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young Van Cortlandt and certain young ladies； assisted by some
very gay young men and the general。 Their chatter was funny； but
nothing more。 Now a different air was on the group； different
subjects were discussed； and by different men； in a totally
different manner。
〃We've stood just about all we can stand；〃 said the governor；
alluding to an incident newly told； of a British frigate boarding
an American merchant vessel by force and carrying off half her
crew； under presence that they were British seamen in disguise。
〃That's been going on for three years now。 It's either piracy or
war； and； in either case； it's our duty to fight。〃
〃Jersey's dead against war；〃 said a legislator from down the river。
〃Jersey always was dead against everything that was for the
national good； sir；〃 said a red…faced； puffy； military man； with
a husky voice； a rolling eye； and a way of ending every sentence
in 〃sir。〃
〃So is Connecticut；〃 said another； 〃they say； 'Look at all our
defenceless coasts and harbour towns。'〃
〃They're not risking as much as New York；〃 answered the
governor；〃 with her harbours all the way up the Hudson and her
back door open to invasion from Canada。〃
〃Fortunately； sir； Pennyslvania； Maryland； and the West have not
forgotten the glories of the past。 All I ask is a chance to
show what we can do； sir。 I long for the smell of powder once
more； sir。〃
〃I understand that President Madison has sent several protests；
and； in spite of Connecticut and New Jersey； will send an
ultimatum within three months。 He believes that Britain has all
she can manage； with Napoleon and his allies battering at her
doors； and will not risk a war。
〃It's my opinion；〃 said Sylvanne； 〃that these English men is too
pig…headed an' ornery to care a whoop in hell whether we get mad
or not。 They've a notion Paul Jones is dead； but I reckon we've
got plenty of the breed only waitin' a chance。 Mor'n twenty…five
of our merchantmen wrecked each year through being stripped of
their crews by a 'friendly power。' 'Pears to me we couldn't be
worse off going to war； an' might be a dum sight better。〃
〃Your home an' holdings are three hundred safe miles from the
seacoast；〃 objected the man from Manhattan。
〃Yes； and right next Canada；〃 was the reply。
〃The continued insults to our flag； sir； and the personal
indignities offered to our people are even worse than the actual
loss in ships and goods。 It makes my blood fairly boil；〃 and the
worthy general looked the part as his purple jowl quivered over
his white cravat。
〃Gosh all hemlock！ the one pricks； but t'other festers。 it's
tarnal sure you steal a man's dinner and tell him he's one o'
nature's noblemen； he's more apt to love you than if you give him
five dollars to keep out o' your sight；〃 said Sylvanne； with slow
emphasis。
〃There's something to be said on the other side；〃 said the timid
one。 〃You surely allow that the British government is trying to
do right； and after all we must admit that that Jilson affair
resected very little credit on our own administration。〃
〃A man ken make one awful big mistake an' still be all right； but
he can't go on making a little mistake every day right along an'
be fit company for a clean crowd；〃 retorted the new senator。
At length the governor rose and led the way to the drawing…room；
where they rejoined the ladies and the conversation took on a
different colour and weight； by which it lost all value for those
who knew not the art of twittering persiflage and found less joy
in a handkerchief flirtation than in the nation's onward march。
Rolf and Quonab enjoyed it now about as much as Skookum had done
all the time。
Chapter 65。 The Grebes and the Singing Mouse
Quonab puzzled long over the amazing fact that young Van
Cortlandt had evident high standing 〃in his own tribe。〃 〃He must
be a wise counsellor； for I know he cannot fight and is a fool at
hunting；〃 was the ultimate decision。
They had a final interview with the governor and his son before
they left。 Rolf received for himself and his partner the promised
one hundred and fifty dollars； and the hearty thanks of all in
the governor's home。 Next； each was presented with a handsome
hunting knife； not unlike the one young Van had carried； but
smaller。 Quonab received his with 〃Ho then； after a pause； 〃He
pull out； maybe； when I need him。〃 〃Ho！ good！〃 he exclaimed；
as the keen blade appeared。
〃Now； Rolf；〃 said the lawyer； 〃I want to come back next year and
bring three companions； and we will pay you at the same rate per
month for each。 What do you say？〃
〃Glad to have you again；〃 said Rolf： 〃we'll come for you on
August fifteenth； but remember you should bring your guitar and
your spectacles。〃
〃One word；〃 said the governor； 〃do you know the canoe route
through Champlain to Canada？ 〃
〃Quonab does。〃
〃Could you undertake to render scout service in that region？〃
The Indian nodded。
〃In case of war； we may need you both； so keep your ears open。〃
And once more the canoe made for the north； with Quonab in the
stern and Skookum in the bow。
In less than a week they were home； and none too soon； for
already the trees were bare； and they had to break the ice on the
river before they ended their trip。
Rolf had gathered many ideas the last two…months。 He did not
propose to continue all his life as a trapper。 He wanted to see
New York。 He wanted to plan for the future。 He needed money for
his plans。 He and Quonab had been running a hundred miles of
traps； but some men run more than that single handed。 They must
get out two new lines at once； before the frost came。 One of
these they laid up the Hudson； above Eagle's Nest； the other
northerly on Blue Mountain； toward Racquet River。 Doing this was
hard work； and when they came again to their cabin the robins had
gone from the bleak and leafless woods； the grouse were making
long night flights； the hollows had tracks of racing deer； there
was a sense of omen； a length of gloom； for the Mad Moon was
afloat in the shimmering sky； its wan light ghasted all the
hills。
Next day the lake was covered with thin； glare ice； on the glassy
surface near the shore were two ducks floundering。 The men went
as near as they could； and Quonab said； 〃 No； not duck； but
Shingebis； divers。
They cannot rise except from water。 In the night the new ice
looks like water； they come down and cannot rise。 I have often
seen it。〃 Two days after； a harder frost came on。 The ice was
safe for a dog； the divers or grebes were still on its surface。
So they sent Skookum。 He soon returned with two beautiful grebes；
whose shining； white breast feathers are as much prized as some
furs。
Quonab grunted as he held them up。 〃Ugh； it is often so in this
Mad Moon。 My father said it is because of Kaluskap's dancing。〃
〃I don't remember that one。〃
〃Yes； long ago。