The Frenchman looked around the room and saw the sleeping figure of the Major on the cot and the artifacts from the trapper’s pack on the other cot. As he examined the artifacts, a number of British coins, neatly stacked on the cot, caught his attention. He estimated the value of the currency and turned to other objects the trapper had strewn about — an ornate compass, a small knife, an open journal, some letters and some small carvings.
He could see that the trapper was talented as he picked up what looked like a small squirrel or chipmunk. There was a bird, several fish, a panther and an animal with which he was not familiar. The carvings were detailed down to the animal’s teeth and claws. He switched the squirrel for the unfamiliar carving. It looked like a large, hairy man standing upright. It had large hands and feet, a broad nose, and no neck with its head connected directly to its shoulders. It looked like a bear, or perhaps like a person. “Except for this strange carving, my daughter would love to have a collection like this,” he thought.
He put down the bear-man carving and took another look at the coins. “Lucky for them I am an honest Frenchman, not a lawless trapper,” he thought. He frowned and he went about examining the Major’s cot.
He lifted his bayonet and used it to slowly pull back the blanket
that covered the sleeping figure. The Frenchman didn’t want to wake the Major, but he needed to make sure he was secure. He could see the major’s hair as he lifted the edge of the blanket. But then, he turned to the door.
“I understood that we would be secure in our effects,” the trapper said as he appeared in the doorway holding several folded blankets. The Frenchman didn’t understand any of his words, but the trapper’s harsh tone and his quick movement toward the cot with the coins made a statement. He watched him carefully place the blankets over the coins and objects. The soldier slowly pulled back his bayonet and walked backwards away from the Major.
His thoughts about bartering for the carvings disappeared, taken up as he was with the stern demeanor of the trapper. He nodded, made a curt apology, and left the cabin. He could sense the trapper’s scowl on his back the entire way across the courtyard. At least, he could report that the cabin was secure and they were not up to anything strange this evening.