Joe stood still, studying the smoke and trying to analyze its meaning.
Fear tugged at his heart, and his lips had gone dry. He could see only
the smoke, and it was not a forest fire because it was not traveling.
Winterson would hardly be burning brush at this season, either. The
obvious answer was that Winterson's house itself was burning, but why?
Was it an accidental fire? Or had the Indians, whom Major Dismuke
respected and Winterson scorned, finally attacked? Joe walked back into
the clearing and turned to look nervously at the forest. If the Indians
were on the warpath, they would come from the woods.
He felt and checked a rising fright. Whatever the situation was, it must
be met coolly. Panic would help nothing. Joe entered the house and Emma,
cooking breakfast for the rest of the family, looked questioningly at
him.
"There's things afoot," Joe said quietly. "I think Winterson's house is
burning and Indians might have set it. We'd better get ready for
whatever it is."