The following day he commenced to get his merchandize on board the sloop.  His wife and eldest son assisting.  It took fully ten days to accomplish the task, which proved to be a tedious and toilsome one indeed.  At last, everything being ready, he vacated Fort Frederick and sailed for his possessions up the river, intending there to settle and trade.

Not many hours after they had left the Fort the report of a musket was heard from the shore.  Soon a canoe was seen approaching the sloop.  As it came near the vessel, an Indian was seen as its only occupant.  He paddled his canoe alongside the sloop.  Captain Godfrey attentively watched his every movement while Mrs. Godfrey seemed quite indifferent at the presence of the stranger.  She threw him a small line and made signs to him to make fast his canoe, which he appeared quickly to understand.  Mrs. Godfrey then motioned to the Indian to come on board, and he at once bounded over the rail.  As he stood on deck, his comely Indian features were lit up by a good humoured smile.  He looked a giant, brave and active.  He was teeming all over with youthful vigour.  His eyes were black like polished jet, sparkling and deep set.  His mouth large, square and firm; and his hair like threads of coarse, black silk, brushed back from a low, narrow forehead, hung loosely down over his broad, square shoulders.

His whole frame seemed stirred with a strong nervous action, and a quick but expressive motion of his small brown hand appeared as a signal for conversation.  He at once spoke, “May be if go to Grimross be scalped,” and every word brought with it increased action of both hand and body.  He continued, “Indians say war coming, must have pale face blood and scalp.”

Capt.  Godfrey said not a word, but looked serious and pale; while deep anxiety was pictured on every feature of his face.  He felt that it was no use to retreat, and situated as they were, where could they retreat in safety.  Fort Frederick at the mouth of the river had been surrounded by blood-thirsty savages, who had threatened them with fire and murder if they did not abandon the place.  In this distracting situation Captain Godfrey held a council of war within himself, and finally decided, come what might, evil or good, he would push on to his destination.

He wondered how the Indian knew he was bound for Grimross.  It occurred to him that perhaps the savage was trying to find out where he intended to land, and there be on hand to murder all on board and seize the sloop and cargo.  He thought, “if the Indian is sincere in warning us, what interest has he in doing so?  What could he expect in return for his kind act?” These and many similar thoughts rushed quickly through the agitated brain of the Captain.  The Indian stood silent and motionless for a moment, then returned to his canoe and paddled toward the shore.