What causes some shock and fright as the Sargent family sets eyes on their new farm for the first time?

As the Sargent family comes into the channel before their new farm they search the land for a house, but all they find is emptiness. Dolly Sargent is immediately angry and frightened that she has no place to keep her family safe on their new farm. Joel Sargent is frightened that the man who sold him the property lied about the house, only to learn it was Indians that destroyed the farmhouse.