"Are you from Warren's?"

"Yes, sir."

"Alone?"

"No, sir. I came with Bill Bymus. But he went off early this morning; I
haven't seen him since. I'm afraid he's in trouble."

"Where'd he go?"

"In there with some friends."

"Ha, just like him; he's in trouble all right. He'll be no good for a
week. Last time he came near losing all our stuff. Now let's see what
ye've got."

"Are you Mr. Peter Vandam?"

"Of course I am."

Still Rolf looked doubtful. There was a small group around, and Rolf
heard several voices, "Yes, this is Peter; ye needn't a-worry." But Rolf
knew none of the speakers. His look of puzzlement at first annoyed then
tickled the Dutchman, who exploded into a hearty guffaw.

"Wall, wall, you sure think ill of us. Here, now look at that," and he
drew out a bundle of letters addressed to Master Peter Vandam. Then he
displayed a gold watch inscribed on the back "Peter Vandam"; next he
showed a fob seal with a scroll and an inscription, "Petrus Vandamus";
then he turned to a youngster and said, "Run, there is the Reverend
Dr. Powellus, he may help us"; so the black-garbed, knee-breached,
shovel-hatted clergyman came and pompously said: "Yes, my young friend,
without doubt you may rest assured that this is our very estimable
parishioner, Master Peter Vandam; a man well accounted in the world of
trade."

"And now," said Peter, "with the help of my birth-register and
marriage-certificate, which will be placed at your service with all
possible haste, I hope I may win your recognition." The situation, at
first tense, had become more and more funny, and the bystanders laughed
aloud. Rolf rose to it, and smiling said slowly, "I am inclined to think
that you must be Master Peter Vandam, of Albany. If that's so, this
letter is for you, also this cargo." And so the delivery was made.

Bill Bymus has not delivered the other letter to this day. Presumably he
went to stay with his sister, but she saw little of him, for his stay at
Albany was, as usual, one long spree. It was clear that, but for
Rolf, there might have been serious loss of fur, and Vandam showed his
appreciation by taking the lad to his own home, where the story of
the difficult identification furnished ground for gusty laughter and
primitive jest on many an after day.

The return cargo for Warren consisted of stores that the Vandam
warehouse had in stock, and some stuff that took a day or more to
collect in town.

As Rolf was sorting