Rolf was too much
of a child to think about the remote future; and so was Quonab. Most
Indians are merely tall children.
But there was one thing that Rolf did think of -- he had no right to
live in Quonab's lodge without contributing a fair share of the things
needful. Quonab got his living partly by hunting, partly by fishing,
partly by selling baskets, and partly by doing odd jobs for the
neighbours. Rolf's training as a loafer had been wholly neglected,
and when he realized that he might be all summer with Quonab he said
bluntly:
"You let me stay here a couple of months. I'll work out odd days,
and buy enough stuff to keep myself any way." Quonab said nothing,
but their eyes met, and the boy knew it was agreed to.
Rolf went that very day to the farm of Obadiah Timpany, and offered
to work by the day, hoeing corn and root crops. What farmer is not
glad of help in planting time or in harvest? It was only a question
of what did he know and how much did he want? The first was soon made
clear; two dollars a week was the usual thing for boys in those times,
and when he offered to take it half in trade, he was really getting
three dollars a week and his board.
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