He remembered the council of the great Indian force in the deep woods, and the terrible face of Queen Esther was again before him.
"These people ought to be in blockhouses, every one uv 'em," he said.
"It ain't no time to be plowin' land." Yet peace seemed to brood still over the valley.

It was a fine river, beautiful with changing colors.

The soil on either side was as deep and fertile as that of Kentucky, and the line of the mountains cut the sky sharp and clear.

Hills and slopes were dark green with foliage.
"It must have been a gran' huntin' ground once," said Shif'less Sol.
The alarm that the five gave spread fast, and other hunters and scouts came in, confirming it.

Panic seized the settlers, and they began to crowd toward Forty Fort on the west side of the river.