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was one place where Van Cortlandt took the lead； and that was in
the long talks they had by the campfire or in Van's own shanty
which Quonab rarely entered。
The most interesting subjects treated in these were ancient
Greece and modern Albany。 Van Cortlandt was a good Greek scholar；
and； finding an intelligent listener； he told the stirring tales
of royal Ilion； Athens； and Pergamos； with the loving enthusiasm
of one whom the teachers found it easy to instruct in classic
lore。 And when he recited or intoned the rolling Greek heroics of
the siege of Troy； Rolf listened with an interest that was
strange； considering that he knew not a word of it。 But he said；
〃It sounded like real talk； and the tramp of men that were all
astir with something big a…doing。〃
Albany and politics； too； were vital strains； and life at the
Government House； with the struggling rings and cabals； social
and political。 These were extraordinarily funny and whimsical to
Rolf。 No doubt because Van Cortlandt presented them that way。 And
he more than once wondered how rational humans could waste their
time in such tomfoolery and childish things as all
conventionalities seemed to be。 Van Cortlandt smiled at his
remarks； but made no answer for long。
One day； the first after the completion of Van Cortlandt's cabin；
as the two approached； the owner opened the door and stood aside
for Rolf to enter。
〃Go ahead；〃 said Rolf。
〃After you；〃 was the polite reply。
〃Oh； go on；〃 rejoined the lad； in mixed amusement and impatience。
Van Cortlandt touched his hat and went in。
Inside； Rolf turned squarely and said： 〃The other day you said
there was a reason for all kinds o' social tricks； now will you
tell me what the dickens is the why of all these funny… do's？ It
'pears to me a free…born American didn't ought to take off his
hat to any one but God。〃
Van Cortlandt chuckled softly and said： 〃You may be very sure
that everything that is done in the way of social usage is the
result of common…sense； with the exception of one or two things
that have continued after the reason for them has passed； like
the buttons you have behind on your coat； they were put there
originally to button the tails out of the way of your sword。
Sword wearing and using have passed away； but still you see the
buttons。
〃As to taking off your hat to no man： it depends entirely on what
you mean by it； and； being a social custom； you must accept its
social meaning。
〃In the days of knight errantry； every one meeting a stranger had
to suppose him an enemy； ten to one he was。 And the sign and
proof of friendly intention was raising the right hand without a
weapon in it。 The hand was raised high； to be seen as far as they
could shoot with a bow； and a further proof was added when they
raised the vizor and exposed the face。 The danger of the highway
continued long after knights ceased to wear armour； so； with the
same meaning； the same gesture was used； but with a lifting of
the hat。 If a man did not do it； he was either showing contempt；
or hostility for the other； or proving himself an ignorant brute。
So； in all civilized countries； lifting the hat is a sign of
mutual confidence and respect。〃
〃Well！ that makes it all look different。 But why should you touch
your hat when you went ahead of me just now？〃
〃Because this is my house； you are my guest。 I am supposed to
serve you in reasonable ways and give you precedence。 Had I let
you open my door for me； it would have been putting you in the
place of my servant； to balance that； I give you the sign of
equality and respect。〃
〃H'm；〃 said Rolf； 〃'it just shows；' as old Sylvanne sez； 'this
yer steel…trap； hair…trigger； cocksure jedgment don't do。 An' the
more a man learns； the less sure he gits。 An' things as hez
lasted a long time ain't liable to be on a rotten foundation。'〃
Chapter 62。 The Charm of Song
With a regular tum ta tum ta； came a weird sound from the sunrise
rock one morning； as Van slipped out of his cabin。
〃Ag…aj…way…o…say
Pem…o…say
Gezhik…om era…bid ah…keen
Ena…bid ah…keen〃
〃What's he doing； Rolf？〃
〃That's his sunrise prayer；〃 was the answer。
〃Do you know what it means？〃
〃Yes； it ain't much； jest 'Oh； thou that walkest in the sky in
the morning； I greet thee。〃'
〃Why； I didn't know Indians had such performances； that's exactly
like the priests of Osiris。 Did any one teach him？ I mean any
white folk。〃
〃No； it's always been the Indian way。 They have a song or a
prayer for most every big event； sunrise； sunset； moonrise； good
hunting； and another for when they're sick； or when they're going
on a journey； or when their heart is bad。〃
〃You astonish me。 I had no idea they were so human。 It carries me
back to the temple of Delphi。 It is worthy of Cassandra of Ilion。
I supposed all Indians were just savage Indians that hunted till
their bellies were full； and slept till they were empty again。〃
〃H'm；〃 rejoined Rolf； with a gentle laugh。 〃I see you also have
been doing some 'hair…trigger； steel…trap； cocksure jedgin'。'〃
〃I wonder if he'd like to hear some of my songs？ 〃
〃It's worth trying； anyway； I would；〃 said Rolf。
That night； by the fire； Van sang the 〃Gay Cavalier；〃 〃The
Hunting of John Peel；〃 and 〃Bonnie Dundee。〃 He had a fine
baritone voice。 He was most acceptable in the musical circles of
Albany。 Rolf was delighted； Skookum moaned sympathetically； and
Quonab sat nor moved till the music was over。 He said nothing；
but Rolf felt that it was a point gained； and； trying to follow
it up； said：
〃Here's your drum； Quonab； won't you sing 'The Song of the
Wabanaki？'〃 But it was not well timed； and the Indian shook his
head。
〃Say； Van；〃 said Rolf； （Van Cortlandt had suggested this
abbreviation） 〃you'll never stand right with Quonab till you kill
a deer。〃
〃I've done some trying。〃
〃Well； now； we'll go out to…morrow evening and try once more。
What do you think of the weather； Quonab？ 〃
〃Storm begin noon and last three days；〃 was the brief answer； as
the red man walked away。
〃That settles it；〃 said Rolf； 〃we wait。〃
Van was surprised； and all the more so when in an hour the sky
grew black and heavy rain set in； with squalls。
〃How in the name of Belshazzar's weather bugler does he tell？〃
〃I guess you better not ask him； if you want to know。 I'll find
out and tell you later。〃
Rolf learned； not easily or at single talk：
〃Yesterday the chipmunks worked hard； to…day there are none to be
seen。
〃Yesterday the loons were wailing； now they are still； and no
small birds are about。
〃Yesterday it was a yellow sunrise； to…day a rosy dawn。
〃Last night the moon changed and had a thick little ring。
〃It has not rained for ten days； and this is the third day of
easterly winds。
〃There was no dew last night。 I saw Tongue Mountain at daybrea