“Very good indeed. I have made friends with the Indians for many miles around, and some of them call me their white chief. The only trouble I have had has been with Fox Head, the rascal who bothered me when I first came. I would give a good deal to get rid of him.”
“And what of the French?”
“There is a French trader named Jean Bevoir who has a post twenty miles below, on Buffalo Creek. He has tried to take my trade from me and tried to make the Indians my enemies. But the only Indians who side with him are Fox Head and his tribe, and a few other Miamis. Those up at Shunrum and Nancoke will have nothing to do with him.”
“Yes, I know those Indians are your friends, father; they treated Sam and myself so well. But what has Fox Head been doing lately?”
“Carrying messages to the French and telling them that we are preparing to make war on all their posts and wipe them out. Jean Bevoir is helping him, and between them I am afraid they’ll make trouble for us with the French government, and with the Indians along the lakes.”
After the inspection of the premises had been concluded, Mr. Morris opened the packages Dave and Barringford had brought along, and went over the list of goods. He was well pleased with the purchases, and even more so when told that Dave had picked the things out himself, aided by Henry Morris.
“At this rate, you can buy all our goods in the future,” he said to his son. “At the prices, you certainly have some bargains, and there is nothing but what is worth about what you paid for it. You have done much better than I did the first time I went bartering.”
In honor of the new arrivals all the hands attached to the trading-post were called in that evening and a general jollification was had. In this several Indians joined, and the festival kept up until nearly midnight. But it was no such orgy as Dave had witnessed at Winchester, and when it came to an end, the helpers departed in as sober and respectable a manner as they had come.
“It’s wonderful what control your pap has over his men,” said Sam to Dave, on retiring. “He’s kind, but he’s strict, and he makes ’em toe the mark every time.”
“Well, that’s the way it ought to be,” answered Dave. “And that’s the way I’m going to do, if I ever have any men under me.”