CHAPTER XX
AN ALARMING DISCOVERY
Dave’s first impression of the trading-post remained by him upon a further inspection, indeed, the youth liked the locality more and more every day. Putty and the other men, as well as his father and Sam Barringford, took him around, and also up and down the river, and up Indian Brook, which flowed into the Kinotah just below the stockade. They went hunting, trapping and fishing, and the days seemed to fairly fly on the wings of the wind. Before the snow amounted to anything, Dave knew every trail and watercourse for fifteen miles around.
The men all liked Dave and he also liked them, but he was true to Sam Barringford, and many were the times that the two went forth, to fill their game bags, or try for something more important. It was Barringford who taught Dave the latest devices in trapping, and it was the old hunter who, aided by Dave, set a bear trap and caught one of the largest beasts captured in that vicinity. Occasionally Mr. Morris went out with the pair, but the Indians and backwoodsmen were now bringing in their pelts, so the trader could not remain with them long.
The coming of winter found our friends well provided for, and business brisk. Mr. Morris always got his pick of hides from the red men, who would then take the second best to Jean Bevoir, the French trader. This made Bevoir very angry, yet he could not help himself and rather than get nothing he took what was offered. But he vowed that sooner or later he would make the hated English trader get out.
The winter held off well, but when it did come, it let down in all its fury. For three days and nights it snowed without ceasing. During the last night the wind arose to a gale and this drove the snow in a drift along the river bank, covering a section of the stockade completely, and also the front end of the log cabin.
“Now we can stay in and suck our thumbs,” said Putty, the following morning. “Even the wild beasts must be snow-bound.”
The old backwoodsman was right so far as staying in went, for going abroad was totally out of the question. The most the men could do was to shovel a path to the stables and take care of the horses and cattle.
After that the winter, to Dave, passed slowly. At times it cleared a little, and then he and the others went out to track game, or fish through holes in the ice. By this means he brought in all the fish that were needed, and also several deer, and helped Barringford and an Indian named Tobacco Jack bring down another bear. He also shot a large quantity of rabbits and several woodchucks and opossums. To Dave all this was play, but he did not shirk his work, when it came to splitting wood for the fire and caring for the animals about the place.
“Got to take one thing with another,” he would say. “Can’t do nothing but have fun all the time.”
“Thet’s the way to look at it,” Barringford had answered. “Got to work if ye want to eat.”