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dat farm next ours purty good； but Rolf he say 'No Lake George no
good。' Better he like all his folk move over on dat Hudson。〃
Chapter 86。 The New Era of Prosperity
As November neared and his leave of absence ended； Rolf was himself
again； had been； indeed； for two weeks； and； swinging fork or axe；
he had helped with many an urgent job on the farm。
A fine log stable they had rolled up together； with corners
dovetailed like cabinet work； and roof of birch bark breadths
above the hay。
But there was another building； too； that Rolf had worked at night
and day。 It was no frontier shack； but a tall and towering castle；
splendid and roomy； filled with loved ones and love。 Not by the
lake near by； not by the river of his choice； but higher up than
the tops of the high mountains it loomed； and he built and built
until the month was nearly gone。 Then only did he venture to ask
for aid； and Annette it was who promised to help him finish the
building。
Yes； the Lake George shore was a land of hungry farms。 It was off
the line of travel； too。 It was neither Champlain nor Hudson； and
Hendrik； after ten years' toil with barely a living to show； was
easily convinced。 Next summer they must make a new choice of home。
But now it was back to Plattsburg。
On November 1st Rolf and Quonab reported to General Macomb。 There
was little doing but preparations for the winter。 There were no
prospects of further trouble from their neighbours in the north。 Most
of the militia were already disbanded； and the two returned to
Plattsburg； only to receive their honourable discharge； to be
presented each with the medal of war； with an extra clasp on Rolf's
for that dauntless dash that spiked the British guns。
Wicked war with its wickedness was done at last。 〃The greatest evil
that can befall a country；〃 some call it； and yet out of this end
came three great goods： The interstate distrust had died away； for
now they were soldiers who had camped together； who had 〃drunk from
the same canteen〃； little Canada； until then a thing of shreds and
scraps； had been fused in the furnace； welded into a young nation；
already capable of defending her own。 England； arrogant with long
success at sea； was taught a lesson of courtesy and justice； for
now the foe whom she had despised and insulted had shown himself
her equal； a king of the sea…king stock。 The unnecessary battle
of New Orleans； fought two weeks after the war was officially closed；
showed that the raw riflemen of Tennessee were more than a match for
the seasoned veterans who had overcome the great Napoleon； and thus
on land redeemed the Stars and Stripes。
The war brought unmeasured material loss on all concerned； but some
weighty lasting gains to two at least。 On December 24； 1814； the
Treaty of Ghent was signed and the long rides were hung up on the
cabin walls。 Nothing was said in the treaty about the cause of war
the right of search。 Why should they speak of it？ If a big boy bullies
a smaller one and gets an unexpected knockdown blow； it is not
necessary to have it all set forth in terms before they shake hands
that 〃I； John； of the first part； to wit； the bully； do hereby
agree； promise； and contract to refrain in future forevermore from
bullying you； Jonathan； of the second part； to wit； the bullied。
〃That point had already been settled by the logic of events。 The
right of search was dead before the peace was born； and the very
place of its bones is forgotten to…day。
Rolf with Quonab returned to the trapping that winter； and as soon
as the springtime came and seeding was over； he and Van Trumper
made their choice of farms。 Every dollar they could raise was
invested in the beautiful sloping lands of the upper Hudson。 Rolf
urged the largest possible purchase now。 Hendrick looked somewhat
aghast at such a bridge…burning move。 But a purchaser for his
farm was found with unexpected promptness； one who was not on
farming bent and the way kept opening up。
The wedding did not take place till another year； when Annette was
nineteen and Rolf twenty…one。 And the home they moved to was not
exactly a castle； but much more complete and human。
This was the beginning of a new settlement。 Given good land in plenty；
and all the rest is easy； neighbours came in increasing numbers； every
claim was taken up； Rolf and Hendrik saw themselves growing rich； and
at length the latter was thankful for the policy that he once thought
so rash； of securing all the land he could。 Now it was his making； for
in later years his grown…up sons were thus provided for； and kept at home。
The falls of the river offered； as Rolf had foreseen； a noble chance
for power。 Very early he had started a store and traded for fur。 Now；
with the careful savings； he was able to build his sawmill； and about
it grew a village with a post… office that had Rolf's name on the
signboard。
Quonab had come； of course； with Rolf； but he shunned the house； and
the more so as it grew in size。 In a remote and sheltered place he
built a wigwam of his own。
Skookum was divided in his allegiance； but he solved the puzzle by
dividing his time between them。 He did not change much； but he did
rise in a measure to the fundamental zoological fact that hens are
not partridges； and so acquired a haughty toleration of the cackle…
party throng that assembled in the morning at Annette's call。 Yes；
he made even another step of progress； for on one occasion he valiantly
routed the unenlightened dog of a neighbour； a 〃cur of low degree；
〃whose ideas of ornithology were as crude as his own had been in the
beginning。
All of which was greatly to his credit； for he found it hard to learn
now； he was no longer young； and before he had seen eight springs
dissolve the snow； he was called to the Land of Happy Hunting； where
the porcupine is not； but where hens abound on every side； and there
is no man near to meddle with his joy。
Yet； when he died； he lived。 His memory was kept ever green； for
Skookum Number 2 was there to fill his room； and he gave place to
Skookum 3； and so they keep their line on to this very day。
Quonab Goes Home
The public has a kind of crawlin' common…sense； that is always
right and fair in the end； only it's slow Sayings of Si Sylvanne
Twenty years went by。 Rolf grew and prospered。 He was a man of
substance and of family now； for store and mill were making money
fast； and the little tow…tops came at regular intervals。
And when the years had added ripeness to his thought； and the kind
gods of gold had filled his scrip； it was that his ampler life
began to bloom。 His was a mind of the best begetting； born and
bred of ancient； clean…blooded stock； inflexibly principled；
trained by a God…fearing mother； nurtured in a cradle of adversity；
schooled in a school of hardship； developed in the big outdoors；
wise in the ways of the woods； burnt in the fire of affliction；
forced into self… reliance； inspired with the lofty inspiration
of sacrificial patriotism the good stuff of his make…up shone；
as shines the gold in the fervent heat； the hard blows that prove
or crush； had proved； the metal had rung true； and in the great
valley； Rolf Kittering was a man of mark。
The country's need of such is ever present and ever seeking。 Those
in power who know and measure men soon sought him out； and their
messenger was the grisly old Si Sylvanne。
Because he was a busy man； Rolf feared to add to his activities。
Because he was a very busy man； the party new they needed him。
So at length it was settled； and in a little while； Rolf stood
in the Halls of Albany and grasped the hand of the ancient
mill…man as a colleague； filling an honoured place in the
councils of the state。
Each change brought him new activities。 Each year he was more
of a public man； and his life grew larger。 From Albany he went
to New York； in the world of business and men's affairs； and
at last in Washington； his tall； manly figure was well known；
and his good common…sense and clean business ways were respected。
Yet each year during hunting time he managed to spend a few weeks
with Quonab in the woods。 Tramping on their ancient trapping
grounds； living over the days of their early hunts； and double
zest was added when Rolf the second joined them and lived and
loved it all。
But this was no longer Kittering's life； rather the rare
precarious interval； and more and more old Quonab realized that
they were meeting only in the past。 When the big house went up
on the river…bank； he indeed had felt that they were at the
parting of the ways。 His respect for Nibowaka had grown to be
almost a worship； and yet he knew that their trails had yearly
less in common。 Rolf had outgrown him； he was alone again； as
on the day of their meeting。 His years had brought a certain
insight； and this he grasped that the times were chang