"I didn't dream the French and Indians were so near," he replied
apologetically.

"If comparisons are valuable you needn't feel any mortification about
it, Will," said Colden. "I was just about as careless myself, and all
of us would have lost our scalps, if Willet, Lennox and Tayoga hadn't
come along."

Wilton was consoled. But both he and Colden after the severe lesson
the latter had received were now all for vigilance. Many sentinels had
been posted, and since Colden was glad to follow the advice of Willet
and Tayoga they were put in the best places. They let the fire die
early, as the weather had now become very warm, and all of them, save
the watch soon slept. The night brought little coolness with it, and
the wind that blew was warm and drying. Under its touch the leaves
began to crinkle up at the edge and turn brown, the grass showed signs
of withering and Willet, who had taken charge of the guard that night,
noticed that summer was passing into the brown leaf. It caused him a
pang of disappointment.

Great Britain and the Colonies had not yet begun to move. The
Provincial legislatures still wrangled, and the government at London
was provokingly slow. There was still no plan of campaign, the great
resources of the Anglo-Saxons had not yet been brought together for
use against the quick and daring French, and while their slow, patient
courage might win in the end, Willet foresaw a long and terrible war
with many disasters at the beginning.

He was depressed for the moment. He knew what an impression the early
French successes would make on the Indian tribes, and he knew, too, as