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of a cotton print。
〃Beautiful？〃 How can mere words do justice to masses of yellow
corn； mixed recklessly with green and scarlet poppies on a bright
blue ground。 No； you should have seen Annette's dress； or you
cannot expect to get the adequate thrill。 And when they found
that there was enough cash left over to add a red cotton parasol
to the glorious spoils； every one there beamed in a sort of
friendly joy； and the trader； carried away by the emotions of the
hour； contributed a set of buttons of shining brass。
Warren kept a 〃meal house；〃 which phrase was a ruse that saved
him from a burdensome hospitality。 Determined to do it all in the
best style； Rolf took Annette to the meal…house table。 She was
deeply awed by the grandeur of a tablecloth and white plates； but
every one was kind。
Warren； talking to a stranger opposite； and evidently resuming a
subject they had discussed； said：
〃Yes； I'd like to send the hull lot down to Albany this week； if
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； rath