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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 addressed to Master Peter
Vandam。 Then he displayed a gold watch inscribed on the back
〃Peter Vandam〃； next he showed a fob seal with a scroll and an
inscription； 〃Petrus Vandamus〃； then he turned to a youngster and
said； 〃Run； there is the Reverend Dr。 Powellus； he may help us〃；
so the black…garbed； knee…breached； shovel…hatted clergyman came
and pompously said： 〃Yes； my young friend； without doubt you may
rest assured that this is our very estimable parishioner； Master
Peter Vandam； a man well accounted in the world of trade。〃
〃And now；〃 said Peter； 〃with the help of my birth… register and
marriage…certificate； which will be placed at your service with
all possible haste； I hope I may win your recognition。〃 The
situation； at first tense； had become more and more funny； and
the bystanders laughed aloud。 Rolf rose to it； and smiling said
slowly； 〃I am inclined to think that you must be Master Peter
Vandam； of
Albany。 If that's so； this letter is for you； also this cargo。〃
And so the delivery was made。
Bill Bymus has not delivered the other letter to this day。
Presumably he went to stay with his sister； but she saw little of
him； for his stay at Albany was； as usual； one long spree。 It was
clear that； but for Rolf； there might have been serious loss of
fur； and Vandam showed his appreciation by taking the lad to his
own home； where the story of the difficult identification
furnished ground for gusty laughter and primitive jest on many an
after day。
The return cargo for Warren consisted of stores that the Vandam
warehouse had in stock； and some stuff that took a day or more to
collect in town。
As Rolf was sorting and packing next day； a tall； thin； well…dressed
young man walked in with the air of one much at home。
〃Good morrow； Peter。〃
〃Good day to ye； sir；〃 and they talked of crops and politics。
Presently Vandam said； 〃Rolf； come over here。〃
He came and was presented to the tall man； who was indeed very
thin； and looked little better than an invalid。 〃This；〃 said
Peter； 〃is Master Henry van Cortlandt the son of his honour； the
governor； and a very learned barrister。 He wants to go on a long
hunting trip for his health。 I tell him that likely you are the
man he needs。〃
This was so unexpected that Rolf turned red and gazed on the
ground。 Van Cortlandt at once began to clear things by
interjecting： 〃You see； I'm not strong。 I want to live outdoors
for three months； where I can have some hunting and be beyond
reach of business。 I'll pay you a hundred dollars for the three
months； to cover board and guidance。 And providing I'm well
pleased and have good hunting； I'll give you fifty dollars more
when I get back to Albany。〃
〃I'd like much to be your guide；〃 said Rolf； 〃but I have a
partner。 I must find out if he's willing。〃
〃Ye don't mean…that drunken Bill Bymus？〃
〃No！ my hunting partner； he's an Indian。〃 Then； after a pause； he
added； 〃 You wouldn't go in fly…time； would you？〃
〃No； I want to be in peace。 But any time after the first of August。〃
〃I am bound to help Van Trumper with his harvest； that will take
most of August。〃
As he talked； the young lawyer sized him up and said to himself；
〃This is my man。〃
And before they parted it was agreed that Rolf should come to
Albany with Quonab as soon as he could return in August； to form
the camping party for the governor's son。
Chapter 55。 The Rescue of Bill
Bales were ready and the canoe newly gummed three days after
their arrival； but still no sign of Bill。 A messengers sent to
the brother…in…law's home reported that he had not been seen for
two days。 In spite of the fact that Albany numbered nearly 〃six
thousand living human souls；〃 a brief search by the docksharps
soon revealed the sinner's retreat。 His worst enemy would have
pitied him； a red…eyed wreck； a starved； sick and trembling
weakling； conscience…stricken； for the letter intrusted to him
was lost； the cargo stolen so his comforters had said and
the raw country lad murdered and thrown out into the river。 What
wonder that he should shun the light of day！ And when big Peter
with Rolf in the living flesh； instead of the sheriff； stood
before him and told him to come out of that and get into the
canoe； he wept bitter tears of repentance and vowed that never；
never； never； as long as he lived would he ever again let liquor
touch his lips。 A frame of mind which lasted in strength for
nearly one day and a half； and did not entirely varnish for three。
They passed Troy without desiring to stop； and began their fight
with the river。 It was harder than when coming； for their course
was against stream when paddling； up hill when portaging； the
water was lower； the cargo was heavier； and Bill not so able。 Ten
days it took them to cover those eighty miles。 But they came out
safely； cargo and all； and landed at Warren's alive and well on
the twenty…first day since leaving。
Bill had recovered his usual form。 Gravely and with pride he
marched up to Warren and handed out a large letter which read
outside； 〃Bill of Lading；〃 and when opened； read： 〃The bearer of
this； Bill Bymus； is no good。 Don't trust him to Albany any more。
（Signed） Peter Vandam。〃
Warren's eyes twinkled； but he said nothing。 He took
Rolf aside and said； 〃Let's have it。〃 Rolf gave him the real
letter that； unknown to Bill； he had carried； and Warren learned
some things that he knew before。
Rolf's contract was for a month； it had ten days to run； and
those ten days were put in weighing sugar； checking accounts；
milking cows； and watching the buying of fur。 Warren didn't want
him to see too much of the fur business； but Rolf gathered
quickly that these were the main principles： Fill the seller with
liquor； if possible； 〃fire water for fur〃 was the idea； next；
grade all fur as medium or second…class； when cash was demanded；
but be easy as long as payment was to be in trade。 That afforded
many loopholes between weighing； grading； charging； and
shrinkage； and finally he noticed that Albany prices were 30 to
50 per cent。 higher than Warren prices。 Yet Warren was reckoned
a first…class fellow； a good neighbour； and a member of the
church。 But it was understood everywhere that fur； like
horseflesh； was a business with moral standards of its own。
A few days before their contract was up； Warren said： 〃How'd ye
like to renew for a month？〃
〃Can't； I promised to help Van Trumper with his harvest。〃
〃What does he pay ye？〃
〃Seventy…five cents a day and board。〃
〃I'll make it a dollar。〃
〃I've given my word；〃 said Rolf； in surprise。
〃Hey ye signed papers？〃
〃They're not needed。 The only use of signed papers is to show ye
have given your word；〃 said Rolf； quoting his mo