“I suppose you and your uncle have been wondering why you did not hear from me. The truth is, I have been off scouting most of the time, for I was afraid the French and Indians were planning to surprise me and wipe out our post.
“All now seems to be quiet and although I have been warned by the French to go away I think it will end in talk. At any rate, I am doing very well and I shall not move until actually forced to. I have strengthened the post and now have constantly a guard of four whites and ten Indians. Every night I send one man up the river, one down, and another to our rear, so it will not be an easy matter for anybody to surprise us.
“About your coming out here at present I do not know what to say. I would be much pleased to have you with me, but I do not wish to expose you to peril, should this post be attacked. If you wish very much to come, you can do so, providing you can get Sam Barringford or some other reliable hunter to come out with you. I would have you come with White Buffalo but he is at present interested in the troubles between his own tribe and that of Fox Head, and might not be able to bring you through in safety.
“Above all, consult your uncle Joe about this previous to making any move, for he may know more about these troubles with the French and Indians than I do. Tell him that the goods came through safely and that they have helped me to make many good trades. I have shipped goods by pack train to Annapolis, but not by way of Will’s Creek, for the man in charge, Isaac Fraley, wanted to go by way of Pontona instead.”
This was the main portion of the letter. There was another sheet, written principally for Joseph Morris and his family, in which James Morris hoped they were all well and said he had not been sick a day since opening the trading-post. He ended by stating that if Dave did come on, in company with Barringford or somebody else, they might bring along the goods mentioned on a separate slip—the articles being mainly glass trinkets and medicines.
This letter put Dave in high feather and he lost no time in hunting up his uncle Joe, who was getting the barn floor in readiness for threshing.
“A letter from father!” he cried. “And I can join him if I want to.”
Joseph Morris read the communication with as much interest as had his nephew. He was glad to learn his brother was safe.
“Then you still want to go, Dave?” he asked.
“To be sure, Uncle Joe. Do you blame me?”