Rolf went out to see and hear. Softly summing on a tin pan, with
a mudded stick, the Indian sang a song. The words which Rolf
learned in the after- time were:
"Come, Kaluskap, drive the witches; Those who came to harm the
dear one."
Annette moved not, but softly breathed, as she slept a sweet,
restful slumber, the first for many days.
"Vouldn't she be better in de house?" whispered the anxious mother.
"No, let Quonab do his own way," and Rolf wondered if any white
man had sat by little Wee-wees to brush away the flies from his
last bed.
Chapter 52. Annette's New Dress
Deep feelin's ain't any count by themselves; work 'em off, an'
ye're somebody; weep 'em off an' you'd be more use with a heart
o' stone -- Sayings of Si Sylvanne.
Quonab, I am going out to get her a partridge." "Ugh, good."
So Rolf went off. For a moment he was inclined to grant Skookom's
prayer for leave to, follow, but another and better plan came in
mind. Skookum would most likely find a mother partridge, which
none should kill in June, and there was a simple way to find a
cock; that was, listen. It was now the evening calm, and before
Rolf had gone half a mile he heard the distant "Thump, thump,
thump, thump -- rrrrrrr" of a partridge, drumming.
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