***********

***********

Chapter Four: Journey To Fort Henry

Moving out of the trackless forest, the party made their way toward the creek, stepping through the streambed instead of on top of the unmoving stones. Nathaniel and Chingachgook led at the front with Alice and Uncas at the rear. Within the center, Duncan and Cora followed silently behind.

Alice could practically feel the tension that radiated from Duncan. The officer's posture revealed his uneasiness and Alice imagined that it had much to do with the fact that he was no longer in command. He was at a disadvantage and at the very mercy of those guiding them.

Cora moved closer to Duncan, her body language also revealing discomfort. She didn't trust these men... and Alice couldn't help but wonder what was going on through her mind. As far as Alice was concerned, she didn't feel threatened, or afraid... maybe somewhat shaken. Her father's "escort" had just tried to kill them and she saw with her own eyes, the soldiers sent to accompany them, slaughtered without a hint of remorse. She knew something had been off about that man... and her intuition had not been wrong.

As for these men, Alice knew they were somewhat uneasy around them, as foreigners, and the feeling seemed to be mutual on both sides. They spoke and behaved indifferently toward them and to be truthful, Alice didn't think that Duncan's rather pompous attitude was helping any. Perhaps her sister was thinking the same thing, as she was being as silent as Alice herself was? If there was one thing in common Alice had with her sister, it was the habit of not spouting out ignorant remarks and assumptions. Duncan did it on quite a frequent basis. It was just better to stay silent and follow.

Glancing shyly at the man by her side, Alice proceeded, her eyes moving back in time to hear Duncan ask, "How far is it, Scout?"

"Day and a half," the man leading, Nathaniel, answered. Almost as an after thought, he inquired, "Where did you get your guide?"

"Colonel Munro sent him. He was one of our Mohawk allies."

"He wasn't a Mohawk. Your guide was a Huron and nothing else." Glancing quickly behind him to make sure neither woman was close by, he added, "What reason would he have to want to murder the girl?"

"What?!"

"The dark haired one..."

Duncan frowned deeply. "Miss Cora Munro? Murder her? Why he never set eyes on her before today."

"No blood vengeance? No reproach or insult?"

"Of course not... tell me, how is it you were so nearby?"

"Came across the war party, tracked 'em."

Stopping, Duncan acknowledged, "Then you're assigned to Fort William Henry?"

"No."

"Fort Edward, then?"

"No, we're headed west. To Kentucky."

"I don't understand, there's a war going on," Heyward argued, eyes narrowing, "How is it that you're heading west? I thought all our colonial scouts were in the militia?"

Uncas stopped, smiling at the idea from Alice's side.

"First of all, I ain't your "scout". And I am certainly not in no damn militia... clear it up any?"

Continuing, Duncan followed, his body shaking with silent fury. They all walked more up creek, the rockier terrain, where small waterfalls and giant stones covered the grounds. Alice sighed, silently enjoying the scenery as she maintained her journey behind her sister... she wasn't aware of the pair of eyes that kept watch over her.

Standing silently, Uncas watched as the girl continued to walk forward, her eyes distant but aware. Her long pale skirts flowed and swayed in perfect rhythm with her feet and hips, movements that were silent and peculiarly graceful. Her dark haired sister appeared much the same way, only she carried more hostility toward them as the other and she kept inching closer to the arrogant British officer that had been furiously questioning his brother. This one kept her distance and at the same time, seemed to catch on that they were not a threat and merely trying to help. Her judgment wasn't that far off.

She was a very beautiful woman, that hadn't escaped Uncas' attention and from what he saw, she also had her own way of thinking on her feet. He couldn't help but remember in curious detail, the way he had reacted to her as she had to him when she nearly attacked him. Her wide blue eyes revealed that she had been just as startled by the contact as he had.

Uncas had met quite a number of women in his years, friends mostly... but none had ever brought out any sort of strong feeling or emotion as that one moment of contact with this girl had. To tell the truth, it both mesmerized and disturbed him.

***********

Smoke drifted through the trees from where they stood, all looking into the exterior of the Cameron cabin. The once beautifully crafted yet small cabin stood it's ground, now burned and smoldered into a collapsed pile of charred wood and debris. From the rubble, a child's cold and pale hand protruded into their view, as well as a cindered fragment of a dress.

Alice stepped back, frozen in horror, as Cora grasped her hand. Both stood aside next to Duncan as the other three men searched the wreckage.

***********

"All dead..." Uncas, his face stoic, murmured to his brother as he returned from one part of the collapsed cabin.

All three stood together, bending over a moccasin foot print that had been discovered by Chingachgook. They all shared a grim look.

"Ottawa, Les Francais," he confirmed, his finger further outlining the print in front of them.

Observing and straining to listened from the periphery with the Munro sisters, Duncan asked aloud, "What did you say?"

Uncas nodded. "Mirrors... tools... clothes... all inside. They didn't take anything."

"Moving fast, not able to carry much... this was a war party?" Hawkeye asked his father.

Chingachgook nodded silently in answer.

As all three readied to leave, Heyward spoke, "Let us look after them..."

"No. Leave them," Chingachgook ordered, leaving the cabin with his sons in tow.

Cora frowned, not moving from her spot next to Alice. "Though they are strangers, they are at least entitled to a Christian burial!"

Alice saw the one called Nathaniel stop, his head shaking as he said, "Let us go, Miss."

"I will not," Cora objected, approaching him slowly. "I have seen the face of war before, Mr. Poe, but never war made on women and children. And almost as cruel is your indifference."

Her words seemed to cut into him and Nathaniel turned back, rapidly approaching her. "Miss Munro, they are not strangers," he informed, "... And they stay as they lay."

***********

Alice groggily awoke from her fetal position on the grass of the burial ground. It took her a moment for memories of the past day to surface and as her eyes slowly opened, she found only silence and darkness around her. What on earth was going on?

Glancing to her side, Alice saw that Cora was no longer present. Fearing for her sister, as they were apparently not out of danger, Alice sat up... only to be greeted with the sight of a red face-painted Ottawa in the distance.

Startled, an involuntary shriek was about to escape her lips... had it not been for the hand that suddenly covered her mouth. Her eyes widened and she attempt to writhe out of the hold, only to have another strong arm grasp around her, pinning her against the hard body of her captor.

It took Alice a moment to comprehend the situation and she suddenly realized that they were hiding... and she nearly revealed their position. Fear gripped her as she saw them advance slowly forward. They hadn't seen or heard her, but nonetheless, they were still heading toward them.

Alice shuddered, her struggles long since ceasing as she watched in silence.

They stopped nearly thirty feet away, their leader gesturing to back out and Alice, along with everyone else in their party, tensely watched as the Ottawa and French made their silent retreat. It took them under a minute to clear out and seconds later, Uncas slowly removed his hand from her mouth. Alice turned in response, shyly looking up to catch his eyes before averting her face.

His arm, which was still around her waist, slowly and gently released her... and it was then that Alice became aware of their close proximity. Daring to glance up again, Alice saw that he was staring at her intently. He gave her a crooked half smile and gently guided her back down to the grass, silently gesturing for her to lay down and rest.

***********

It was late afternoon when they neared the Fort. They were still quite a hike away but despite their distance, they could scarcely see the smoke outline the sky as well as hear the rumbling of French siege cannons in the background.

Alice allowed Duncan to help her up the steep hill, barely hearing his ramblings. It was quite obvious that he was speaking to her because he was keeping his distance while, at the same time, observing those near him... which was Cora and Nathaniel.

Watching the two herself, Alice suddenly became aware of the barely hidden attraction between them. Inwardly smiling, she then continued, this time releasing Duncan's hand to walk on her own. Duncan could be, at certain times, a very chivalrous man. Often, however, Alice did notice that he could also be, to put it bluntly, a very arrogant and pigheaded man.

But that was just Duncan.... and even though she loved him like an older brother, she never did feel like he was right for Cora.

As they came closer, each of them stopped, finally able to see the Fort not far in the distance from their position in the forest. Alice, alarmed, glanced behind her... and saw the same thing as Uncas and Hawkeye... the Ottawa pursuing them.