re very
cunning, and while they did not always treat the Indians fairly, they
nevertheless maintained their friendship and cooperation.

The land along the Connecticut River was very fertile, and the Pequot
Indians, who sided with the Dutch, had driven away the original tribes
which had dwelled there. These expelled tribes were friendly to the
Puritans, and when the Puritan settlers seized the land, they brought
back the Indians whom the Pequots had just driven away. At this the
Pequots were enraged, and they now took revenge by killing English
traders where they had opportunity. The English at once punished the
Indians by hanging a few of their representative men, and they
threatened them with war, should they engage in other punitive
measures.

The Dutch, however, whom the invading Englishmen crowded out, incited
the Indians to rebellion war against the Puritans, and thus there was
sown the seed of hatred and war which in time brought forth vicious
fruits.

When Mr. Bradley arrived at Hartford, he at once met several friends
who encouraged him not to turn back, but to establish a trading post
up the river, near enough to the fort to enjoy its protection.

This he did, and the venture gave the children no little pleasure.
Indian help was readily obtained, and in addition several skilled
carpenters, who urged the Indians to work hard and rapidly, so that
within a month a large and strong log house was completed. It stood on
the west bank of the river, about ten miles from the fort, which could
easily be reached by the boat. As hostilities might be expected, it
was built much like a small fort, the second story jutting out over the
first so that it could the more easily be defended. The log house had
no windows, but there were a number of small, narrow apertures through
which the inmates could shoot in case of attack.

The furs and stores were provided for in the first story, while in the
second there were three rooms in which the traders might live and sleep.

No sooner was the trading post established when Mr. Bradley left with
his wife to return to Boston, where important business negotiations had
to be attended to by himself. He promised to send John Rawlins, and put
Fred and Matthew in charge of the log house.

Agnes was to return to the Boston Colony, but she begged her parents to
permit her to remain, and this permission was finally granted. So after
a last service, Mr. and Mrs. Bradley left, and