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often take chances in some fierce rapid； rather than to make a
long carry through the fly…infested woods。
It was weighty evidence of Bill's fidelity that again and again
they made a portage around rapids he had often run； because in
the present case he was in sacred trust of that much prized
commodity fur。
Eighty miles they called it from Warren's to Albany； but there
were many halts and carries which meant long delay； and a whole
week was covered before Bill and Rolf had passed the settlements
of Glens Falls； Fort Edward； and Schuylerville； and guided their
heavily laden canoe on the tranquil river； past the little town
of Troy。 Loafers hailed them from the bank； but Bill turned a
deaf ear to all temptation； and they pushed on happy in the
thought that now their troubles were over； the last rapid was
past； the broad； smooth waters extended to their port。
Chapter 54。 Albany
Only a man who in his youth has come at last in sight of some
great city he had dreamed of all his life and longed to see； can
enter into Rolf's feelings as they swept around the big bend； and
Albany Albany； hove in view。 Abany； the first chartered city
of the United States； Albany； the capital of all the Empire
State； Albany； the thriving metropolis with nearly six thousand
living human souls； Albany with its State House； beautiful and
dignified； looking down the mighty Hudson highway that led to the
open sea。
Rolf knew his Bible； and now he somewhat realized the feelings of
St。 Paul on that historic day when his life…long dream came true；
when first he neared the Eternal City when at last he glimpsed
the towers of imperial； splendid Rome。
The long…strung docks were massed and webbed with ship rigging；
the water was livened with boats and canoes； the wooden
warehouses back of the docks were overtopped by wooden houses in
tiers； until high above them all the Capitol itself was the
fitting climax。
Rolf knew something of shipping； and amid all the massed boats
his eyes fell on a strange； square…looking craft with a huge
water…wheel on each side。 Then； swinging into better view； he
read her name； the Clermont； and knew that this was the famous
Fulton steamer； the first of the steamboat age。
But Bill was swamped by no such emotion。 Albany； Hudson；
Clermont； and all； were familiar stories to him and he stolidly
headed the canoe for the dock he knew of old。
Loafers roosting on the snubbing posts hailed him； at first with
raillery； but； coming nearer； he was recognized。 〃Hello； Bill；
back again？ Glad to see you；〃 and there was superabundant help to
land the canoe。
〃Wall； wall； wall； so it's really you；〃 said the touter of a fur
house； in extremely friendly voice； 〃come in now and we'll hev a
drink。〃
〃No； sir…ree；〃 said Bill decisively； 〃I don't drink till business
is done。〃
〃Wall； now； Bill； here's Van Roost's not ten steps away an' he
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 addr