按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Quonab had come； of course； with Rolf； but he shunned the house； and
the more so as it grew in size。 In a remote and sheltered place he
built a wigwam of his own。
Skookum was divided in his allegiance； but he solved the puzzle by
dividing his time between them。 He did not change much； but he did
rise in a measure to the fundamental zoological fact that hens are
not partridges； and so acquired a haughty toleration of the cackle…
party throng that assembled in the morning at Annette's call。 Yes；
he made even another step of progress； for on one occasion he valiantly
routed the unenlightened dog of a neighbour； a 〃cur of low degree；
〃whose ideas of ornithology were as crude as his own had been in the
beginning。
All of which was greatly to his credit； for he found it hard to learn
now； he was no longer young； and before he had seen eight springs
dissolve the snow； he was called to the Land of Happy Hunting； where
the porcupine is not； but where hens abound on every side； and there
is no man near to meddle with his joy。
Yet； when he died； he lived。 His memory was kept ever green； for
Skookum Number 2 was there to fill his room； and he gave place to
Skookum 3； and so they keep their line on to this very day。
Quonab Goes Home
The public has a kind of crawlin' common…sense； that is always
right and fair in the end； only it's slow Sayings of Si Sylvanne
Twenty years went by。 Rolf grew and prospered。 He was a man of
substance and of family now； for store and mill were making money
fast； and the little tow…tops came at regular intervals。
And when the years had added ripeness to his thought； and the kind
gods of gold had filled his scrip； it was that his ampler life
began to bloom。 His was a mind of the best begetting； born and
bred of ancient； clean…blooded stock； inflexibly principled；
trained by a God…fearing mother； nurtured in a cradle of adversity；
schooled in a school of hardship； developed in the big outdoors；
wise in the ways of the woods； burnt in the fire of affliction；
forced into self… reliance； inspired with the lofty inspiration
of sacrificial patriotism the good stuff of his make…up shone；
as shines the gold in the fervent heat； the hard blows that prove
or crush； had proved； the metal had rung true； and in the great
valley； Rolf Kittering was a man of mark。
The country's need of such is ever present and ever seeking。 Those
in power who know and measure men soon sought him out； and their
messenger was the grisly old Si Sylvanne。
Because he was a busy man； Rolf feared to add to his activities。
Because he was a very busy man； the party new they needed him。
So at length it was settled； and in a little while； Rolf stood
in the Halls of Albany and grasped the hand of the ancient
mill…man as a colleague； filling an honoured place in the
councils of the state。
Each change brought him new activities。 Each year he was more
of a public man； and his life grew larger。 From Albany he went
to New York； in the world of business and men's affairs； and
at last in Washington； his tall； manly figure was well known；
and his good common…sense and clean business ways were respected。
Yet each year during hunting time he managed to spend a few weeks
with Quonab in the woods。 Tramping on their ancient trapping
grounds； living over the days of their early hunts； and double
zest was added when Rolf the second joined them and lived and
loved it all。
But this was no longer Kittering's life； rather the rare
precarious interval； and more and more old Quonab realized that
they were meeting only in the past。 When the big house went up
on the river…bank； he indeed had felt that they were at the
parting of the ways。 His respect for Nibowaka had grown to be
almost a worship； and yet he knew that their trails had yearly
less in common。 Rolf had outgrown him； he was alone again； as
on the day of their meeting。 His years had brought a certain
insight； and this he grasped that the times were changed；
and his was the way of a bygone day。
〃Mine is the wisdom of the woods；〃 he said； 〃but the woods are
going fast； in a few years there will be no more trees； and my
wisdom will be foolishness。 There is in this land now a big；
strong thing called 'trade；' that will eat up all things and
the people themselves。 You are wise enough； Nibowaka； to paddle
with the stream； you have turned so the big giant is on your
side； and his power is making you great。 But this is not for me；
so only I have enough to eat； and comfort to sleep； I am content
to watch for the light。〃
Across the valley from the big store he dwelt； in a lodge from
which he could easily see the sunrise。 Twenty…five years added
to the fifty he spent in the land of Mayn Mayano had dimmed his
eye； had robbed his foot of its spring； and sprinkled his brow
with the winter rime； but they had not changed his spirit； nor
taught him less to love the pine woods and the sunrise。 Yes；
even more than in former days did he take his song…drum to the
rock of worship； to his idaho as the western red man would
have called it。 And there； because it was high and the wind
blew cold； he made a little eastward… facing lodge。
He was old and hunting was too hard for him； but there was a
strong arm about him now； he dimly thought of it at times
the arm of the fifteen…year…old boy that one time he had shielded。
There was no lack of food or blankets in the wigwam； or of freedom
in the woods under the sun…up rock。 But there was a hunger that
not farseeing Nibowaka could appease； not even talk about。 And
Quonab built another medicine lodge to watch the sun go down
over the hill。 Sitting by a little fire to tune his song…drum；
he often crooned to the blazing skies。 〃I am of the sunset now；
I and my people；〃 he sang； 〃the night is closing over us。〃
One day a stranger came to the hills； his clothes were those of
a white man； but his head； his feet； and his eyes his blood；
his walk； and his soul were those of a red Indian of the West。
He came from the unknown with a message to those who knew him
not： 〃The Messiah was coming； the deliverer that Hiawatha bade
them look for。 He was coming in power to deliver the red race；
and his people must sing the song of the ghost…dance till the
spirit came； and in a vision taught them wisdom and his will！〃
Not to the white man； but to the lonely Indian in the hill cleft
he came； and the song that he brought and taught him was of a
sorrowing people seeking their father。
〃Father have pity on us！ Our souls are hungry for Thee。 There
is nothing here to satisfy us Father we bow to Thy will。〃
By the fire that night they sang； and prayed as the Indian
prays 〃Father have pity and guide us。〃 So Quonab sang the
new song； and knew its message was for him。
The stranger went on； for he was a messenger； but Quonab sang
again and again； and then the vision came； as it must； and
the knowledge