THE RUNNER Fort Refuge, the stronghold raised by young arms, was the most distant point in the wilderness held by the Anglo-American forces, and for a long time it was cut off entirely from the world.

No message came out of the great forest that rimmed it round, but Colden had been told to build it and hold it until he had orders to leave it, and he and his men waited patiently, until word of some kind should come or they should be attacked by the French and Indian forces that were gathering continually in the north.
They saw the autumn reach its full glory.

The wilderness glowed in intense yellows and reds.

The days grew cool, and the nights cold, the air was crisp and fresh like the breath of life, the young men felt their muscles expand and their courage rise, and they longed for the appearance of the enemy, sure that behind their stout palisade they would be able to defeat whatever numbers came.
Tayoga left them early one morning for a visit to his people.

The leaves were falling then under a sharp west wind, and the sky had a cold, hard tint of blue steel.