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giant； yah。 Mein Gott； it is I am glad！ I did tink der cannibals
you had eat； is it dem Canadian or cannibal？ I tink it all one
the same； yah！〃
Marta was actually crying； the little ones were climbing over
Rolf's knee； and Annette； tall and sixteen now； stood shyly by；
awaiting a chance to shake hands。 Home is the abiding place of
those we love； it may be a castle or a cave； a shanty or a
chateau； a moving van； a tepee； or a canal boat； a fortress or
the shady side of a bush； but it is home； if there indeed we meet
the faces that are ever in the heart； and find the hands whose
touch conveys the friendly glow。 Was there any other spot on
earth where he could sit by the fire and feel that 〃hereabout are
mine own； the people I love？〃 Rolf knew it now Van Trumper's
was his home。
Talks of the war； of disasters by land； and of glorious victories
on the sea； where England； long the unquestioned mistress of the
waves； had been humbled again and again by the dauntless seamen
of her Western blood； talks of big doings by the nation； and； yet
more interesting； small doings by the travellers； and the
breakfast passed all too soon。 The young scout rose； for he was
on…duty； but the long rollers on the lake forbade the going
forth。 Van's was a pleasant place to wait； but he chafed at the
delay； his pride would have him make a record on every journey。
But wait he must。 Skookum tied safely to his purgatorial post
whined indignantly and with head cocked on one side； picked
out the very hen he would like to utilize as soon as released
from his temporary embarrassment。 Quonab went out on a rock to
bum some tobacco and pray for calm； and Rolf； ever active；
followed Van to look over the stock and buildings； and hear of
minor troubles。 The chimney was unaccountably given to smoking
this year。 Rolf took an axe and with two blows cut down a
vigorous growth shrubbery that stood above the chimney on the
west； and the smoking ceased。 Buck ox had a lame foot and would
allow no one even to examine it。 But a skilful ox… handler easily
hobbles an ox； throws him near some small tree； and then； by
binding the lame foot to the tree； can have a free hand。 It
proved a simple matter； a deep…sunk； rusty nail。 And when the
nail was drawn and the place washed clean with hot brine； kind
nature was left in confidence to do the rest。 They drifted back
to the house now。 Tomas met them shouting out a mixture of Dutch
and English and holding by the cover Annette's book of the 〃Good
Girl。〃 But its rightful owner rescued the precious volume and put
it on the shelf。
〃Have you read it through； Annette？〃
〃Yes；〃 was the reply； for she had learned to read before they
left Schuylerville。
〃How do you like it？〃
〃Didn't like it a bit； I like 'Robinson Crusoe'；〃 was the candid
reply。
The noon hour came； still the white rollers were pounding the
shore。
〃If it does not calm by one o'clock I'll go on afoot。〃
So off he went with the packet； leaving Quonab to follow and
await his return at Fort George。 In Schuyler settlement he spent
the night and at noon next day was in Albany。
How it stirred his soul to see the busy interest； the marching of
men； the sailing of vessels； and above all to hear of more
victories on the high seas。 What mattered a few frontier defeats
in the north； when the arrogant foe that had spurned and insulted
them before the world had now been humbled again and again。
Young Van Cortlandt was away； but the governor's reception of him
reflected the electric atmosphere the country's pride in her sons。
Rolf had a matter of his own to settle。 At the bookseller's he
asked for and actually secured a copy of the great book
〃Robinson Crusoe。〃 It was with a thrilling feeling of triumph
that he wrote Annette's name in it and stowed it in his bag。
He left Albany next day in the gray dawn。 Thanks to his uniform；
he got a twenty…five mile lift with a traveller who drove a fast
team； and the blue water was glinting back the stars when he
joined Quonab at Fort George； some sixty miles away。
In the calm betwixt star…peep and sun…up they were afloat。 It was
a great temptation to stop at Hendrik's for a spell； but
breakfast was over； the water was calm； and duty called him。 He
hallooed； then they drew near enough to hand the book ashore。
Skookum growled； probably at the hens； and the family waved their
aprons as he sped on。 Thirty miles of lake and four miles of
Ticonderoga Creek they passed and the packet was delivered in
four days and three hours since leaving。
The general smiled and his short but amply sufficient praise was
merely； 〃You're a good 'un。〃
Chapter 75。 Scouting in Canada
〃Thar is two things；〃 said Si Sylvanne to the senate； 〃that every
national crisis is bound to show up： first； a lot o' dum fools in
command； second a lot o great commanders in the ranks。 An'
fortunately before the crisis is over the hull thing is sure set
right； and the men is where they oughter be。〃
How true this was the nation was just beginning to learn。 The
fools in command were already demonstrated； and the summer of
1813 was replete with additional evidence。 May； June； and July
passed with many journeyings for Rolf and many times with sad
news。 The disasters at Stony Creek； Beaver Dam； and Niagara were
severe blows to the army on the western frontier。 In June on Lake
Champlain the brave but reckless Lieutenant Sidney Smith had run
his two sloops into a trap。 Thus the Growler and the Eagle were
lost to the Americans； and strengthened by that much the British
navy on the lake。
Encouraged by these successes； the British north of Lake
Champlain made raid after raid into American territory；
destroying what they could not carry off。
Rolf and Quonab were sent to scout in that country and if
possible give timely notice of raiders in force。
The Americans were averse to employing Indians in warfare； the
British entertained no such scruples and had many red…skinned
allies。 Quonab's case； however； was unusual； since he was
guaranteed by his white partner； and now he did good service； for
he knew a little French and could prowl among the settlers
without anyone suspecting him of being an American scout。
Thus he went alone and travelled far。 He knew the country nearly
to Montreal and late in July was lurking about Odletown； when he
overheard scattered words of a conversation that made hin eager
for more。 〃Colonel Murray … … twelve hundred men four hundred
men 〃
Meanwhile Rolf was hiding in the woods about La Colle Mill。
Company after company of soldiers he saw enter； until at least
five hundred were there。 When night came down； he decided to risk
a scarer approach。 He left the woods and walked cautiously across
the open lands about。
The hay had been cut and most of it drawn in； but there was in
the middle of the field a hay…cock。 Rolf was near this when he
h