with moss。 It was snug and warm。 But smallhow pitifully
small it looked to…dayand how lonely！
His hand…sledge stood beside the door； and against it
leaned the axe。 He caught it up and began to split wood for
the stove。 〃No！〃 he cried； throwing down the axe； 〃I'm tired
of this。 It has lasted long enough。 I'm going out to make my
way in the world。〃
A couple of hours later； the sledge was packed with camp…gear
and bundles of skins。 The door of the cabin was shut； a
ghostlike wreath of blue smoke curled from the chimney。 Luke
stood； in his snowshoes； on the white surface of the River of the
Way Out。 He turned to look back for a moment； and waved his
hand。
〃Good…bye； old cabin！ Good…bye； the rivers！ Good…bye； the
woods！〃
II
The House on the Main Street
All the good houses in Scroll…Saw City were different； in the
number and shape of the curious pinnacles that rose from their
roofs and in the trimmings of their verandas。 Yet they were
all alike； too； in their general expression of putting their
best foot foremost and feeling quite sure that they made a
brave show。 They had lace curtains in their front parlour
windows； and outside of the curtains were large red and yellow
pots of artificial flowers and indestructible palms and
vulcanised rubber…plants。 It was a gay sight。
But by far the bravest of these houses was the residence
of Mr。 Matthew Wilson； the principal merchant of Scroll…Saw
City。 It stood on a corner of Main Street； glancing slyly out
of the tail of one eye； side…ways down the street； toward the
shop and the business； but keeping a bold； complacent front
toward the street…cars and the smaller houses across the way。
It might well be satisfied with itself； for it had three more
pinnacles than any of its neighbours； and the work of the
scroll…saw was looped and festooned all around the eaves and
porticoes and bay…windows in amazing richness。 Moreover； in
the front yard were cast…iron images painted white： a stag
reposing on a door…mat； Diana properly dressed and returning
from the chase； a small iron boy holding over his head a
parasol from the ferrule of which a fountain squirted。 The
paths were of asphalt； gray and gritty in winter； but now； in
the summer heat； black and pulpy to the tread。
There were many feet passing over them this afternoon； for
Mr。 and Mrs。 Matthew Wilson were giving a reception to
celebrate the official entrance of their daughter Amanda into a
social life which she had permeated unofficially for several
years。 The house was sizzling full of people。 Those who were
jammed in the parlour tried to get into the dining…room； and
those who were packed in the dining…room struggled to escape；
holding plates of stratified cake and liquefied ice…cream high
above their neighbours' heads like signals of danger and
distress。 Everybody was talking at the same time； in a loud；
shrill voice； and nobody listened to what anybody else was
saying。 But it did not matter； for they all said the same things。
〃Elegant house for a party； so full of〃 〃How perfectly
lovely Amanda Wilson looks in that〃 〃Awfully warm day！
Were you at the Tompkins' last〃 〃Wilson's Emporium must be
doing good business to keep up all this〃 〃Hear he's going
to enlarge the store and take Luke Woods into the〃
〃Shouldn't wonder if there might be a wedding here before
next〃
The tide of chatter rose and swelled and ebbed and
suddenly sank away。 At six o'clock； the minister and two
maiden ladies in black silk with lilac ribbons； laid down their
last plates of ice…cream and said they thought they must be
going。 Amanda and her mother preened their dresses and patted
their hair。 Come into the study；〃 said Mr。 Wilson to Luke。 〃I
want to have a talk with you。〃
The little bookless room； called the study； was the one
that kept its eye on the shop and the business； away down the
street。 You could see the brick front； and the plate…glass
windows； and part of the gilt sign。
〃Pretty good store；〃 said Mr。 Wilson； jingling the keys in
his pocket； 〃does the biggest trade in the county； biggest but
one in the whole state； I guess。 And I must say； Luke Woods；
you've done your share； these last five years； in building it
up。 Never had a clerk work so hard and so steady。 You've got
good business sense； I guess。〃
〃I'm glad you think so；〃 said Luke。 〃I did as well as I
could。〃
〃Yes；〃 said the elder man； 〃and now I'm about ready to
take you in with me； give you a share in the business。 I want
some one to help me run it； make it larger。 We can double it；
easy； if we stick to it and spread out。 No reason why you
shouldn't make a fortune out of it； and have a house just like
this on the other corner； when you're my age。〃
Luke's thoughts were wandering a little。 They went out
from the stuffy room； beyond the dusty street； and the
jangling cars； and the gilt sign； and the shop full of
dry…goods and notions； and the high desks in the officeout
to the dim； cool forest； where Snowberry and Partridge…berry
and Wood…Magic grow。 He heard the free winds rushing over the
tree…tops； and saw the trail winding away before him in the
green shade。
〃You are very kind；〃 said he； 〃I hope you will not be
disappointed in me。 Sometimes I think； perhaps〃
〃Not at all； not at all；〃 said the other。 〃It's all
right。 You're well fitted for it。 And then； there's another
thing。 I guess you like my daughter Amanda pretty well。 Eh？
I've watched you； young man。 I've had my eye on you！ Now； of
course； I can't say much about itnever can be sure of these
kind of things； you knowbut if you and she〃
The voice went on rolling out words complacently。 But
something strange was working in Luke's blood；
and other voices were sounding faintly in his ears。 He heard
the lisping of the leaves on the little poplar…trees； the
whistle of the black duck's wings as he circled in the air；
the distant drumming of the grouse on his log； the rumble of
the water…fall in the River of Rocks。 The spray cooled his
face。 He saw the fish rising along the pool； and a stag
feeding among the lily…pads。
〃I don't know how to thank you； Mr。 Wilson；〃 said he at
last； when the elder man stopped talking。 〃You have certainly
treated me most generously。 The only question is； whether
But to…morrow night； I think； with your consent； I will speak
to your daughter。 To…night I am going down to the store；
there is a good deal of work to do on the books。〃
But when Luke came to the store； he did not go in。 He
walked along the street till he came to the river。
The water…side was strangely deserted。 Everybody was at
supper。 A couple of schooners were moored at the wharf。 The
Portland steamer had gone out。 The row…boats hung idle at their
little dock。 Down the river； drifting and dancing lightly over
the opalescent ripples； following the gentle turns of the current
which flowed past the end of the dock where Luke was standing；
came a white canoe； empty and astray。
III
The White Canoe
〃That looks just like my old canoe；〃 said he。 〃Somebody must
have left it adrift up the river。 I wonder how it floated
down here without being picked up。〃 He put out his hand and
caught it； as it touched the dock。
In the stern a good paddle of maple…wood was lying； in the
middle there was a roll of blankets and a pack of camp…stuff； in
the bow a rifle。
〃All ready for a trip；〃 he laughed。 〃Nobody going but me？
Well； then； au large！〃 And stepping into the canoe he
pushed out on the river。
The saffron and golden lights in the sky diffused
themselves over the surface of the water； and spread from the bow
of the canoe in deeper waves of purple and orange； as he paddled
swiftly up stream。 The pale yellow gas…lamps of the town faded
behind him。 The lumber…yards and factories and disconsolate
little houses of the outskirts seemed to melt away。 In a little
while he was floating between dark walls of forest； through the
heart of the wilderness。
The night deepened around him and the sky hung out its
thousand lamps。 Odours of the woods floated on the air： the
spicy fragrance of the firs； the breath of hidden banks of
twin…flower。 Muskrats swam noiselessly in the shadows； diving
with a great commotion as the canoe ran upon them suddenly。
A horned owl hooted from the branch of a dead pine…tree； far
back in the forest a fox barked twice。 The moon crept up
behind the wall of trees and touched the stream with silver。
Presently the forest receded： the banks of the river grew
broad and open； the dew glistened on the tall grass； it was
surely the River of Meadows。 Far ahead of him in a bend of
the stream； Luke's ear caught a new sound： SLOSH； SLOSH； SLOSH；
as if some heavy animal were crossing the wet meadow。 Then a
great splash！ Luke swung the canoe into the shadow of the bank
and paddled fast。 As he turned the point a black bear came out
of the river； and stood on the shore； shaking the water around
him in glittering spray。 Ping！ said the rifle； and the bear
fell。 〃Good luck！〃 said Luke。 〃I haven't forgotten how；
after all。 I'll take him into the canoe； and dress him up at
the camp。〃
Yes； there was the little cabin at the meeting of the
rivers。 The door was padlocked； but Luke knew how to pry off
one of the staples。 Squirrels had made a litter on the floor；
but that was soon swept out； and a fire crackled in the stove。
There was tea and ham and bread in the pack in the canoe。
Supper never tasted better。 〃One more night in the old camp；〃
said Luke as he rolled himself in the blanket and dropped
asleep in a moment。
The sun shone in at the door and woke him。 〃I must have
a trout for breakfast；〃 he cried； 〃there's one waiting for me
at the mouth of Alder Brook； I suppose。〃 So he caught up his
rod from behind the door； and got into the canoe and paddled
up the River of Rocks。 There was the broad； dark pool； like a
little lake； with a rapid running in at the head； and close
beside the rapid； the mouth of the brook。 He sent his fly out by
the edge of the alders。 There was a huge swirl on the water； and
the great…grandfather of all the trout in the river was
hooked。 Up and down the pool he