und their
crests. The valley itself blazed in the summer sunshine, and the river
sparkled, now in gold, now in silver, as the light changed and fell.

More cultivated fields, more houses, generally of stout logs, appeared,
and to all that they saw the five bore the fiery beacon. Simon Jennings
was not the only man who lived to thank them for the warning. Others
were incredulous, and soon paid the terrible price of unbelief.

The five hastened on, and as they went they looked about them with
wondering eyes-there were so many houses, so many cultivated fields, and
so many signs of a numerous population. They had emerged almost for the
first time from the wilderness, excepting their memorable visit to New
Orleans, although this was a very different region. Long Jim spoke of
it.

"I think I like it better here than at New Or-leeyuns," he said. "We
found some nice Frenchmen an' Spaniards down thar, but the ground feels
firmer under my feet here."

"The ground feels firmer," said Paul, who had some of the prescience of
the seer, "but the skies are no brighter. They look red to me sometimes,
Jim."

Tom Ross glanced at Paul and shook his head ominously. A woodsman, he
had his superstitions, and Paul's words weighed upon his mind. He began
to fear a great disaster, and his experienced eye perceived at once the
defenseless state of the valley. 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. Henry and his
comrades themselves arrived there toward the close of evening, just as
the sun had set, blood red, behind the mountains. Some report of them
had preceded their coming, and as soon as they had eaten they were
summoned to the presence of Colonel Zebulon Butler, who commanded the
military force in t