“Back so soon,” Chris said sarcastically.

“These French seem more inclined to chat than the others we’ve encountered,” replied the Major.

“But less inclined to give us comfortable quarters,” put in Chris.

Christopher Gist was a stocky, hulk of a man twice the Major’s age. Suitably built for this climate and his chosen profession of trapping. Trapping, as everyone who has ever spent time near the frontier knows, makes one surly. The climate is harsh, the dangers are real and that makes the living hard, especially this far west of Philadelphia.  Of course Chris hasn’t done much trapping since signing on as guide and companion to Major Washington, but he hasn’t lost his salty frontier demeanor. [more]