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glorious。〃 Yes； Rolf had a home； and in that intoxicating
realization he kissed them all； even Annette of the glowing
cheeks and eyes； though in truth he paid for it； for it conjured
up in her a shy aloofness that lasted many days。
Old Hendrik sputtered around。 〃Och； I am smile； dis is goood；
yah。 Vere is that tam dog？ Yah！ tie him not； he shall dis time
von chicken have for joy。〃
〃Marta；〃 said Rolf； 〃you told me to come here if I got hurt。
Well； I've come； and I've brought a boat…load of stuff in case I
cannot do my share in the fields。〃
〃Press you； my poy you didn't oughter brung dot stuff； you know
we loff you here； and effery time it is you coom I get gladsomer；
and dot Annette she just cried ven you vent to de war。〃
〃Oh； mother； I did not； it was you and little Hendrick！〃 and
Annette turned her scarlet cheeks away。
October； with its trees of flame and gold； was on the hills；
purple and orange； the oaks and the birches； blue blocked with
white was the sky above； and the blue； bright lake was limpid。
〃Oh； God of my fathers；〃 Quonab used to pray； 〃when I reach the
Happy Hunting； let it be ever the Leaf…falling Moon； for that is
the only perfect time。〃 And in that unmarred month of sunny sky
and woodlands purged of every plague； there is but one menace in
the vales。 For who can bring the glowing coal to the dry…leafed
woods without these two begetting the dread red fury that
devastates the hills？
Who can bring the fire in touch with tow and wonder at the blaze？
Who； indeed？ And would any but a dreamer expect young manhood in
its growing strength； and girlhood just across the blush…line； to
meet in daily meals and talk and still keep up the brother and
sister play？ It needs only a Virginia on the sea…girt island to
turn the comrade into Paul。
〃Marta； I tink dot Rolf an Annette don't quarrel bad； ain't it？〃
〃Hendrik； you vas von blind old bat…mole；〃 said Marta； 〃I fink
dat farm next ours purty good； but Rolf he say 'No Lake George no
good。' Better he like all his folk move over on dat Hudson。〃
Chapter 86。 The New Era of Prosperity
As November neared and his leave of absence ended； Rolf was himself
again； had been； indeed； for two weeks； and； swinging fork or axe；
he had helped with many an urgent job on the farm。
A fine log stable they had rolled up together； with corners
dovetailed like cabinet work； and roof of birch bark breadths
above the hay。
But there was another building； too； that Rolf had worked at night
and day。 It was no frontier shack； but a tall and towering castle；
splendid and roomy； filled with loved ones and love。 Not by the
lake near by； not by the river of his choice； but higher up than
the tops of the high mountains it loomed； and he built and built
until the month was nearly gone。 Then only did he venture to ask
for aid； and Annette it was who promised to help him finish the
building。
Yes； the Lake George shore was a land of hungry farms。 It was off
the line of travel； too。 It was neither Champlain nor Hudson； and
Hendrik； after ten years' toil with barely a living to show； was
easily convinced。 Next summer they must make a new choice of home。
But now it was back to Plattsburg。
On November 1st Rolf and Quonab reported to General Macomb。 There
was little doing but preparations for the winter。 There were no
prospects of further trouble from their neighbours in the north。 Most
of the militia were already disbanded； and the two returned to
Plattsburg； only to receive their honourable discharge； to be
presented each with the medal of war； with an extra clasp on Rolf's
for that dauntless dash that spiked the British guns。
Wicked war with its wickedness was done at last。 〃The greatest evil
that can befall a country；〃 some call it； and yet out of this end
came three great goods： The interstate distrust had died away； for
now they were soldiers who had camped together； who had 〃drunk from
the same canteen〃； little Canada； until then a thing of shreds and
scraps； had been fused in the furnace； welded into a young nation；
already capable of defending her own。 England； arrogant with long
success at sea； was taught a lesson of courtesy and justice； for
now the foe whom she had despised and insulted had shown himself
her equal； a king of the sea…king stock。 The unnecessary battle
of New Orleans； fought two weeks after the war was officially closed；
showed that the raw riflemen of Tennessee were more than a match for
the seasoned veterans who had overcome the great Napoleon； and thus
on land redeemed the Stars and Stripes。
The war brought unmeasured material loss on all concerned； but some
weighty lasting gains to two at least。 On December 24； 1814； the
Treaty of Ghent was signed and the long rides were hung up on the
cabin walls。 Nothing was said in the treaty about the cause of war
the right of search。 Why should they speak of it？ If a big boy bullies
a smaller one and gets an unexpected knockdown blow； it is not
necessary to have it all set forth in terms before they shake hands
that 〃I； John； of the first part； to wit； the bully； do hereby
agree； promise； and contract to refrain in future forevermore from
bullying you； Jonathan； of the second part； to wit； the bullied。
〃That point had already been settled by the logic of events。 The
right of search was dead before the peace was born； and the very
place of its bones is forgotten to…day。
Rolf with Quonab returned to the trapping that winter； and as soon
as the springtime came and seeding was over； he and Van Trumper
made their choice of farms。 Every dollar they could raise was
invested in the beautiful sloping lands of the upper Hudson。 Rolf
urged the largest possible purchase now。 Hendrick looked somewhat
aghast at such a bridge…burning move。 But a purchaser for his
farm was found with unexpected promptness； one who was not on
farming bent and the way kept opening up。
The wedding did not take place till another year； when Annette was
nineteen and Rolf twenty…one。 And the home they moved to was not
exactly a castle； but much more complete and human。
This was the beginning of a new settlement。 Given good land in plenty；
and all the rest is easy； neighbours came in increasing numbers； every
claim was taken up； Rolf and Hendrik saw themselves growing rich； and
at length the latter was thankful for the policy that he once thought
so rash； of securing all the land he could。 Now it was his making； for
in later years his grown…up sons were thus provided for； and kept at home。
The falls of the river offered； as Rolf had foreseen； a noble chance
for power。 Very early he had started a store and traded for fur。 Now；
with the careful savings； he was able to build his sawmill； and about
it grew a village with a post… office that had Rolf's name on the
signboard。
Quonab had come； of course； with Rolf； but he shunned the house； and
the more so as it grew in size。 I