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were safely home again。
And Rolf pondered it not a little。 At the very moment of blackest
despair； the way had opened； and it had been so simple； so natural；
so effectual。 Surely； as long as he lived； he would remember it？
〃There is always a way； and the stout heart will find it。〃
Chapter 50。 Marketing the Fur
If Rolf had been at home with his mother； she would have rubbed
his black and swollen ankle with goose grease。 The medical man at
Stamford would have rubbed it with a carefully prepared and
secret ointment。 His Indian friend sang a little crooning song
and rubbed it with deer's fat。 All different； and all good；
because each did something to reassure the patient； to prove that
big things were doing on his behalf； and each helped the process
of nature by frequent massage。
Three times a day； Quonab rubbed that blackened ankle。 The grease
saved the skin from injury； and in a week Rolf had thrown his
crutches away。
The month of May was nearly gone； June was at hand； that is； the
spring was over。 ！
In all ages； man has had the impulse； if not the habit； of spring
migration。 Yielding to it he either migrated or made some radical
change in his life。 Most of the Adirondack men who trapped in the
winter sought work on the log drives in spring； some who had
families and a permanent home set about planting potatoes and
plying the fish nets。 Rolf and Quonab having neither way open；
yet feeling the impulse； decided to go out to Warren's with the fur。
Quonab wanted tobacco and a change。
Rolf wanted a rifle； and to see the Van Trumpers and a change。
So June Ist saw them all aboard； with Quonab steering at the
stern； and Skookum bow…wowing at the bow； bound for the great
centre of Warren's settlement one store and three houses； very
wide apart。
There was a noble flush of water in the streams； and； thanks to
their axe work in September； they passed down Jesup's River
without a pause； and camped on the Hudson that night； fully
twenty…five miles from home。
Long； stringing flocks of pigeons going north were the most
numerous forms of life。 But a porcupine on the bank and a bear in
the water aroused Skookum to a pitch of frightful enthusiasm and
vaulting ambition that he was forced to restrain。
On the evening of the third day they landed at Warren's and found
a hearty welcome from the trader； who left a group of loafers and
came forward：
〃Good day to ye； boy。 My； how ye have growed。〃
So he had。 Neither Rolf nor Quonab had remarked it； but now they
were much of the same height。 〃Wall； an' how'd ye make out with
yer hunt？ Ah； that's fine！〃 as each of them dropped a fur pack
on the counter。 〃Wall； this is fine； we must have a drink on the
head of it；〃 and the trader was somewhat nonplussed when both the
trappers refused。 He was disappointed； too； for that refusal
meant that they would get much better prices for their fun But he
concealed his chagrin and rattled on： 〃I reckon I'll sell you the
finest rifle in the country this time； 〃and he knew by Rolf's
face that there was business to do in that line。
Now came the listing of the fur； and naturally the bargaining was
between the shrewd Yankee boy and the trader。 The Indian stood
shyly aside； but he did not fail to help with significant grunts
and glances。
〃There； now；〃 said Warren； as the row of martens were laid out
side by side； 〃 thirty martens a leetle pale worth three
dollars and fifty cents each； or； to be generous； we'll say four
dollars。〃 Rolf glanced at Quonab； who； unseen by the trader shook
his head； held his right hand out； open hollow up； then raised it
with a jerk for two inches。
Quickly Rolf caught the idea and said； 〃No； I don't reckon them
pale。 I call them prime dark； every one of them。〃 Quonab spread
his hand with all five fingers pointed up； and Rolf continued；
〃They are worth five dollars each； if they're worth a copper。〃
〃Phew！〃 said the trader。 〃you forget fur is an awful risky thing；
what with mildew； moth； mice； and markets； we have a lot of risk。
But I want to please you； so let her go； five each。 There's a
fine black fox； that's worth forty dollars。〃
〃I should think it is；〃 said Rolf； as Quonab； by throwing to his
right an imaginary pinch of sand； made the sign 〃refuse。〃
They had talked over the value of that fox skin and Rolf said；
〃Why； I know of a black fox that sold for two hundred dollars。〃
〃Where？〃
〃Oh； down at Stamford。〃
〃Why； that's near New York。〃
〃Of course； don't you send your fur to New York？〃
〃Yes； but it costs a lot to get it there。
〃Now；〃 said Warren； 〃if you'll take it in trade； I'll meet you
half…way and call it one hundred dollars。〃
〃Make it one hundred and twenty…five dollars and I'll take a
rifle； anyway。〃
〃Phew！〃 whistled the trader。 〃Where do ye get such notions？ 〃
〃Nothing wrong about the notion； old Si Sylvanne offered me
pretty near that； if I'd come out his way with the stuff。〃
This had the desired effect of showing that there were other
traders。 At last the deal was closed。 Besides the fox skin； they
had three hundred dollars' worth of fur。 The exchange for the fox
skin was enough to buy all the groceries and dry goods they
needed。 But Rolf had something else in mind。
He had picked out some packages of candies； some calico prints
and certain bright ribbons； when the trader grasped the idea。 〃I
see； yer goin' visitin'。 Who is it？ Must be the Van Trumpers！ 〃
Rolf nodded and now he got some very intelligent guidance。 He did
not buy Annette's dress； because part of her joy was to be the
expedition in person to pick it out； but he stocked up with some
gorgeous pieces of jewellery that were ten cents each； and
ribbons whose colours were as far beyond expression as were the
joys they could create in the backwoods female heart。
Proudly clutching his new rlile； and carrying in his wallet a
memorandum of three hundred dollars for their joint credit； Rolf
felt himself a person of no little impor… tance。 As he was
stepping out of the store； the trader said； 〃Ye didn't run across
Jack Hoag agin； did ye？〃
〃Did we？ Hmph！〃 and Rolf told briefly of their experience with
that creature。
〃Just like him； just like him； served him right； he was a dirty
cuss。 But； say； don't you be led into taking your fur out Lyons
Falls way。 They're a mean lot in there； and it stands to reason I
can give you better prices； being a hundred miles nearer New
York。〃
And that lesson was not forgotten。 The nearer New York the better
the price； seventy…five dollars at Lyons Falls； one hundred and
twenty…five dollars at Warren's； two hundred dollars at New York。
Rolf pondered long and the idea was one which grew and bore
fruit。
Chapter 51。 Back at Van Trumper's
Nibowaka〃 Quonab always said 〃Nibowaka〃 when he was impressed
with Rolf's astuteness 〃What about the