“Can’t say as I do, lad. It’s natural that you should want to be with your father. But if war comes——”

“If war comes I would rather be with father than be away from him,” broke in Dave, quickly.

“I don’t know if you can get Sam Barringford to go with you.”

“I’m sure I can—Sam will do anything for me. Of course father will pay him for the trip, and for bringing along those goods.”

“We’ll have to get the goods at Annapolis—that’s a trip in itself, and I can hardly spare the time now—with harvesting coming on.”

“If you’ll let me, I’ll buy the goods myself. I know I can do it and not get cheated.”

“Perhaps you can buy them, Dave. But how about the trip to Annapolis?”

“I wouldn’t mind it, in this fine weather. I came on alone from the Shenandoah, remember.”

“Yes, I haven’t forgotten that, nor how you were ’most lost in that snowstorm.”

“We’re not likely to have a snowstorm now, Uncle Joe.”