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.
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