TON, a Youthful Surveyor
Young Lads who serve respectfully as "chainmen" and "pilots"
RICHARD GLENN
JAMES TALBOT
KEITH CARY
A FRONTIERSMAN
RED ROWAN, his daughter

SCENE: An open woodland glade that is part of the wilderness portion of
Lord Fairfax's estate beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia,
1748. Trees at right, left, and background. Trailing vines. Low bushes.
Underfoot a carpet of rotting leaves. At the left, near foreground, a
fire smolders. Near it are spread a bearskin used as a
sleeping-blanket, some pine boughs, surveyors' tools, and a tin box. At
the right a fallen tree-trunk, mossed, vine-covered. The time is
mid-afternoon. The lads who enter wear the garb of frontiersmen; but
when the play begins the forest glade is deserted until Richard Genn's
voice is heard from the woods in background.

RICHARD GENN.
Come on, then, Washington. Hurry there, Talbot! (Genn enters, carrying
chains and a surveyor's pole, and comes quickly to the fire.) Why, the
ashes have kept their heat since morning. We will not have to start
another fire.

JAMES TALBOT
(entering with Washington from background).
That's good hearing, for I'm famished. How say you, Washington?

WASHINGTON
(laughing and coming to fire).
I could eat a wild turkey, feathers and all. This life in the
wilderness makes one keenly hungry. What's in the box, Richard?

TALBOT
(delving into tin box).
Bacon. Some dry bread.

WASHINGTON.
Toast the bacon between the bread, and we'll have such a feast as is
due to young surveyors who've tramped a good ten miles since morning.
Now then, Richard. Here are some sticks. Let each lad toast his own.

TALBOT
(helping to prepare).
The very smell of it makes me ravenous. (To Genn.) I wonder where your
Uncle is, and Colonel Fairfax?

GENN.
Miles from here, doubtless. (Stretches.) But I _am_ stiff!

WASHINGTON.
And where can Carey be?

TALBOT.
Oh, Carey's lagged behind to get a shot at some grouse that he means to
have for supper. Hark!

CAREY
(In background).
Lads! Lads! Where be ye?

WASHINGTON
(calling in answer).
Here, Carey, here. (To the others.) That's he, now. Well, Carey, what
luck?

CAREY
(entering from background).
Any luck but pot luck. Missed both times. No grouse for us. I almost
wish I'd raided some frontiersman's cabin.

[Sits at fire.

WASHINGTON.
"Get what you can get honestly." (Passes him the bacon.) "Use what you
get frugally." That was an old saying