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Mad Moon。 My father said it is because of Kaluskap's dancing。〃
〃I don't remember that one。〃
〃Yes； long ago。 Kaluskap felt lazy。 He wanted to eat； but did not
wish to hunt； so he called the bluejay and said： 'Tell all the
woods that to…morrow night Kaluskap gives a new dance and teaches
a new song；' and he told the hoot owl to do the same； so one kept
it up all day 'Kaluskap teaches a new dance to…morrow night；'
and the other kept it up all night： 'Kaluskap teaches a new song
at next council。'
〃Thus it came about that all the woods and waters sent their folk
to the dance。
〃Then Kaluskap took his song…drum and said： 'When I drum and sing
you must dance in a circle the same way as the sun； close your
eyes tightly； and each one shout his war whoop； as I cry 〃new
songs〃！'
〃So all began； with Kaluskap drumming in the middle； singing：
〃'New songs from the south； brothers； Close your eyes tightly；
brothers； Dance and learn a new song。
〃As they danced around； he picked out the fattest； and； reaching
out one hand； seized them and twisted their necks； shouting out；
'More war…cries； more poise！ that's it； now you are learning！'
〃At length Shingebis the diver began to have his doubts and he
cautiously opened one eye； saw the trick； and shouted： 'Fly；
brothers； fly！ Kaluskap is killing us ！'
〃Then all was confusion。 Every one tried to escape； and Kaluskap；
in revenge； tried to kill the Shingebis。 But the diver ran for
the water and； just as he reached the edge； Kaluskap gave him a
kick behind that sent him half a mile； but it knocked off all his
tail feathers and twisted his shape so that ever since his legs
have stuck out where his tail was； and he cannot rise from the
land or the ice。 I know it is so； for my father； Cos Cob； told me
it was true； and we ourselves have seen it。 It is ever so。 To go
against Kaluskap brings much evil to brood over。〃
A few nights later； as they sat by their fire in the cabin； a
curious squeaking was heard behind the logs。 They had often heard
it before； but never so much as now。 Skookum turned his head on
one side； set his ears at forward cock。 Presently； from a hole
'twixt logs and chimney； there appeared a small； white breasted
mouse。
Its nose and ears shivered a little； its black eyes danced in the
firelight。 It climbed up to a higher log； scratched its ribs；
then rising on its hind legs； uttered one or two squeaks like
those they had heard so often； but soon they became louder and
continuous：
〃Peg； peo； peo； peo； peo； peo； peo； oo。 Tree； tree； tree； tree；
trrrrrrr； Turr； turr； turr； tur； tur； Wee； wee； wee； we 〃
The little creature was sitting up high on its hind legs； its
belly muscles were working； its mouth was gaping as it poured out
its music。 For fully half a minute this went on； when Skookum
made a dash； but the mouse was quick and it flashed into the
safety of its cranny。
Rolf gazed at Quonab inquiringly。
〃That is Mish…a…boh…quas； the singing mouse。 He always comes to
tell of war。 In a little while there will be fighting。〃
Chapter 66。 A Lesson in Stalking
Did you ever see any fighting； Quonab？〃
〃Ugh！ In Revolution； scouted for General Gates。〃
〃Judging by the talk； we're liable to be called on before a year。
What will you do？ 〃
〃Fight。〃
〃As soldier？〃
〃No！ scout。〃
〃They may not want us。〃
〃Always want scouts；〃 replied the Indian。
〃It seems to me I ought to start training now。〃
〃You have been training。〃
〃How is that？〃
〃A scout is everything that an army is； but it's all in one man。
An' he don't have to keep step。〃
〃I see； I see；〃 replied Rolf； and he realized that a scout is
merely a trained hunter who is compelled by war to hunt his
country's foes instead of the beasts of the woods。
〃See that？〃 said the Indian； and he pointed to a buck that was
nosing for cranberries in the open expanse across the river where
it left the lake。 〃Now； I show you scouting。〃 He glanced at the
smoke from the fire； found it right for his plan； and said： 〃See！
I take my bow。 No cover； yet I will come close and kill that
deer。〃
Then began a performance that was new to Rolf； and showed that
the Indian had indeed reached the highest pitch of woodcraft。 He
took his bow and three good arrows； tied a band around his head；
and into this stuck a lot of twigs and vines； so that his head
looked like a tussock of herbage。 Then he left the shanty door；
and； concealed by the last bushes on the edge； he reached the
open plain。 Two hundred yards off was the buck； nosing among the
herbage； and； from time to time； raising its superb head and
columnar neck to look around。 There was no cover but creeping
herbage。 Rolf suspected that the Indian would decoy the buck by
some whistle or challenge； for the thickness of its neck showed
the deer to be in fighting humour。
Flat on his breast the Indian lay。 His knees and elbow seemed to
develop centipedic power； his head was a mere clump of growing
stuff。 He snaked his way quietly for twenty…five yards； then came
to the open； sloping shore； with the river forty yards wide of
level shining ice； all in plain view of the deer； how was this to
be covered？
There is a well…known peculiarity of the white tail that the
Indian was counting on； when its head is down grazing； even
though not hidden； the deer does not see distant objects； before
the head is raised； its tail is raised or shaken。 Quonab knew
that if he could keep the tail in view； he could avoid being
viewed by the head。 In a word； only an ill…timed movement or a
whiff could betray him。
The open ice was； of course； a hard test； and the hunter might
have failed； but that his long form looked like one of the logs
that were lying about half stranded or frozen in the stream。
Watching ever the alert head and tail； he timed his approach；
working hard and moving East when the head was down； but when
warned by a tail…jerk he turned to a log nor moved a muscle。 Once
the ice was crossed； the danger of being seen was less； but of
being smelt was greater； for the deer was moving about； and
Quonab watched the smoke from the cabin for knowledge of the
wind。 So he came within fifty yards； and the buck； still sniffing
along and eagerly champing the few red cranberries it found above
the frozen moss； was working toward a somewhat higher cover。 The
herbage was now fully eighteen inches high； and Quonab moved a
little faster。 The buck found a large patch of berries under a
tussock and dropped on its knees to pick them out； while Quonab
saw the chance and gained ten yards before the tail gave warning。
After so long a feeding…spell； the buck took an extra long
lookout； and then walked toward the timber； whereby the Indian
lost all he had gained。 But the browser's eye was drawn by a
shining bunch of red； then another； and now the buck swung until
there was danger