"
"H'm," rejoined Rolf, with a gentle laugh. "I see you also have
been doing some 'hair-trigger, steel-trap, cocksure jedgin'.'"
"I wonder if he'd like to hear some of my songs? "
"It's worth trying; anyway, I would," said Rolf.
That night, by the fire, Van sang the "Gay Cavalier," "The
Hunting of John Peel," and "Bonnie Dundee." He had a fine
baritone voice. He was most acceptable in the musical circles of
Albany. Rolf was delighted, Skookum moaned sympathetically, and
Quonab sat nor moved till the music was over. He said nothing,
but Rolf felt that it was a point gained, and, trying to follow
it up, said:
"Here's your drum, Quonab; won't you sing 'The Song of the
Wabanaki?'" But it was not well timed, and the Indian shook his
head.
"Say, Van," said Rolf, (Van Cortlandt had suggested this
abbreviation) "you'll never stand right with Quonab till you kill
a deer."
"I've done some trying."
"Well, now, we'll go out to-morrow evening and try once more.
What do you think of the weather, Quonab? "
"Storm begin noon and last three days," was the brief answer, as
the red man walked away.
"That settles it," said Rolf; "we wait.
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