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.
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