The five, watching from their peak, saw them turn in toward the land, where they poured forth a motley stream of red men and white, a stream that was quickly swallowed up in the forest.
"They are coming down through the woods on the fort, said Tom Ross.
"And they're coming fast," said Henry.

"It's for us to carry the warning." They sped back to the Wyoming fort, spreading the alarm as they passed, and once more they were in the council room with Colonel Zebulon Butler and his officers around him.
"So they are at hand, and you have seen them ?" said the colonel.
"Yes," replied Henry, the spokesman, "they came down from Tioga Point in boats, but have disembarked and are advancing through the woods.

They will be here today." There was a little silence in the room.

The older men understood the danger perhaps better than the younger, who were eager for battle.
"Why should we stay here and wait for them ?" exclaimed one of the younger captains at length-some of these captains were mere boys.

"Why not go out, meet them, and beat them ?" "They outnumber us about five to one," said Henry.