　dirt　in　dry　weather；　and　is　so

heavy　that　it　usually　ends　by　crushing　in　the　log　rafters　and

beams；　unless　they　are　further　supported　on　posts；　which　are　much

in　the　way。　　But　its　advantages　were　so　obvious　that　the　builders

did　not　hesitate。　　A　clay　roof　it　was　to　be。



When　the　walls　were　five　feet　high；　the　doorway　and　window　were

cut　through　the　logs；　but　leaving　in　each　case　one　half　of　the

log　at　the　bottom　of　the　needed　opening。　The　top　log　was　now

placed；　then　rolled　over　bottom　up；　wlile　half　of　its　thickness

was　cut　away　to　fit　over　the　door：　a　similar　cut　out　was　made

over　the　window。　　Two　flat　pieces　of　spruce　were　prepared　for

door　jambs　and　two　shorter　ones　for　window　jambs。　　Auger　holes

were　put　through；　so　as　to　allow　an　oak　pin　to　be　driven　through

the　jamb　into　each　log；　and　the　doorway　and　window　opening　were　done。



In　one　corner　they　planned　a　small　fireplace；　built　of　clay　and

stone。　　Not　stone　from　the　lake；　as　Rolf　would　have　had　it；　but

from　the　hillside；　and　why？　　Quonab　said　that　the　lake　stone　was

of　the　water　spirits；　and　would　not　live　near　fire；　but　would

burst　open；　while　the　hillside　stone　was　of　the　sun　and　fire

spirit；　and　in　the　fire　would　add　its　heat。



The　facts　are　that　lake　stone　explodes　when　greatly　heated　and

hill　stone　does　not；　and　since　no　one　has　been　able　to　improve

upon　Quonab's　explanation；　it　must　stand　for　the　present。



The　plan　of　the　fireplace　was　simple。　　Rolf　had　been　present　at

the　building　of　several；　and　the　main　point　was　to　have　the

chimney　large　enough；　and　the　narrowest　point　just　above　the　fire。



The　eaves　logs；　end　logs；　and　ridge　logs　were　soon　in　place；　then

came　the　cutting　of　small　poles；　spruce　and　tamarack；　long　enough

to　reach　from　ridge　to　eaves；　and　in　sufficient　number　to

completely　cover　the　roof。　　A　rank　sedge　meadow　near　by　afforded

plenty　of　coarse　grass　with　which　the　poles　were　covered　deeply；

and　lastly　clay　dug　out　with　a　couple　of　hand…made；　axe…hewn

wooden　spades　was　thrown　evenly　on　the　grass　to　a　depth　of　six

inches；　this；　when　trampled　flat；　made　a　roof　that　served　them　well。



The　chinks　of　the　logs　when　large　were　filled　with　split　pieces

of　wood；　when　small　they　were　plugged　with　moss。　A　door　was　made

of　hewn　planks；　and　hinged　very　simply　on　two　pins；　one　made　by

letting　the　plank　project　as　a　point；　the　other　by　nailing　on　a

pin　after　the　door　was　placed；　both　pins　fitting；　of　course；　into

inch　auger　holes。



A　floor　was　not　needed；　but　bed　bunks　were；　and　in　making　these

they　began　already　to　realize　that　the　cabin　was　too　small。　　But

now　after　a　week's　work　it　was　done。　It　had　a　sweet　fragrance　of

wood　and　moss；　and　the　pleasure　it　gave　to　Rolf　at　least　was

something　he　never　again　could　expect　to　find　in　equal　measure

about　any　other　dwelling　he　might　make。



Quonab　laid　the　fire　carefully；　then　lighted　his　pipe；　sang　a

little　crooning　song　about　the　〃home　spirits；〃　which　we　call

〃household　gods；〃　walked　around　the　shanty；　offering　the　pipestem

to　each　of　the　four　winds　in　turn；　then　entering　lighted　the　flre

from　his　pipe；　threw　some　tobacco　and　deer　hair　on　the　blaze；　and

the　house…warming　was　ended。



Nevertheless；　they　continued　to　sleep　in　the　tent　they　had　used

all　along；　for　Quonab　loved　not　the　indoors；　and　Rolf　was　growing

daily　more　of　his　mind。







Chapter　21。　Rolf's　First　Deer



Anxious　to　lose　no　fine　day　they　had　worked　steadily　on　the

shanty；　not　even　going　after　the　deer　that　were　seen　occasionally

over　the　lake；　so　that　now　they　were　out　of　fresh　meat；　and　Rolf

saw　a　chance　he　long　had　looked　for。　　〃Quonab；　I　want　to　go　out

alone　and　get　a　deer；　and　I　want　your　gun。



〃Ugh！　you　shall　go。　　To…night　is　good。〃



〃To…night〃　meant　evening；　so　Rolf　set　out　alone　as　soon　as　the

sun　was　low；　for　during　the　heat　of　the　day　the　deer　are　commonly

lying　in　some　thicket。　　In　general；　he　knew　enough　to　travel　up

wind；　and　to　go　as　silently　as　possible。　　The　southwest　wind　was

blowing　softly；　and　so　he　quickened　his　steps　southwesterly　which

meant　along　the　lake。　　Tracks　and　signs　abounded；　it　was

impossible　to　follow　any　one　trail。　　His　plan　was　to　keep　on

silently；　trusting　to　luck；　nor　did　he　have　long　to　wait。　　Across

a　little　opening　of　the　woods　to　the　west　he　saw　a　movement　in

the　bushes；　but　it　ceased；　and　he　was　in　doubt　whether　the

creature；　presumably　a　deer；　was　standing　there　or　had　gone　on。

〃Never　quit　till　you　are　sure；〃　was　one　of　Quonab's　wise　adages。

Rolf　was　bound　to　know　what　it　was　that　had　moved。　　So　he　stood

still　and　waited。　　A　minute　passed；　another；　many；　a　long　time；

and　still　he　waited；　but　got　no　further　sign　of　life　from　the

bush。　Then　he　began　to　think　he　was　mistaken；　yet　it　was　good

huntercraft　to　find　out　what　that　was。　　He　tried　the　wind　several

times；　first　by　wetting　his　finger；　which　test　said　〃southwest〃；

second；　by　tossing　up　some　handfuls　of　dried　grass；　which　said

〃yes；　southwest；　but　veering　southerly　in　this　glade。〃　So　he　knew

he　might　crawl　silentlv　to　the　north　side　of　that　bush。　　He

looked　to　the　priming　of　his　gun　and　began　a　slow　and　stealthy

stalk；　selecting　such　openings　as　might　be　passed　without　effort

or　movement　of　bushes　or　likelihood　of　sound。　　He　worked　his　way

step　by　step；　each　time　his　foot　was　lifted　he　set　it　down　again

only　after　trying　the　footing。　　At　each　step　he　paused　to　look

and　listen。　　It　was　only　one　hundred　yards　to　the　interesting

spot；　but　Rolf　was　fifteen　minutes　in　covering　the　distance；　and

more　than　once；　he　got　a　great　start　as　a　chicadee　flew　out　or　a

woodpecker　tapped。　　His　heart　beat　louder　and　louder；　so　it

seemed　everything　near　must　hear；　but　he　kept　on　his　careful

stalk；　and　at　last　had　reached　the　thicket　that　had　given　him

such　thrills　and　hopes。　　Here　he　stood　and　watched　for　a　full

minute。　　Again　he　tried　the　wind；　and　proceeded　to　circle　slowly

to　the　west　of　the　place。



After　a　long；　tense　crawl　of　twenty　yards　he　came　on　the　track

and　sign　of　a　big　buck；　perfectly　fresh；　and　again　his　heart

worked　harder；　it　seemed　to　be　pumping　his　neck　full　of　blood；　so

he　was　choking。　　He　judged　it　best　to　follow　this　hot　trail　for　a

time；　and　holding　his　gun　ready　cocked　he　stepped　softly　onward。

A　bluejay　cried　out；　〃jay；　jay！〃　with　startling　loudness；　and

seemingly　enjoyed　his　pent…up　excitement。　　A　few　steps　forward　at

slow；　careful　stalk；　and　then　behind　him　he　heard　a　loud

whistling　hiss。　　Instantly　turning　he　found　himself　face　to　face

with　a　great；　splendid　buck　in　the　short　blue　coat。　　There　not

thirty　yards　away　he　stood；　the　creature　he　had　been　stalking　so

long；　in　plain　view　now；　broadside　on。　　They　gazed　each　at　the

other；　perfectly　still　for　a　few　seconds；　then　Rolf　without　undue

movement　brought　the　gun　to　bear；　and　still　the　buck　stood

gazing。　　The　gun　was　up；　but　oh；　how　disgustingly　it　wabbled　and

shook！　and　the　steadier　Rolf　tried　to　bold　it；　the　more　it

trembled；　until　from　that　wretched　gun　the　palsy　spread　all　over

his　body；　his　breath　came　tremulously；　his　legs　and　arms　were

shaking；　and　at　last；　as　the　deer　moved　its　head　to　get　a　better

view　and　raised　its　tail；　the　lad；　making　an　effort　at

selfcontrol；　pulled　the　trigger。　　Bang！　and　the　buck　went　lightly

bounding　out　of　sight。



Poor　Rolf；　how　disgusted　he　felt；　positively　sick　with

self…contempt。　　　Thirty　yards；　standing；　broadside　on；　full

daylight；　a　big　buck；　a　clean　miss。　　Yes；　there　was　the　bullet

hole　in　a　tree；　five　feet　above　the　deer's　head。　〃I'm　no　good；

I'll　never　be　a　hunter；〃　he　groaned；　then　turned　and　slowly

tramped　back　to　camp。　　Quonab　looked　inquiringly；　for；　of　course；

he　heard　the　shot。　　He　saw　a　glum　and　sorry…looking　youth；　who　in

response　to　his　inquiring　look　gave　merely　a　head…shake；　and　hung

up　the　gun　with　a　vicious　bang。



Quonab　took　down　the　gun；　wiped　it　out；　reloaded　it；　then　turning

to　the　boy　said：　〃Nibowaka；　you　feel　pretty　sick。　　Ugh！　You　know

why？　　You　got　a　good　chance；　but　you　got　buck　fever。　　It　is

always　so；　every　one　the　first　time。　　You　go　again　to…morrow　and

you　get　your　deer。〃



Rolf　made　no　reply。　　So　Quonab　ventured；　〃You　want　me　to　go？〃

That　settled　it　for　Rolf；　his　pride　was　touched。



〃No；　I'll　go　again　in　the　morning。〃



In　the　dew　time　he　was　away　once　more　on　the　hunting　　trail。

There　was　no　wind；　but　the　southwest　was　the　likeliest　to　spring

up。　　So　he　went　nearly　over　his　last　night's　track。　　He　found　it

much　easier　to　go　silently　now　when　all　the　world　was　dew　wet；

and　travelled　quickly。　Past　the　fateful　glade　he　went；　noted

again　the　tree　torn　several　feet　too　high　up；　and　on。　　Then　the

cry　of　a　bluejay　rang　out；　this　is　often　a　notification　of　deer

at　hand。　　It　always　is　warning　of　something　doing；　and　no　wise

hunter　ignores　it。



Rolf　stood　for　a　moment　listening　an