"Yah, mynheers!"
"He can return in safety to the land of the Susquehannocks, where no other Dutchman can go and live. Thence, down the great river of rocks and rapids, come all the valuable furs. Of these we Dutch on South River receive altogether only ten thousand a year. Nanking must take some rum and bright cloth to his friends, the chiefs, and make them promise to send no more furs to the English of Chisopecke, but bring them to Head-of-Elk. There we will make a treaty, and Nanking and thee, widow, shall have part of our profits."
"Zeer wel!" cried Nanking. "That is very well. But Elsje, may I marry her, too?"
"Well," said Peter Alrichs, smiling, "you can come to see her sometimes and carry her doll."
"Good enough!" cried Nanking, overjoyed.
Before Nanking started on his trip, the sailor-man he had refused to whip walked into his mother's house.
"Widow Cloos, no doubt," he said, bowing. "Madame, I owe your son a service. Here are three petticoats and a pair of blue stockings with red clocks; for I see that your ankles still have a fine turn to them."
The widow courtesied low; for she had not received a compliment in seven years.
Nanking now began to show his leg also, as modestly as possible.
"Ah! Nanking," cried the sailor, "I have a piece of good Holland stuff for you to make you shirts and underclothes. 'Tis a pity so good a boy has not a rich father; ha! widow?"