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I could get another man for the canoe。〃
Rolf was interested at once and said： 〃What wages are you offering？〃
〃Twenty…five dollars and board。〃
〃How will I do？〃
〃Well；〃 said Warren； as though thinking it over：
〃I dunno but ye would。 Could ye go to…morrow？〃
〃Yes； indeed； for one month。〃
〃All right； it's a bargain。〃
And so Rolf took the plunge that influenced his whole life。
But Annette whispered gleefully and excitedly； 〃May I have some
of that； and that？〃 pointing to every strange food she could see；
and got them all。
After noon they set out on their return journey； An… nette
clutching her prizes； and prattling incessantly； while Rolf
walked alongside； thinking deeply； replying to her chatter； but
depressed by the thought of good…bye tomorrow。 He was aroused at
length by a scraping sound overhead and a sharp reprimand； 〃Rolf；
you'll tear my new parasol； if you don't lead the horse better。〃
By two o'clock they were at Callan's。 Another hour and they had
crossed the lake； and Annette； shrill with joy； was displaying
her treasures to the wonder and envy of her kin。
Making a dress was a simple matter in those and Marta promised：
〃Yah； soom day ven I one have； shall I it sew。〃 Meanwhile；
Annette was quaffing deep； soul…satisfying draughts in the mere
contempt of the yellow； red； green； and blue glories in which was
soon to appear in public。 And when the bed came； she fell asleep
holding the dress…goods stuff in arms； and with the red parasol
spread above her head； tired out； but inexpressibly happy。
Chapter 53。 Travelling to the Great City
He's a bad failure that ain't king in some little corner
Sayings of Sylvanne Sylvanne
The children were not astir when Rolf was off in the morning。 He
caught a glimpse of Annette； still asleep under the red parasol；
but the dress goods and the brass buttons had fallen to the
floor。 He stepped into the canoe。 The dead calm of early morning
was on the water； and the little craft went skimming and wimpling
across。 In half an hour it was beached at Callan's。 In a little
more than an hour's jog and stride he was at Warren's； ready for
work。 As he marched in； strong and brisk； his colour up； his
blue eyes kindled with the thought of seeing Albany； the trader
could not help being struck by him； especially when he remembered
each of their meetings meetings in which he discerned a keen；
young mind of good judgment； one that could decide quickly。
Gazing at the lithe； red…checked lad； he said： 〃Say； Rolf； air ye
an Injun？？ 〃
〃No； sir。〃
〃Air ye a half…breed？〃
〃No； I'm a Yank； my name is Kittering； born and bred in Redding；
Connecticut。〃
〃Well； I swan； ye look it。 At fust I took ye fur an Injun； ye did
look dark （and Rolf laughed inside； as he thought of that
butternut dye）； but I'm bound to say we're glad yer white。〃
〃Here； Bill； this is Rolf； Rolf Kittering； he'll go with ye to
Albany。〃 Bill； a loose…jointed； middle…aged； flat…footed； large…
handed； semi…loafer； with keen gray eyes； looked up from a bundle
he was roping。
Then Warren took Rolf aside and explained： 〃I'm sending down all
my fur this trip。 There's ten bales of sixty pounds each； pretty
near my hull fortune。 I want it took straight to Vandam's； and；
night or day； don't leave it till ye git it there。 He's close to
the dock。 I'm telling ye this for two reasons： The river's
swarming with pirates and sneaks。 They'd like nothing better
than to get away with a five…hundred…dollar bundle of fur； and；
next； while Bill is A1 on the river and true as steel； he's awful
weak on the liquor； goes crazy； once it's in him。 And I notice
you've always refused it here。 So don't stop at Troy； an' when ye
get to Albany go straight past there to Vandam's。 You'll have a
letter that'll explain； and he'll supply the goods yer to bring back。
He's a sort of a partner； and orders from him is same as from me。
〃I suppose I ought to go myself； but this is the time all the fur
is coming in here； an' I must be on hand to do the dickering； and
there's too much much to risk it any longer in the storehouse。〃
〃Suppose；〃 said Rolf； 〃Bill wants to stop at Troy？〃
〃He won't。 He's all right； given he's sober。 I've give him the
letter。〃
〃Couldn't you give me the letter； in case？〃
〃Law； Bill'd get mad and quit。〃
〃He'll never know。〃
〃That's so； I will。〃 So when they paddled away； Bill had an
important letter of instructions ostentatiously tucked in his
outer pocket。 Rolf； unknown to any one else but Warren； had a
duplicate； wrapped in waterproof； hidden in an inside pocket。
Bill was A1 on the river； a kind and gentle old woodman； much
stronger than he looked。 He knew the value of fur and the danger
of wetting it； so he took no chances in doubtful rapids。 This
meant many portages and much hard labour。
I wonder if the world realizes the hard labour of the portage or
carry？ Let any man who seeks for light； take a fifty…pound sack
of flour on his shoulders and walk a quarter of a mile on level
ground in cool weather。 Unless he is in training； he will find it
a heavy burden long before he is half…way。 Suppose； instead of a
flour sack； the burden has sharp angles； the bearer is soon in
torture。 Suppose the weight carried be double； then the strain
is far more than doubled。 Suppose； finally； the road be not a
quarter mile but a mile； and not on level but through swamps；
over rocks； logs； and roots； and the weather not cool； but
suffocating summer weather in the woods； with mosquitoes boring
into every exposed part； while both hands are occupied； steadying
the burden or holding on to branches for help up steep places
and then he will have some idea of the horror of the portage； and
there were many of these； each one calling for six loaded and
five light trips for each canoe…man。 What wonder that men will
often take chances in some fierce rapid； rather than to make a
long carry through the fly…infested woods。
It was weighty evidence of Bill's fidelity that again and again
they made a portage around rapids he had often run； because in
the present case he was in sacred trust of that much prized
commodity fur。
Eighty miles they called it from Warren's to Albany； but there
were many halts and carries which meant long delay； and a whole
week was covered before Bill and Rolf had passed the settlements
of Glens Falls； Fort Edward； and Schuylerville； and guided their
heavily laden canoe on the tranquil river； past the little town
of Troy。 Loafers hailed them from the bank； but Bill turned a
deaf ear to all temptation； and they pushed on happy in the
thought that now their troubles were over； the last rapid was
past； the broad； smooth waters extended to their port。
Chapter 54。 Albany
Only a man who in his youth has come at last in sight of some
great city he had dreamed of all his life and longed to see； can
enter into Rolf's feelings as they swept around the big bend； and
Albany Albany； hove in view。 Abany； the first chartered city
of the United States； Albany； the capital of all the Empire
State； Albany； the thriving metropolis with nearly six thousand
living human souls； Albany with its State House； beautiful and
dignified； looking down the mighty Hudson highway that led to the
open sea。
Rolf knew his Bible； and now he somewhat realized the feelings of
St。 Paul on that historic day when his life…long dream came true；
when first he neared the Eternal City when at last he glimpsed
the towers of imperial； splendid Rome。
The long…strung docks were massed and webbed with ship rigging；
the water was livened with boats and canoes； the wooden
warehouses back of the docks were overtopped by wooden houses in
tiers； until high above them all the Capitol itself was the
fitting climax。
Rolf knew something of shipping； and amid all the massed boats
his eyes fell on a strange； square…looking craft with a huge
water…wheel on each side。 Then； swinging into better view； he
read her name； the Clermont； and knew that this was the famous
Fulton steamer； the first of the steamboat age。
But Bill was swamped by no such emotion。 Albany； Hudson；
Clermont； and all； were familiar stories to him and he stolidly
headed the canoe for the dock he knew of old。
Loafers roosting on the snubbing posts hailed him； at first with
raillery； but； coming nearer； he was recognized。 〃Hello； Bill；
back again？ Glad to see you；〃 and there was superabundant help to
land the canoe。
〃Wall； wall； wall； so it's really you；〃 said the touter of a fur
house； in extremely friendly voice； 〃come in now and we'll hev a
drink。〃
〃No； sir…ree；〃 said Bill decisively； 〃I don't drink till business
is done。〃
〃Wall； now； Bill； here's Van Roost's not ten steps away an' he
hez tapped the finest bar'l in years。〃
〃No；