The rolling sound continued, and then rose a sound of whooping and yelling such as some of their number had never heard before.
"It is the war dance," whispered one of the guides; and a thrill ran through the whole company.

Had they been discovered, and were the Indians coming out in a body against them?
For a brief while they were halted just below the top of the ridge, whilst a few of the guides and Rangers crept cautiously forward to inspect the hollow in which they knew the village lay.
Colonel Armstrong was one of this party, and he, with Stark and Fritz, cautiously crept up over the ridge and looked down upon the Indian town below.
The moon lighted up the whole scene.

There was no appearance of tumult or excitement.

The sound of the drum and the whooping of the warriors were not accompanied by any demonstration of activity by those within the community.

Probably some war party or hunting party had returned with spoil, and they were celebrating the event by a banquet and a dance.
The soldiers were bidden to move onward, but very cautiously.