rolf in the woods-第3部分

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that　sparkled　with　beads　on　the　arch。　　The　wigwam　was

of　canvas；　but　it　had　one　or　two　of　the　sacred　symbols

painted　on　it。　　The　pot　hung　over　the　fire　was　tin…lined

copper；　of　the　kind　long　made　in　England　for　Indian　trade；

but　the　smaller　dishes　were　of　birch　bark　and　basswood。

The　gun　and　the　hunting　knife　were　of　white　man's　make；

but　the　bow；　arrows；　snowshoes；　tom…tom；　and　a　quill…

covered　gun　case　were　of　Indian　art；　fashioned　of　the　things

that　grow　in　the　woods　about。



The　Indian　led　into　the　wigwam。　　The　dog；　although

not　fully　grown；　growled　savagely　as　it　smelled　the　hated

white　man　odour。　　Quonab　gave　the　puppy　a　slap　on　the

head；　which　is　Indian　for；　〃Be　quiet；　he's　all　right；〃　loosed

the　rope；　and　led　the　dog　out。　　〃Bring　that；〃　and　the

Indian　pointed　to　the　bag　which　hung　from　a　stick　between

two　trees。　　The　dog　sniffed　suspiciously　in　the　direction

of　the　bag　and　growled；　but　he　was　not　allowed　to　come

near　it。　　Rolf　tried　to　make　friends　with　the　dog；　but

without　success　and　Quonab　said；　〃Better　let　Skookum*　alone。

He　make　friends　when　he　ready　　maybe　never。〃



The　two　hunters　now　set　out　for　the　open　plain；　two　or

three　hundred　yards　to　the　southward。　　Here　the　raccoon

was　dumped　out　of　the　sack；　and　the　dog　held　at　a　little

distance；　until　the　coon　had　pulled　itself　together　and

began　to　run。　　Now　the　dog　was　released　and　chivvied　on。

With　a　tremendous　barking　he　rushed　at　the　coon；　only　to

get　a　nip　that　made　him　recoil；　yelping。　　The　coon　ran

as　hard　as　it　could；　the　dog　and　hunters　came　after　it；

again　it　was　overtaken；　and；　turning　with　a　fierce　snarl；　it

taught　the　dog　a　second　lesson。　　Thus；　running；　dodging；

and　turning　to　fight；　the　coon　got　back　to　the　woods；　and

there　made　a　final　stand　under　a　small；　thick　tree；　and；

when　the　dog　was　again　repulsed；　climbed　quickly　up　into

the　branches。



The　hunters　did　all　they　could　to　excite　the　dog；　until　he

was　jumping　about；　tryng　to　　climb　the　tree；　and　barking

uproariously。　　This　was　exactly　what　they　wanted。

Skookum's　first　lesson　was　learned　　the　duty　of　chasing

the　big　animal　of　that　particular　smell；　then　barking　up

the　tree　it　had　climbed。



Quonab；　armed　with　a　forked　stick　and　a　cord　noose；

now　went　up　the　tree。　　After　much　trouble　he　got　the

noose　around　the　coon's　neck；　then；　with　some　rather

rough　handling；　the　animal　was　dragged　down；　maneuvered

into　the　sack；　and　carried　back　to　camp；　where　it　was

chained　up　to　serve　in　future　lessons；　the　next　two　or　three

being　to　tree　the　coon；　as　before；　in　the　next；　the　coon

was　to　be　freed　and　allowed　to　get　out　of　sight；　so　that　the

dog　might　find　it　by　trailing；　and　the　last；　in　which　the

coon　was　to　be　trailed；　treed；　and　shot　out　of　the　tree；

so　that　the　dog　should　have　the　final　joy　of　killing　a

crippled　coon；　and　the　reward　of　a　coon…meat　feast。　　But

the　last　was　not　to　be；　for　the　night　before　it　should　have

taken　place　the　coon　managed　to　slip　its　bonds；　and　nothing

but　the　empty　collar　and　idle　chain　were　found　in　the

captive's　place　next　morning。



These　things　were　in　the　future　however。　　Rolf　was

intensely　excited　over　all　he　had　seen　that　day。　　His　hunting

instincts　were　aroused。　　There　had　been　no　very　obvious

or　repellant　cruelty；　the　dog　alone　had　suffered；　but

he　seemed　happy。　　The　whole　affair　was　so　exactly　in　the

line　of　his　tastes　that　the　boy　was　in　a　sort　of　ecstatic

uplift；　and　already　anticipating　a　real　coon　hunt；　when

the　dog　should　be　properly　trained。　　The　episode　so

contrasted　with　the　sordid　life　he　had　left　an　hour　before　that

he　was　spellbound。　　The　very　animal　smell　of　the　coon

seemed　to　make　his　fibre　tingle。　　His　eyes　were　glowing

with　a　wild　light。　　He　was　so　absorbed　that　he　did　not

notice　a　third　party　attracted　by　the　unusual　noise　of　the

chase；　but　the　dog　did。　　A　sudden；　loud　challenge　called

all　attention　to　a　stranger　on　the　ridge　behind　the　camp。

There　was　no　mistaking　the　bloated　face　and　white

moustache　of　Rolf's　uncle。



〃So；　you　young　scut！　that　is　how　you　waste　your　time。

I'll　larn　ye　a　lesson。〃



The　dog　was　tied；　the　Indian　looked　harmless；　and　the

boy　was　cowed；　so　the　uncle's　courage　mounted　high。　　He

had　been　teaming　in　the　nearby　woods；　and　the　blacksnake

whip　was　in　his　hands。　　In　a　minute　its　thong　was

lapped；　like　a　tongue　of　flame；　around　Rolf's　legs。　　The

boy　gave　a　shriek　and　ran；　but　the　man　followed　and

furiously　plied　the　whip。　　The　Indian；　supposing　it　was　Rolf's

father；　marvelled　at　his　method　of　showing　affection；　but

said　nothing；　for　the　Fifth　Commandment　is　a　large　one

in　the　wigwam。　　Rolf　dodged　some　of　the　cruel　blows；　but

was　driven　into　a　corner　of　the　rock。　　One　end　of　the　lash

crossed　his　face　like　a　red…hot　wire。



〃Now　I've　got　you！〃　growled　the　bully。



Rolf　was　desperate。　　He　seized　two　heavy　stones　and

hurled　the　first　with　deadly　intent　at　his　uncle's　head。

Mick　dodged　in　time；　but　the　second；　thrown　lower；　hit

him　on　the　thigh。　　Mick　gave　a　roar　of　pain。　　Rolf

hastily　seized　more　stones　and　shrieked　out；　〃You　come　on

one　step　and　I'll　kill　you！〃



Then　that　purple　visage　turned　a　sort　of　ashen　hue。

Its　owner　mouthed　in　speechless　rage。　　He　〃knew　it　was

the　Indian　had　put　Rolf　up　to　it。　　He'd　see　to　it　later；〃　and

muttering；　blasting；　frothing；　the　hoary…headed　sinner

went　limping　off　to　his　loaded　wagon。





*〃Skookum〃　or　〃Skookum　Chuck；〃　in　Chinook　means　〃Troubled　waters。〃







Chapter　5。　　Good…bye　to　Uncle　Mike



For　counsel　comes　with　the　night；　and　action　comes　with　the　day；

But　the　gray　half　light；　neither　dark　nor　bright；　is　a　time　to

hide　away。





Rolf　had　learned　one　thing　at　least　　his　uncle　was　a　coward。

But　he　also　knew　that　he　himself　was　in　the　wrong；　for　he　was

neglecting　his　work　and　he　decided　to　go　back　at　once　and　face

the　worst。　　He　made　little　reply　to　the　storm　of　scolding　that

met　him。　He　would　have　been　disappointed　if　it　had　not　come。　　He

was　used　to　it；　it　made　him　feel　at　home　once　more。　　He　worked

hard　and　silently。



Mick　did　not　return　till　late。　　He　had　been　drawing　wood　for

Horton　that　day；　which　was　the　reason　he　happened　in　Quonab's

neighbourhood；　but　his　road　lay　by　the　tavern；　and　when　he

arrived　home　he　was　too　helpless　to　do　more　than　mutter。



The　next　day　there　was　an　air　of　suspended　thunder。　Rolf

overheard　his　uncle　cursing　〃that　ungrateful　young　scut　…　not

worth　his　salt。〃　　But　nothing　further　was　said　or　done。　　His　aunt

did　not　strike　at　him　once　for　two　days。　　The　third　night　Micky

disappeared。　　On　the　next　he　returned　with　another　man；　they　had

a　crate　of　fowls；　and　Rolf　was　told　to　keep　away　from　〃that　there

little　barn。〃



So　he　did　all　morning；　but　he　peeped　in　from　the　hayloft　when　a

chance　came；　and　saw　a　beautiful　horse。　　Next　day　the　〃little

barn〃　was　open　and　empty　as　before。



That　night　this　worthy　couple　had　a　jollification　with　some

callers；　who　were　strangers　to　Rolf。　　As　he　lay　awake；　listening

to　the　carouse；　he　overheard　many　disjointed　allusions　that　he

did　not　understand；　and　some　that　he　could　guess　at：　〃Night　work

pays　better　than　day　work　any　time；〃　etc。　　Then　he　heard　his　own

name　and　a　voice；　〃Let's　go　up　and　settle　it　with　him　now。〃

Whatever　their　plan；　it　was　clear　that　the　drunken　crowd；

inspired　by　the　old　ruffian；　were　intent　on　doing　him　bodily

harm。　　He　heard　them　stumbling　and　reeling　up　the　steep　stairs。

He　heard；　〃Here；　gimme　that　whip；〃　and　knew　he　was　in　peril；

maybe　of　his　life；　for　they　were　whiskey…mad。　　He　rose　quickly；

locked　the　door；　rolled　up　an　old　rag　carpet；　and　put　it　in　his

bed。　　Then　he　gathered　his　clothes　on　his　arm；　opened　the　window；

and　lowered　himself　till　his　head　only　was　above　the　sill；　and

his　foot　found　a　resting　place。　　Thus　he　awaited。　　The　raucous

breathing　of　the　revellers　was　loud　on　the　stairs；　then　the　door

was　tried；　there　was　some　muttering；　then　the　door　was　burst　open

and　in　rushed　two；　or　perhaps　three；　figures。　　Rolf　could　barely

see　in　the　gloom；　but　he　knew　that　his　uncle　was　one　of　them。

The　attack　they　made　with　whip　and　stick　on　that　roll　of　rags　in

the　bed　would　have　broken　his　bones　and　left　him　shapeless；　had

he　been　in　its　place。　The　men　were　laughing　and　took　it　all　as　a

joke；　but　Rolf　had　seen　enough；　he　slipped　to　the　ground　and

hurried　away；　realizing　perfectly　well　now　that　this　was

〃good…bye。〃



Which　way？　　How　naturally　his　steps　turned　northward　toward

Redding；　the　only　other　place　he　knew。　　But　he　had　not　gone　a

mile　before　he　stopped。　　The　yapping　of　a　coon　dog　came　to　him

from　the　near　woods　that　lay　to　the　westward　along　Asamuk。　　He

tramped　toward　it。　To　find　the　dog　is　one　thing；　to　find　the

owner　another；　but　they　drew　near　at　last。　　Rolf　gave　the　three

yelps　and　Quonab　responded。



〃I　am　done　with　that　crowd；〃　said　the　boy。　　〃They　tried　to　kill

me　tonight。　　Have　you　got　room　for　me　in　your　wigwam　for　a　couple

of　days？〃



〃Ugh；　come；〃　said　the　Indian。



That　night；　for　the　first　time；　Rolf　slept　in　the　outdoor　air　of

a　wigwam。　　He　slept　late；　and　knew　nothing　of　the　world　about　him

till　Quonab　called　him　to　breakfast。







Chapter　6。　　Skookum　Accepts　Rolf　at　Last



Rolf　expected　that　Micky　would　soon　hear　of　his　hiding　place　and

come　within　a　few　days；　backed　by　a　constable；　to　claim　his

runaway　ward。　　But　a　week　went　by　and　Quonab；　passing　through

Myanos；　learned；　first；　that　Rolf　had　been　seen　tramping

northward　on　the　road　to　Dumpling　Pond；　and　was　now　supposed　to

be　back　in　Redding；　second；　that　Micky　Kittering　was　lodged　in

jail　under　charge　of　horse…stealing　and　would　certainly　get　a

long　sentence；　third；　that　his　wife　had　gone　back　to　her　own

folks　at　Norwalk；　and　the　house　was　held　by　strangers。



All　other　doors　were　closed　now；　and　each　day　that　drifted　by

made　it　the　more　clear　that　Rolf　and　Quonab　were　to