But these were forms that came and went; there were two that
seldom were away -- the tall and supple one of the dark face and
the easy tread, and his yellow shadow -- the ever unpopular,
snappish, prick-eared cur, that held by force of arms all
territories at floor level contiguous to, under, comprised, and
bounded by, the four square legs and corners of the bed.
Quonab's nightly couch was a blanket not far away, and his daily,
self-given task to watch the wounded and try by devious ways and
plots to trick him into eating ever larger meals.
Garrison duty was light now, so Quonab sought the woods where the
flocks of partridge swarmed, with Skookum as his aid. It was the
latter's joyful duty to find and tree the birds, and "yap" below,
till Quonab came up quietly with bow and blunt arrows, to fill
his game-bag; and thus the best of fare was ever by the invalid's
bed.
Rolf's was easily a winning fight from the first, and in a week
he was eating well, sleeping well, and growing visibly daily
stronger.
Then on a fleckless dawn that heralded a sun triumphant, the
Indian borrowed a drum from the bandsman, and, standing on the
highest breastwork, he gazed across the dark waters to the
whitening hills.
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