It was very plain that a man with some courage must be chosen for such
an undertaking.

"I will send Major George Washington," said the governor. "He is very
young, but he is the bravest man in the colony."

Now, promptness was one of those traits of character which made George
Washington the great man which he afterward became. And so, on the very
day that he received his appointment he set out for the Ohio Country.

He took with him three white hunters, two Indians, and a famous
woodsman, whose name was Christopher Gist. A small tent or two, and such
few things as they would need on the journey, were strapped on the backs
of horses.

They pushed through the woods in a northwestwardly direction, and at
last reached a place called Venango, not very far from where Pittsburg
now stands. This was the first outpost of the French; and here
Washington met some of the French officers, and heard them talk about
what they proposed to do.

Then, after a long ride to the north, they came to another fort. The
French commandant was here, and he welcomed Washington with a great show
of kindness.

Washington gave him the letter which he had brought from the governor
of Virginia.

The commandant read it, and two days afterward gave him an answer.