The whole border must be ablaze, and they'll need us bad at Fort Refuge." The three, now four, slept but little that night and they pressed forward all the next day, their anxiety to reach the fort before an attack could be made, increasing.

It did not matter now if they arrived exhausted.

The burden of their task was to deliver the word, to carry the warning.

At dusk, they were within a few miles of the fort.

An hour later they noticed a thread of blue smoke across the clear sky.
"It comes from the fort," said Tayoga.
"It's not on fire ?" said Robert, aghast.
"No, Dagaeoga, the fort is not burning.