Rolf In The Woods | Page 8

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