He had a vague idea of going there, and of doing what he considered his part, and he spoke to Paul about it, but Paul thought otherwise.
"Why, Henry!" he said.

"We may have to defend ourselves here and we'll need you." The people of Wareville knew little about the causes of the war and after this one message brought by Ross they heard no more of its progress.

They might be fighting great battles away off there on the Atlantic coast, but no news came through the wall of woods.

Wareville itself was peaceful, and around it curved the mighty forest which told nothing.
Mountains and forest alike lay under deep snow, and it was not likely that they would hear anything further until spring, because the winter was unusually cold and a man who ventured now on a long journey was braver than his fellows.
The new Kentuckians were glad that they had provided so well for winter.
All the cupboards were full and there was no need for them now to roam the cold forests in search of game.

They built the fires higher and watched the flames roar up the chimneys, while the little children rolled on the floor and grasped at the shadows.
Though but a bit of mankind hemmed in by the vast and frozen wilderness theirs was not an unhappy life by any means.