We were afoot again early the next morning. Beyond Schenectady a few farms rimmed the road, but presently we came to a clearing, and on the west side a green barrier stretched across our way. From end to end of the clearing it reached, and as far on either hand as I could see, a high, tangled, apparently impervious green wall of vegetation. 'Twas the outer rampart of the wilderness.
Some men were working in a field beside the road, and I saw that they had their guns beside them.
"They are armed," I cried.
"So are you," replied Corlaer.
"But——"
"This is der frontier," he said. "Eferybody is armed. Eferybody is on watch."
"Why?"
"Idt is der frontier."
I held my peace, until we reached the forest-wall. Then curiosity mastered me again.
"The road stops here," I said to Ta-wan-ne-ars. "How shall we go on?"