“They don’t tell of any victory,” replied Robert slowly.

“Then what do they tell?”

“I’m sorry, Colden, that I have to be the bearer of such news.  I would have told it to you privately, but all will have to know it anyhow, and know it soon.  There has been a great battle, but we did not win it.”

“You mean we had to fall back, or that we failed to advance?  But our army will fight again soon, and then it will crush the French and Indian bands!”

“General Braddock’s army exists no longer.”

“What?  It’s some evil jest.  Say it’s not true, Lennox!”

“It’s an evil jest, but it’s not mine, Colden.  It’s the jest of fate.  General Braddock walked into a trap—­it’s twice I’ve told the terrible tale, once to Black Rifle and now to you—­and he and his army were destroyed, all but a fragment of it that is now fleeing from the woods.”

The full horror of that dreadful scene in the forest returned to him for a moment, and, despite himself, he made tone and manner dramatic.  A long, deep gasp, like a groan, came from the crowd, and then Robert heard the sound of a woman on the outskirts weeping.

“Our army destroyed!” repeated Colden mechanically.

“And the whole border is laid bare to the French and Indian hosts,” said Robert.  “Many bands are converging now upon Fort Refuge, and the place cannot be held against so many.”

“You mean abandon Fort Refuge?”

“Aye, Colden, it’s what wiser men than I say, Dave here, and Tayoga, and Black Rifle.”

“The lad is speaking you true, Captain Colden,” said Willet.  “Not only must you and your garrison and people leave Fort Refuge, but you must leave it tomorrow, and you must burn it, too.”

Again Robert heard the sound of a woman weeping in the outskirts of the crowd.

“We held it once against the enemy,” protested Colden.

“I know,” said Willet, “but you couldn’t do it now.  A thousand warriors, yes, more, would gather here for the siege, and the French themselves would come with cannon.  The big guns would blow your palisades to splinters.  Your only safety is in flight.  I know it’s a hard thing to destroy the fort that your own men built, but the responsibility of all these women and children is upon you, and it must be done.”

“So it is, Mr. Willet.  I’m not one to gainsay you.  I think we can be ready by daylight.  Meanwhile you four rest, and I’ll have food served to you.  You’ve warned us and we can count upon you now to help us, can’t we?”

“To the very last,” said Willet.

After the first grief among the refugees was over the work of preparation was carried on with rapidity and skill, and mostly in silence.  There were enough men or well grown boys among the settlers to bring the fighting force up to a hundred.  Colden and his assistants knew much of the forest now, and they were willing and anxious, too, to take the advice of older and far more experienced men like Black Rifle and Willet.