“If you go of course you will take me along,” returned Dave, instantly.
“No, I was thinking of taking only two or three of the old trappers. You see, if we cannot get into the post we shall have to stay in the forest and get our living as best we can, and that will be hard,—if the winter proves a severe one.”
The matter was talked over for a week, but nothing came of it just then. But at the end of the next week James Morris arranged to go west, taking Tony Jadwin, Peaceful Jones, and a trapper named Pomeroy with him. They elected to go on foot, taking some snowshoes with them. Each was to carry a good stock of provisions and also plenty of ammunition.
“If we get into the post and have no further trouble, I will send Pomeroy back with the news and also with a letter of instructions,” said James Morris.
“And supposing you can’t get into the post?” said Dave.
“Then we may stay in that vicinity, or we may come back—just as I think best.”
“But you will send some kind of word, won’t you?” inquired Henry.
“Yes, I will send word of some kind before the New Year,” answered his uncle.
The two youths saw the expedition well on its way, going out with it a distance of three miles. Then came an affectionate parting, and those moving to the west were lost to view down the snowy forest trail.
“I wish I was going along,” said Dave, with a deep sigh.