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hez tapped the finest bar'l in years。〃
〃No； I tell ye； I'm not drinking now。〃
〃Wall； all right； ye know yer own business。 I thought maybe ye'd
be glad to see us。〃
〃Well； ain't I？〃
〃Hello； Bill；〃 and Bill's fat brother…in…law came up。 Thus does
me good； an' yer sister is spilin' to see ye。 We'll hev one on
this。〃
〃No； Sam； I ain't drinkin'； I've got biz to tend。〃
〃Wall； hev just one to clear yer head。 Then settle yer business
and come back to us。〃
So Bill went to have one to clear his head。 〃I'll be back in two
minutes； Rolf；〃 but Rolf saw him no more for many days。
〃You better come along； cub；〃 called out a red…nosed member of
the group。 But Rolf shook his head。
〃Here； I'll help you git them ashore；〃 volunteered an effusive
stranger； with one eye。
〃I don't want help。〃
〃How are ye gain' to handle 'em alone？〃
〃Well； there's one thing I'd be glad to have ye do； that is； go
up there and bring Peter Vandam。〃
〃I'll watch yer stuff while you go。〃
〃No； I can't leave。〃 〃Then go to blazes； d'yte take me for yer
errand boy？〃 And Rolf was left alone。
He was green at the business； but already he was realizing the
power of that word fur and the importance of the peltry trade。
Fur was the one valued product of the wilderness that only the
hunter could bring。 The merchants of the world were as greedy for
fur as for gold； and far more so than for precious stones。
It was a commodity so light that； even in those days； a hundred
weight of fur might range in value from one hundred to five
thousand dollars； so that a man with a pack of fine furs was a
capitalist。 The profits of the business were good for trapper；
very large for the trader； who doubled his first gain by paying
in trade； but they were huge for the Albany middleman； and
colossal for the New Yorker who shipped to London。
With such allurements； it was small wonder that more country was
explored and opened for fur than for settlement or even for gold；
and there were more serious crimes and high…handed robberies over
the right to trade a few furs than over any other legitimate
business。 These things were new to Rolf within the year； but he
was learn… ing the lesson； and Warren's remarks about fur stuck
in his memory with growing value。 Every incident since the trip
began had given them new points。
The morning passed without sign of Bill； so； when in the
afternoon； some bare…legged boys came along； Rolf said to them：
〃Do any of ye know where Peter Vandam's house is？〃
〃Yeh； that's it right there；〃 and they pointed to a large log
house less than a hundred yards away。
〃Do ye know him？〃
〃Yeh； he's my paw；〃 said a sun…bleached freckle…face。
〃If you bring him here right away； I'll give you a dime。 Tell him
I'm from Warren's with a cargo。〃
The dusty stampede that followed was like that of a mustang herd；
for a dime was a dime in those days。 And very soon； a tall；ruddy
man appeared at the dock。 He was a Dutchman in name only。 At
first sight he was much like the other loafers； but was bigger；
and had a more business…like air when observed near at hand。
〃Are you from Warren's？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Alone？ 〃
〃No； sir。 I came with Bill Bymus。 But he went off early this
morning； I haven't seen him since。 I'm afraid he's in trouble。〃
〃Where'd ho go？〃
〃In there with some friends。〃
〃Ha； just like him； he's in trouble all right。 He'll be no good
for a week。 Last time he came near losing all our stuff。 Now
let's see what ye've got。〃
〃Are you Mr。 Peter Vandam？ 〃
〃Of course I am。〃
Still Rolf looked doubtful。 There was a small group around； and
Rolf heard several voices； 〃Yes； this is Peter； ye needn't
a…worry。〃 But Rolf knew none of the speakers。 His look of
puzzlement at first annoyed then tickled the Dutchman； who
exploded into a hearty guffaw。
〃Wall； wall； you sure think ill of us。 Here； now look at that；〃
and he drew out a bundle of letters addressed to Master Peter
Vandam。 Then he displayed a gold watch inscribed on the back
〃Peter Vandam〃； next he showed a fob seal with a scroll and an
inscription； 〃Petrus Vandamus〃； then he turned to a youngster and
said； 〃Run； there is the Reverend Dr。 Powellus； he may help us〃；
so the black…garbed； knee…breached； shovel…hatted clergyman came
and pompously said： 〃Yes； my young friend； without doubt you may
rest assured that this is our very estimable parishioner； Master
Peter Vandam； a man well accounted in the world of trade。〃
〃And now；〃 said Peter； 〃with the help of my birth… register and
marriage…certificate； which will be placed at your service with
all possible haste； I hope I may win your recognition。〃 The
situation； at first tense； had become more and more funny； and
the bystanders laughed aloud。 Rolf rose to it； and smiling said
slowly； 〃I am inclined to think that you must be Master Peter
Vandam； of
Albany。 If that's so； this letter is for you； also this cargo。〃
And so the delivery was made。
Bill Bymus has not delivered the other letter to this day。
Presumably he went to stay with his sister； but she saw little of
him； for his stay at Albany was； as usual； one long spree。 It was
clear that； but for Rolf； there might have been serious loss of
fur； and Vandam showed his appreciation by taking the lad to his
own home； where the story of the difficult identification
furnished ground for gusty laughter and primitive jest on many an
after day。
The return cargo for Warren consisted of stores that the Vandam
warehouse had in stock； and some stuff that took a day or more to
collect in town。
As Rolf was sorting and packing next day； a tall； thin； well…dressed
young man walked in with the air of one much at home。
〃Good morrow； Peter。〃
〃Good day to ye； sir；〃 and they talked of crops and politics。
Presently Vandam said； 〃Rolf； come over here。〃
He came and was presented to the tall man； who was indeed very
thin； and looked little better than an invalid。 〃This；〃 said
Peter； 〃is Master Henry van Cortlandt the son of his honour； the
governor； and a very learned barrister。 He wants to go on a long
hunting trip for his health。 I tell him that likely you are the
man he needs。〃
This was so unexpected that Rolf turned red and gazed on the
ground。 Van Cortlandt at once began to clear things by
interjecting： 〃You see； I'm not strong。 I want to live outdoors
for three months； where I can have some hunting and be beyond
reach of business。 I'll pay you a hundred dollars for the three
months； to cover board and guidance。 And providing I'm well
pleased and have good hunting； I'll give you fifty dollars more
when I get back to Albany。〃
〃I'd like much to be your guide；〃 said Rolf； 〃but I have a
partner。 I must find out if he's willing。〃
〃Ye don't mean…that drunken Bill Bymus？〃
〃No！ my hunting partner； he's an Indian。〃 Then； after a pause； he
added； 〃 You wouldn't go in fly…time； would you？〃
〃No； I want to be in peace。 But any time after the first of August。〃
〃I am bound to help Van Trumper with his harvest； that will take
most of August。〃
As he talked； the young lawyer sized him up and said to himself；
〃This is my man。〃
And before they parted it was agreed that Rolf should come to
Albany with Quonab as soon as he could return in August； to form
the camping party for the governor's son。
Chapter 55。 The Rescue of Bill
Bales were ready and the canoe newly gummed three days after
their arrival； but still no sign of Bill。 A messengers sent to
the brother…in…law's home reported that he had not been seen for
two days。 In spite of the fact that Albany numbered nearly 〃six
thousand living human souls；〃 a brief search by the docksharps
soon revealed the sinner's retreat。 His worst enemy would have
pitied him； a red…eyed wreck； a starved； sick and trembling
weakling； conscience…stricken； for the letter intrusted to him
was lost； the cargo stolen so his comforters had said and
the raw country lad murdered and thrown out into the river。 What
wonder that he should shun the light of day！ And when big Peter
with Rolf in the living flesh； instead of the sheriff； stood
before him and told him to come out of that and get into the
canoe； he wept bitter tears of repentance and vowed that never；
never； never； as long as he lived would he ever again let liquor
touch his lips。 A frame of mind which lasted in strength for
nearly one day and a half； and did not entirely varnish for three。
They passed Troy without desiring to stop； and began their fight
with the river。 It was harder than when coming； for their course
was against stream when paddling； up hill when portaging； the
water was lower； the cargo was heavier； and Bill not so able。 Ten
days it took them to cover those eighty miles。 But they came out
safely； cargo and all； a