The matter was discussed for over an hour and Joseph Morris asked many questions concerning what Dave would be called on to do. “You see, his father is out west and I have him in my care,” he explained. “I want nothing to happen to him while he and his father are separated.”
The surveyor’s camp was close by, along with his horse, and he said he had two other steeds at Denton’s, two miles away, where he had left some of his traps. At Denton’s he had some extra clothing and said he would lend Dave a greatcoat, should the weather get much colder. So it was arranged that the youth should become Washington’s assistant, starting that very afternoon.
“Take good care of yourself,” were Joseph Morris’ words on parting. “And remember, we’ll look for you back at the end of the six weeks,” and so nephew and uncle parted, and soon Mr. Morris and Aaron Crosby were out of sight on the trail leading north-westward.
Dave found that the surveyor’s outfit was not a large one. There were several wooden affairs called crosses, having fine grooves at the top running at right angles to each other, several measuring chains, a bundle of stakes and tall, thin poles painted white at the top, and a good field glass, with measure and angle. There was also a portfolio of drawing paper, with some drawings and with a mass of measuring tables in the back, and compasses and pencils.
“Not so very many things,” was the lad’s comment.
“And yet we could measure our way around the world with them if we wished,” returned the surveyor. And then, while they took up the traps and moved, with the horse, towards the cabin owned by Christopher Denton he explained how ordinary land surveying was very simple in theory if not in practice.
“The whole basis of ground surveying is the triangle,” said Washington. “No matter what the shape of the property to be surveyed is it must first be divided up into triangles, or a triangle must be built up over it.”
“But why a triangle?” asked Dave.
“Because a triangle is both safe and easy to measure. You will understand this when we get to work.”
“But how can you survey over a big hill or a mountain?”