About noon
The forest on either side of them was still silent and tenantless , and they expected in a few more hours to see the fort they had come so far to take . The heavens themselves were propitious . Only little white clouds were to be seen in the sky of dazzling blue , and the green forest , stirred by a gentle wind , waved its boughs at them in friendly fashion . About noon they approached the river , and Gage leading a strong advance guard across it , found no enemy on the other side , puzzling and also pleasing news . The foe , whom they had expected to find in this formidable position , seemed to have melted away . No trace of him could be found in the forest , and to many it appeared that the road to Fort Duquesne lay open . `` They 've concluded our force is too great and have abandoned the fort , '' said Robert .