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but his heart was filled with joy
〃News of battle； news of victory〃 he was bringing； and the
thought lent strength； the five mires passed； the way was plain
with good roads now； but the runner was so weary。 He was
striding； his running was done； the sun was low in the west； his
feet were bleeding； the courier was brain worn and leg worn； but
he strode and strode。 He passed by homes but heeded them not。
〃Come in and rest；〃 called one who saw nothing but a weary
traveller。 Rolf shook his head； but gave no word and strode
along。 A mile a short mile now； he must hold out； if he sat
down he feared he could not rise。 He came at last in sight of the
fort； then； gathering all his force； he broke into a trot； weak；
so weak that had he fallen； he could scarcely have got up； and
slow； but faster than a walk： and so； as the red sun sank； he
passed the gate。 He had no right to give tidings to any but the
general； yet they read it in his eyes。 The guard broke into a
cheer； and trotting still； though reeling； Rolf had kept his
word； had made his run； had brought the news； and had safely
reached his goal。
Chapter 74。 Van Trumper's Again
Why should the scout bringing good news be differently received
from the one that brings the ill？ He did not make； the news； he
simply did his duty； the same in both cases。 He is merely the
telegraph instrument。 Yet it is so ever。 King Pharaoh slew the
bearer of ill…tidings； that was human nature。 And General Hampton
brought in the tall stripling to his table； to honour him； to get
the fullest details； to glory in every item as though it all were
due to himself。 Rolf's wonderful journey was dilated on； and in
the reports to Albany he was honourably mentioned for
exceptionally meritorious service as a bearer of despatches。
For three days Flying Kittering was hero of the post； then other
runners came with other news and life went on。
Hitherto the scouts had worn no uniform； but the execution of one
of their number； who was captured by the British and treated as a
spy； resulted in orders that all be formally enlisted and put in
uniform。
Not a few withdrew from the service； some； like Quonab；
reluctantly consented； but Rolf was developing the fighting
spirit； and was proud to wear the colours。
The drill was tedious enough； but it was of short duration for
him。 Despatches were to go to Albany。 The general； partly to
honour Rolf； selected him。
〃Are you ready for another run； Kittering？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Then prepare to start as soon as possible for Fort George and
Albany。 Do you want a mate？〃
〃I should like a paddler as far as Fort George。〃
〃Well； pick your man。〃
〃Quonab。〃
And when they set out； for the first time Rolf was in the stern；
the post of guidance and command。 So once more the two were
travelling again with Skookum in the bow。 It was afternoon when
they started and the four…mile passage of the creek was slow； but
down the long； glorious vista of the noble George they went at
full canoe…flight； five miles an hour； and twenty…five miles of
the great fair…way were reeled and past when they lighted their
nightly fire。
At dawn…cry of the hawk they sped away； and in spite of a rising
wind they made six miles in two hours。
As they approached the familiar landing of Van Trumper's farm；
Skookum began to show a most zestful interest that recalled the
blackened pages of his past。 〃Quonab； better use that；〃 and Rolf
handed a line with which Skookum was secured and thus led to make
a new record； for this was the first time in his life that he
landed at Van Trumper's without sacrificing a chicken in honour
of the joyful occasion。
They entered the house as the family were sitting down to
breakfast。
〃Mein Hemel！ mein Hemel！ It is Rolf and Quonab； and vere is dot
tam dog？ Marta； vere is de chickens？ Vy； Rolf； you bin now a
giant； yah。 Mein Gott； it is I am glad！ I did tink der cannibals
you had eat； is it dem Canadian or cannibal？ I tink it all one
the same； yah！〃
Marta was actually crying； the little ones were climbing over
Rolf's knee； and Annette； tall and sixteen now； stood shyly by；
awaiting a chance to shake hands。 Home is the abiding place of
those we love； it may be a castle or a cave； a shanty or a
chateau； a moving van； a tepee； or a canal boat； a fortress or
the shady side of a bush； but it is home； if there indeed we meet
the faces that are ever in the heart； and find the hands whose
touch conveys the friendly glow。 Was there any other spot on
earth where he could sit by the fire and feel that 〃hereabout are
mine own； the people I love？〃 Rolf knew it now Van Trumper's
was his home。
Talks of the war； of disasters by land； and of glorious victories
on the sea； where England； long the unquestioned mistress of the
waves； had been humbled again and again by the dauntless seamen
of her Western blood； talks of big doings by the nation； and； yet
more interesting； small doings by the travellers； and the
breakfast passed all too soon。 The young scout rose； for he was
on…duty； but the long rollers on the lake forbade the going
forth。 Van's was a pleasant place to wait； but he chafed at the
delay； his pride would have him make a record on every journey。
But wait he must。 Skookum tied safely to his purgatorial post
whined indignantly and with head cocked on one side； picked
out the very hen he would like to utilize as soon as released
from his temporary embarrassment。 Quonab went out on a rock to
bum some tobacco and pray for calm； and Rolf； ever active；
followed Van to look over the stock and buildings； and hear of
minor troubles。 The chimney was unaccountably given to smoking
this year。 Rolf took an axe and with two blows cut down a
vigorous growth shrubbery that stood above the chimney on the
west； and the smoking ceased。 Buck ox had a lame foot and would
allow no one even to examine it。 But a skilful ox… handler easily
hobbles an ox； throws him near some small tree； and then； by
binding the lame foot to the tree； can have a free hand。 It
proved a simple matter； a deep…sunk； rusty nail。 And when the
nail was drawn and the place washed clean with hot brine； kind
nature was left in confidence to do the rest。 They drifted back
to the house now。 Tomas met them shouting out a mixture of Dutch
and English and holding by the cover Annette's book of the 〃Good
Girl。〃 But its rightful owner rescued the precious volume and put
it on the shelf。
〃Have you read it through； Annette？〃
〃Yes；〃 was the reply； for she had learned to read before they
left Schuylerville。
〃How do you like it？〃
〃Didn't like it a bit； I like 'Robinson Crusoe'；〃 was the candid
reply。
The noon hour came； still the white rollers were pounding the
shore。
〃If it does not calm by one o'clock I'll go on afoot。〃
So off he went with the packet； leaving Quonab to follow and
await his return at Fort George。 In Schuyler settlement he spent
the night and at noon next day was in Albany。
How it stirred his soul to see the busy interest； the marching of
men； the sailing of vessels； and above all to hear of more
victories on the high seas。 What mattered a few frontier defeats
in the north； when the arrogant foe that had spurned and insulted
them before the world had now been humbled again and again。
Young Van Cortlandt was away； but the governor's reception of him
reflected the electric atmosphere the country's pride in her sons。
Rolf had a matter of his own to settle。 At the bookseller's he
asked for and actually secured a copy of the great book
〃Robinson Crusoe。〃 It was with a thrilling feeling of triumph
that he wrote Annette's name in it and stowed it in his bag。
He left Albany next day in the gray dawn。 Thanks to his uniform；
he got a twenty…five mile lift with a traveller who drove a fast
team； and the blue water was glinting back the stars when he
joined Quonab at Fort George； some sixty miles away。
In the calm betwixt star…peep and sun…up they were afloat。 It was
a great temptation to stop at Hendrik's for a spell； but
breakfast was over； the water was calm； and duty called him。 He
hallooed； then they drew near enough to hand the book ashore。
Skookum growled； probably at the hens； and the family waved their
aprons as he sped on。 Thirty miles of lake and four miles of
Ticonderoga Creek they passed and the packet was delivered in
four days and three hours since leaving。
The general smiled and his short but amply sufficient praise was
merely； 〃You're a good 'un。〃
Chapter 75。 Scouting in Canada
〃Thar is two things；〃 said Si Sylvanne to the senate； 〃that every
national crisis is bound to show up： first； a lot o' dum fools in
command； second a lot o great commanders in the ranks。 An'
fortunately before the crisis is over the hull thing is sure set
right； and the men is w