Encounters between the flankers and small bands still occurred, but there was yet no sign of serious resistance, and the fort was drawing nearer and nearer.
"I've no doubt the French commander will abandon it," said Grosvenor to Robert.

"He'll conclude that our army is too powerful for him." "I scarce think so," replied Robert doubtfully.

"'Tis not the French way, at least, not on this continent.

Like as not they will depend on the savages, whom they have with them." They had been on the march nearly a month when they came to Turtle Creek, which flows into the Monongahela only eight miles from Fort Duquesne a strong fortress of logs with bastions, ravelins, ditch, glacis and covered ways, standing at the junction of the twin streams, the Monongahela and the Alleghany, that form the great Ohio.

Here they made a little halt and the scouts who had been sent into the woods reported silence and desolation.
The army rejoiced.