Once they heard the sharp, short bark of a fox, and twice or
thrice the soft, sweet, moaning call of the gray wolf out to
hunt. Wild fowl abounded, and their diet was varied by the ducks
that one or other of the hunters secured at nearly every camp.
On the second day they saw three deer, and on the third morning
Quonab loaded his gun with buckshot, to be ready, then sallied
forth at dawn. Rolf was following, but the Indian shook his
head, then said: "Don't make fire for half an hour."
In twenty minutes Rolf heard the gun, then later the Indian
returned with a haunch of venison, and when they left that camp
they stopped a mile up the river to add the rest of the venison
to their cargo. Seven other deer were seen, but no more killed;
yet Rolf was burning to try his hand as a hunter. Many other
opportunities he had, and improved some of them. On one wood
portage he, or rather Skookum, put up a number of ruffed grouse.
These perched in the trees above their heads and the travellers
stopped. While the dog held their attention Rolf with blunt
arrows knocked over five that proved most acceptable as food.
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