Beyond a few low words, and exclamations of dismay, not a word was spoken as the band gathered round the canoes.
"Who were on the watch on this side ?" Rogers asked.
"Nat and Jonathan took the first half of the night," one of the scouts said.

"Williams and myself relieved them." As all four were men of the greatest skill and experience, Rogers felt sure that no neglect or carelessness on their part could have led to the disaster.
"Did any of you see any passing boats, or hear any sound on the lake ?" The four men who had been on guard replied in the negative.
"I will swear no one landed near the canoes," Nat said.

"There was a glimmer on the water all night; a canoe could not have possibly come near the bank, anywheres here, without our seeing it." "Then he must have come from the land side," Rogers said.

"Some skulking Indian must have seen us out on the lake, and have hidden up when we landed.

He may have been in a tree overhead all the time, and, directly the canoes were hauled up, he may have damaged them and made off.
"There is no time to be lost, lads.