He did not smile, or sing, or utter words, or give it a name, but he sat beside it and looked hard at it, and, in the first place, he went there knowingly to find it.

Who shall say that its beauty did not reach his soul?
He took out his pipe and tobacco bag, but was reminded of something lacking--the bag was empty.

He returned to his wigwam, and from their safe hanger or swinging shelf overhead, he took the row of stretched skins, ten muskrats and one mink, and set out along a path which led southward through the woods to the broad, open place called Strickland's Plain, across that, and over the next rock ridge to the little town and port of Myanos.
SILAS PECK Trading Store was the sign over the door he entered.

Men and women were buying and selling, but the Indian stood aside shyly until all were served, and Master Peck cried out: "Ho, Quonab! what have ye got for trade to-day ?" Quonab produced his furs.

The dealer looked at them narrowly and said: "They are too late in the season for primes; I cannot allow you more than seven cents each for the rats and seventy-five cents for the mink, all trade." The Indian gathered up the bundle with an air of "that settles it," when Silas called out: "Come now, I'll make it ten cents for the rats." "Ten cents for rats, one dollar for mink, all cash, then I buy what I like," was the reply.
It was very necessary to Silas's peace that no customer of his should cross the street to the sign, SILAS MEAD Trading Store So the bargain, a fair one now, was made, and the Indian went off with a stock of tobacco, tea, and sugar.
His way lay up the Myanos River, as he had one or two traps set along the banks for muskrats, although in constant danger of having them robbed or stolen by boys, who considered this an encroachment on their trapping grounds.
After an hour he came to Dumpling Pond, then set out for his home, straight through the woods, till he reached the Catrock line, and following that came to the farm and ramshackle house of Micky Kittering.
He had been told that the man at this farm had a fresh deer hide for sale, and hoping to secure it, Quonab walked up toward the house.