134 Wilderness Ways. 



Then they scattered through the big woods, living 

 each one for himself; and now the strong ones kill 

 the weak, and nobody understands anybody any more. 



There were no dogs in those days. Hukweem was 

 Clote Scarpe's hunting companion when he hunted 

 the great evil beasts that disturbed the wilderness; 

 and Hukweem alone, of all the birds and animals, 

 remained true to his master. For hunting makes 

 strong friendship, says Simmo ; and that is true. 

 Therefore does Hukweem go through the world, 

 looking for his master and calling him to come back. 

 Over the tree-tops, when he flies low looking for new 

 waters; high in air, out of sight, on his southern 

 migrations; and on every lake where he is only a 

 voice, the sad night voice of the vast solitary unknown 

 wilderness — everywhere you hear him seeking. Even 

 on the seacoast in winter, where he knows Clote 

 Scarpe cannot be — for Clote Scarpe hates the sea — 

 Hukweem forgets himself, and cries occasionally out 

 of pure loneliness. 



When I asked what Hukweem says when he cries 

 — for all cries of the wilderness have their interpreta- 

 tion — Simmo answered: " Wy, he say two ting. ^First 

 he say, Where are you ? O where are you ? Dass 

 what you call-um his laugh, like he crazy. Denn, 

 wen nobody answer, he say, O I so sorry, so sorry ! 



