“So far, yes, but we don’t know how long it will be so.”
Mr. Morris shook his head slowly. “You are right, Dave, war is at hand and I am afraid it will go hard with all who are on the frontier. You have heard how we had to give up the new fort that was being built at the Fork.”
“Yes, I came down with Ensign Ward, who was in command. But you haven’t told me yet what brought you here.”
“I have brought Colonel Washington another horse. He has been trying his best to fit out his expedition but can make small headway. Captain Trent was going to have some pack horses ready for him but hardly anybody would let the captain have what he wanted.”
“Then the people can’t be very patriotic!” burst out Dave. “Don’t they understand the seriousness of the situation?”
“That’s the trouble. The majority of the folks don’t want another war with France, and the most a good many wish to do is to act on the defensive.”
“But now that we have been attacked——”
“It will wake the slow ones up, I trust, Dave.”
“We have received a notice to quit the post,” went on the youth. “That is one reason why I have come on. Father wishes to find out what he is to do.”
Dave brought forth the notice, which was written in French, and also the English translation. Joseph Morris read the translation carefully, and the youth explained that he and his parent suspected that it might be a trick of the rascally Jean Bevoir.