"Aye," said the soldier, "and what of Fonda's Bush, Mr. Drogue?" "What!" I exclaimed, startled. "Look yonder," said he. I scarce know how I managed to stumble up the bushy bank. And then, when I came out on level land near the block house, I saw fire to the southeast, and the sky crimson above the forest. "My God!" I stammered, "Fonda's Bush is all afire!" There was a red light toward Frenchman's Creek, too, but where Fonda's Bush should lie a vast sea of fire rose and ebbed and waxed and faded above the forest. "Were any people left there?" I asked. "None, sir." "Thank God," I said. But my heart was desolate, for now my house of logs that I had builded and loved was gone; my glebe destroyed; all my toil come to naught in the distant mockery of those shaking flames. All I had in the world was gone save for my slender funds in Albany. "Where are my friends?" said I to a soldier. "At the Block House, sir, and very anxious concerning you. They have not long been in, but Nick Stoner is all for going back to Summer House to discover your whereabouts, and has been beating up recruits for a flying scout." Even as he spoke, I saw Nick come up the road with a torch, and called out to him. "Where have you been, John Drogue?" said he, coming to me and laying a hand on my shoulder. "Is Penelope safe?" I asked. "She is as safe as are any here in Mayfield. Is it Summer House that burns in the north, or only the marsh hay?" "The whole place is afire," said I. "A dozen green-coats, blue-eyed Indians, and two real ones, burnt Fish House and attacked us at Summer House. I saw and knew Jock Campbell, Henry Hare, Billy Newberry, Barney Cane, Eli Beacraft, and George Cuck. My Saguenay mortally wounded Jock. He's lying on the road. He tomahawked a Canienga, too, and took his scalp and another's." "Did _you_ mark any of the dirty crew?" demanded Nick. "I shot Beacraft and one Mohawk. How many are we at the Block House?" "A full company to hold it safe," said he, gloomily. "Do you know that Fonda's Bush is burning?" "Yes." After a silence I said: "Who commands here? I think we ought to move toward Johnstown this night. I don't know how many green-coats have come to the Sacandaga, but it must have been another detachment that is burning Fonda's Bush." As I spoke a Continental Captain followed by a Lieutenant came up in the torch-light; and I gave him his salute and rendered an account of what had happened on the Drowned Lands. He seemed deeply disturbed but told me he had orders to defend the Mayfield Fort. He added, however, that if I must report at Johnstown he would give me a squad of musket-men as escort thither. "Yes, sir," said I, "my report should not be delayed. But I have Nick Stoner and an Indian, and apprehend no danger. So if I may beg a dish of porridge for my little company, and dry my clothing by your block-house fire-place, I shall set out within the hour."