The Masters of the Peaks: A Story of the Great North Woods

by Joseph A. Altsheler

  CHAPTER X

  THE FLIGHT OF THE TWO

  Tayoga, into whose hands Robert had entrusted himself with the uttermostfaith, at last said stop, and drawing the paddles into the canoe they tooklong, deep breaths of relief. Around them was a world of waters, silverunder the moon and stars now piercing the dusk, and the Onondaga could seethe vast star on which sat the mighty chieftain who had gone away fourhundred years ago to eternal life.

  "O Tododaho," he murmured, "thou hast guarded us well."

  "Where do you think we are, Tayoga?" asked Robert.

  "Perhaps twenty miles from land," replied the Onondaga, "and the fartherthe better."

  "True, Tayoga. Never before did I see a big lake look so kindly. If itdidn't require so much effort I'd like to go to the very center of it andstay there for a week."

  "Even as it is, Dagaeoga, we will wait here a while and take the long restwe need."

  "And while we're doing nothing but swing in our great canoe, Tayoga, I wantto thank you for all you've done for me. I'd been a prisoner much longerthan I wished."

  "It but repays my debt, Dagaeoga. You will recall that you helped to saveme from the hands of Tandakora when he was going to burn me at the stake.My imprisonment was short, but I have been in the forest the whole winterand spring seeking to take you from Langlade."

  "All of which goes to show, Tayoga, that we must allow only one of us to becaptured at a time. The other must go free in order to rescue the onetaken."

  Although Robert's tone was light, his feeling was far from frivolous, buthe had been at extreme tension so long that he was compelled to seekrelief.

  "How did you manage it, Tayoga?" he asked.

  "In the confusion of the attack on the forts and the rejoicing thatfollowed it was easy," replied the Onondaga. "When so many others weredancing and leaping it attracted no attention for me to dance and leapalso, and I selected, without interference, the boat, the extra paddle,weapons and ammunition that I wished. Areskoui and Tododaho did the rest.Do you feel stronger now, Dagaeoga?"

  "Aye, I'm still able to handle the paddle. I suppose we'd better seek alanding. We can't stay out in the lake forever. Tayoga, you've taken thepart of Providence itself. Now did it occur to you in your infinite wisdom,while you were storing paddles, weapons and ammunition in this boat, tostore food also?"

  The Onondaga's smile was wide and satisfying.

  "I thought of that, too, Dagaeoga," he replied, "because I knew ourjourney, if we should be so fortunate as to have a journey, would take usout on the lake, and I knew, also, that no matter how many hardships anddangers Dagaeoga might pass through, the time would come when he would behungry. It is always so with Dagaeoga."

  He took a heavy knapsack from the bottom of the canoe and opened it.

  "It is a French knapsack," he said, "and it contains both bread and meat,which we will enjoy."

  They ate in great content, and their spirits rose to an extraordinarydegree, though Tayoga regretted the absence of clothing which his disguisehad made necessary. Having been educated with white lads, and havingassociated with white people so much, he was usually clad as completely asthey, either in their fashion or in his own full Indian costume.

  "My infinite wisdom was not so infinite that it told me to take a blanket,"he said, "and the wind coming down from the Canadian shore is growingcold."

  "I'm surprised to hear you speak of such trifles as that, Tayoga, whenwe've been dealing with affairs of life and death."

  "We are cold or we are warm, Dagaeoga, and peril and suffering do not alterit. But lo! the wind is bringing the great mists with it, and we willescape in them."

  They turned the canoe toward a point far to the east of the Indian camp andbegan to paddle, not hastily but with long, slow, easy strokes that sentthe canoe over the water at a great rate. The fogs and vapors were thickand close about them, but Tayoga knew the direction. Robert asked him if hehad heard of Willet, and the Onondaga said he had not seen him, but he hadlearned from a Mohawk runner that the Great Bear had reached Waraiyagehwith the news of St. Luc's prospective advance, and Tayoga had alsocontrived to get news through to him that he was lying in the forest,waiting a chance to effect the rescue of Robert.

  Toward morning they landed on a shore, clothed in deep and primeval forest,and with reluctance abandoned their canoe.

  "It is an Abenaki craft," said Tayoga. "It is made well, it has served uswell, and we will treat it well."

  Instead of leaving it on the lake to the mercy of storms they drew it intosome bushes at the mouth of a small creek, where it would stay securely,and probably serve some day some chance traveler. Then they plunged intothe deep forest, but when they saw a smoke Robert remained hidden whileTayoga went on, but with the intention of returning.

  The Onondaga was quite sure the smoke indicated the presence of a smallvillage and his quest was for clothes.

  "Let Dagaeoga rest in peace here in the thicket," he said, "and when I comeback I shall be clad as a man. Have no fears for me. I will not enter thevillage Until after dark."

  He glided away without noise, and Robert, having supreme confidence in him,lay down among the bushes, which were so dense that the keenest eyes couldnot have seen him ten feet away. His frame was relaxed so thoroughly afterhis immense exertions and he felt such utter thankfulness at his escapethat he soon fell into a deep slumber rather than sleep, and when he awokethe dark had come, bringing with it Tayoga.

  "Lo, Dagaeoga," said the Onondaga, in a tone of intense satisfaction, "Ihave done well. It is not pleasant to me to take the property of others,but in this case what I have seized must have been captured from theEnglish. No watch was kept in the village, as they had heard of their greatvictory and the warriors were away. I secured three splendid blankets, twoof green and one of brown. Since you have a coat, Dagaeoga, you can haveone green blanket and I will take the other two, one to wear and the otherto sleep in. I also took away more powder and lead, and as I have my bulletmolds we can increase our ammunition when we need it. I have added, too, asupply of venison to our beef and bread."

  "You're an accomplished burglar, Tayoga, but I think that in this case yourpatron saint, Tododaho, will forgive you. I'm devoutly glad of the blanket.I feel stiff and sore, after such great exertions, and I find I've growncold with the coming of the dark."

  "It is a relapse," said Tayoga with some anxiety. "The strain on mind andbody has been too great. Better wrap yourself in the blanket at once, andlie quiet in the thicket."

  Robert was prompt to take his advice, as his body was hot and his sightwas wavering. He felt that he was going to be ill and he might get it overall the quicker by surrendering to it at once. He rolled the blankettightly about himself and lay down on the softest spot he could find. Inthe night he became delirious and talked continually of Langlade, St. Lucand Montcalm. But Tayoga watched by him continually until late, when hehunted through the forest by moonlight for some powerful herbs known tothe Indians. In the morning he beat them and bruised them and cooked themas best he could without utensils, and then dropped the juices into hiscomrade's mouth, after which he carefully put out the fire, lest it be seenby savage rovers.

  Robert was soon very much better. He had a profuse perspiration and cameout of his unconscious state, but was quite weak. He was also thoroughlyashamed of himself.

  "Nice time for me to be breaking down," he said, "here in the wildernessnear an Indian village, hundreds of miles from any of our friends, savethose who are captured. I make my apologies, Tayoga."

  "They are not needed," said the Onondaga. "You defended me with your lifewhen I was wounded and the wolves sought to eat me, now I repay again.There is nothing for Dagaeoga to do but to keep on perspiring, see that theblanket is still wrapped around him, and tonight I will get something inwhich to cook the food he needs."

  "How will you do that?"

  "I will go again to my village. I call it mine because it supplies what weneed and I will return with the spoil. Bide you in peace, Dagaeo
ga. Youhave called me an accomplished burglar. I am more, I am a great one."

  Robert had the utmost confidence in him, and it was justified. When heawoke from a restless slumber, Tayoga stood beside him, holding in his handa small iron kettle made in Canada, and a great iron spoon.

  "They are the best they had in the village," he said. "It is not a largeand rich village and so its possessions are not great, but I think thesewill do. I have also brought with me some very tender meat of a young deerthat I found in one of the lodges."

  "You're all you claimed to be and more, Tayoga," said Robert earnestly andgratefully.

  The Onondaga lighted a fire in a dip, and cutting the deer into tiny bitsmade a most appetizing soup, which Robert's weak stomach was able to retainand to crave more.

  "No," said Tayoga, "enough for tonight, but you shall have twice as much inthe morning. Now, go to sleep again."

  "I haven't been doing anything but sleep for the last day or two. I want toget up and walk."

  "And have your fever come back. Besides, you are not strong enough yet towalk more than a few steps."

  Robert knew that he would be forced to obey, and he passed the night partlyin dozing, and partly in staring at the sky. In the morning he was veryhungry and showed an increase of strength. Tayoga, true to his word, gavehim a double portion of the soup, but still forbade sternly any attempt atwalking.

  "Lie there, Dagaeoga," he said, "and let the wind blow over you, and I'llgo farther into the forest to see if friend or enemy be near."

  Robert, feeling that he must, lay peacefully on his back after the Onondagaleft him. He was free from fever, but he knew that Tayoga was right inforbidding him to walk. It would be several days yet before he couldfulfill his old duties, as an active and powerful forest runner. Yet he wasvery peaceful because the soreness of body that had troubled him was goneand strength was flowing back into his veins. Despite the fact that he waslying on his back alone in the wilderness, with savage foes not far away,he believed that he had very much for which to be grateful. He had beentaken almost by a miracle out of the hands of his foes, and, when he wasill and in his weakness might have been devoured by wild beasts or mighthave starved to death, the most loyal and resourceful of comrades had beenby his side to save him.

  He saw the great star on which Tayoga's Tododaho lived, and he accepted somuch of the Iroquois theology, believing that it was in spirit and essencethe same as his own Christian belief, that he almost imagined he could seethe great Onondaga chieftain who had gone away four centuries ago. In anyevent, it was a beneficent star, and he was glad that it shone down on himso brilliantly.

  Tayoga before his departure had loaned him one of his blankets and now helay upon it, with the other wrapped around him, his loaded pistol in hisbelt and his loaded rifle lying by his side. The fire that the Onondaga hadbuilt in the dip not far away had been put out carefully and the ashes hadbeen scattered.

  Although it was midsummer, the night, as often happened in that northernlatitude, had come on cool, and the warmth of the blankets was notunwelcome. Robert knew that he was only a mote in all that vast wilderness,but the contiguity of the Indian village might cause warriors, eitherarriving or departing, to pass near him. So he was not surprised when heheard footsteps in the bushes not far away, and then the sound of voices.Instinctively he tried to press his body into the earth, and he also liftedcarefully the loaded rifle, but second thought told him he was not likelyto be seen.

  Warriors presently came so near that they were visible, and to his surpriseand alarm he saw the huge figure of Tandakora among them. They were about adozen in number, walking in the most leisurely manner and once stopped veryclose to him to talk. Although he raised himself up a little and clutchedthe rifle more tightly he was still hopeful that they would not see him.The Ojibway chieftain was in full war paint, with a fine new Americanrifle, and also a small sword swinging from his belt. Both were undoubtedlytrophies of Oswego, and it was certain that after carrying the sword for awhile as a prize he would discard it. Indians never found much use forswords.

  Robert always believed that Tayoga's Tododaho protected him that night,because for a while all the chances were against him. As the warriors stoodnear talking a frightened deer started up in the thicket, and Tandakorahimself brought it down with a lucky bullet, the unfortunate animal fallingnot thirty yards from the hidden youth. They removed the skin and cut itinto portions where it lay, the whole task taking about a half hour, andall the time Robert, lying under the brush, saw them distinctly.

  He was in mortal fear lest one of them wander into the dip where Tayoga hadbuilt the fire, and see traces of the ashes, but they did not do so. Twicewarriors walked in that direction and his heart was in his mouth, but inneither case did the errand take them so far. Tandakora was not alone inbearing Oswego spoils. Nearly all of them had something, a rifle, a pistolor a sword, and two wore officers' laced coats over their painted bodies.The sight filled Robert with rage. Were his people to go on this wayindefinitely, sacrificing men and posts in unrelated efforts? Would theyallow the French, with inferior numbers, to beat them continuously? He hadseen Montcalm and talked with him, and he feared everything from thatdaring and tenacious leader.

  While the Indians prepared the deer the moon and stars came out withuncommon brilliancy, filling the forest with a misty, silver light. Robertnow saw Tandakora and his men so clearly that it seemed impossible for themnot to see him. Once more he had the instinctive desire to press himselfinto the earth, but his mind told him that absolute silence was the mostnecessary thing. As he lay, he could have picked off Tandakora with abullet from his rifle, and, so far as the border was concerned, he feltthat his own life was worth the sacrifice, but he loved his life and theOjibway might be put out of the way at some other time and place.

  Tayoga's Tododaho protected him once more. Two of the Indians wanted waterand they started in search of a brook which was never far away in thatregion. It seemed for a moment or two that they would walk directly intothe dip, where scattered ashes lay, but the great Onondaga turned themaside just in time and they found at another point the water they wished.Robert's extreme tension lasted until they were back with the others.Nevertheless their harmless return encouraged him in the belief that thestar was working in his behalf.

  The Indians were in no hurry. They talked freely over their task ofdressing and quartering the deer, and often they were so near that Robertcould hear distinctly what they said, but only once or twice did they use adialect that he could understand, and then they were speaking of the greatvictory of Oswego, in which they confirmed the inference, drawn from thespoils, that they like Tandakora had taken a part. They were in high goodhumor, expecting more triumphs, and regarded the new French commander,Montcalm, as a great and invincible leader.

  Robert was glad, then, that he was such an insignificant mote in thewilderness and had he the power he would have made himself so small that hewould have become invisible, but as that was impossible he still trustedin Tayoga's Tododaho. The Indian chief gave two of the warriors an order,and they started on a course that would have brought them straight to him.The lad gave himself up for lost, but, intending to make a desperate fightfor it, despite his weakness, his hand crept to the hammer and trigger ofhis rifle. Something moved in the thicket, a bear, perhaps, or a lynx, andthe two Indians, when they were within twenty feet of him, turned aside toinvestigate it. Then they went on, and it was quite clear again to Robertthat he had been right about the friendly intervention of Tododaho.

  Nor was it long until the truth was demonstrated to him once more, and in aconclusive manner. The entire party departed, taking with them the portionsof the deer, and they passed so very close to him that their wary eyes,which always watched on all sides, would have been compelled to see him, ifTododaho, or perhaps it was Areskoui, or even Manitou, had not seen fitjust at that moment to draw a veil before the moon and stars and make theshadow so deep under the bush where young Lennox lay that he was invisible,although th
ey stepped within fifteen feet of him. They went on in theirusual single file, disappearing in the direction of the village, while helay still and gave thanks.

  They had not been gone more than fifteen minutes when there was a faintrustle in the thicket, and Tayoga stood before him.

  "I was hid in a clump of weeds not far away and I saw," said the Onondaga."It was a narrow escape, but you were protected by the great powers of theearth and the air. Else they would have seen you."

  "It is so," said Robert, devoutly, "and it makes me all the more glad tosee you, Tayoga. I hope your journey, like all the others, has beenfruitful."

  The Onondaga smiled in the dusk.

  "It is a good village to which I go," he replied in his precise fashion."You will recall that they had in Albany what they call in the Englishtongue a chemist's shop. It is such that I sought in the village, and Ifound it in one lodge, the owners of which were absent, and which I couldreach at my leisure. Here is a gourd of Indian tea, very strong, made fromthe essence of the sassafras root. It will purge the impurities from yourblood, and, in another day, your appetite will be exceedingly strong. Thenyour strength will grow so fast that in a short time you will be ready fora long journey. I have also brought a small sack filled with samp."

  Robert uttered a little cry of joy. He craved bread, or at least somethingthat would take its place, and samp, a variation of which is known ashominy, was a most acceptable substitute.

  "You are, in truth, a most efficient burglar, Tayoga," he said.

  "I obtained also information," continued the Onondaga. "While I lay in oneof the lodges, hidden under furs, I heard two of the old men talking. Theybelieve since they have taken Oswego that all things are possible for themand the French. Montcalm appears to them the greatest of all leaders andhe will take them from one victory to another. Their defeat by Andiatarocteis forgotten, and they plan a great advance toward the south. But theyintend first to sweep up all the scouts and bands of the Americans andEnglish. Their first attack will be upon Rogers, him whom we call theMountain Wolf."

  "Rogers! Is he somewhere near us?" exclaimed Robert eagerly.

  "Far to the east toward Andiatarocte, but they mean to strike him. TheFrenchmen De Courcelles and Jumonville will join with Tandakora, then St.Luc will go too and he will lead a great force against the Mountain Wolf,with whom, I suspect, our friend the Great Bear now is, hoping perhaps, asthey hunt through the forest, to discover some traces of us."

  "I knew all along, Tayoga, that Dave would seek me and rescue me if youdidn't, or if I didn't rescue myself, provided I remained alive, as you seeI did."

  "The Great Bear is the most faithful of all comrades. He would never deserta friend in the hands of the enemy."

  "You think then that we should try to meet the Mountain Wolf and hisrangers?"

  "Of a certainty. As soon as Dagaeoga is strong enough. Now lie still, whileI scout through the forest. If no enemy is near I will heat the tea, andthen you must drink, and drink deep."

  He made a wide circuit, and, coming back, lighted a little fire on which hewarmed the tea in the pot that he had taken from the village on an earliernight. Then, under the insistence of Tayoga, Robert drank a quantity thatamounted to three cups, and soon fell into a deep sleep, from which heawoke the next day with an appetite so sharp that he felt able to bite abig piece out of a tree.

  "I think I'll go hunt a buffalo, kill him and eat him whole," he said in alarge, round voice.

  "If so Dagaeoga will have to roam far," said Tayoga sedately. "The buffalois not found east of the Alleghanies, as you well know."

  "Of course I know it, but what are time and distance to a Samson like me? Isay I will go forth and slay a buffalo, unless I am fed at once and inenormous quantities."

  "Would a haunch of venison and a gallon of samp help Dagaeoga a little?"

  "Yes, a little, they'd serve as appetizers for something real andsubstantial to come."

  "Then if you feel so strong and are charged so full of ambition you canhelp cook breakfast. You have had an easy time, Dagaeoga, but lifehenceforth will not be all eating and sleeping."

  They had a big and pleasant breakfast together and Robert rejoiced in hisnew vigor. It was wonderful to be so strong after having been so weak, itwas like life after death, and he was eager to start at once.

  "It is a good thing to have been ill," he said, "because then you know howfine it is to be well."

  "But we will not depart before tomorrow," said the Onondaga decisively.

  "And why?"

  "Because you have lived long enough in the wilderness, Dagaeoga, to knowthat one must always fight the weather. Look into the west, and you willsee a little cloud moving up from the horizon. It does not amount to muchat present, but it contains the seed of great things. It has been sent bythe Rain God, and it will not do yet for Dagaeoga, despite his newstrength, to travel in the rain."

  Robert became anxious as he watched the little cloud, which seemed to swellas he looked at it, and which soon assumed an angry hue. He knew thatTayoga had told the truth. Coming out of his fever it would be a terriblerisk for him to become drenched.

  "We will make a shelter such as we can in the dip where we built the fire,"said Tayoga, "and now you can use your new strength as much as you will inwielding a tomahawk."

  They cut small saplings with utmost speed and speedily accomplished one ofthe most difficult tasks of the border, making a rude brush shelter whichwith the aid of their blankets would protect them from the storm. By thetime they had finished, the little cloud which had been at first a meresignal had grown so prodigiously that it covered the whole heavens, and theday became almost as dark as twilight. The lightning began to flash ingreat, blazing strokes, and the thunder was so nearly continuous that theearth kept up an incessant jarring. Then the rain poured heavily and Robertsaw Tayoga's wisdom. Although the shelter and his blanket kept the rainfrom him he felt cold in the damp, and shivered as if with a chill.

  "When the storm stops, which will not be before dark," said Tayoga, "Ishall go to the village and get you a heavy buffalo robe. They have some,acquired in trade from the Indians of the western plains, and one of thembelongs to you. So, Dagaeoga, I will get it."

  "Tayoga, you have taken too much risk for me already. I can make out verywell as I am, and suppose we start tonight in search of Rogers and Willet."

  "I mean to have my way, because in this case my way is right. We worktogether as partners, and the partnership becomes ineffective when onemember of it cannot endure the hardships of a long march, and perhaps ofbattle. And has not Dagaeoga said that I am an accomplished burglar? Iprove it anew tonight. As soon as the rain ceases I will go to the village,the great storehouse of our supplies."

  The Onondaga spoke in a light tone with a whimsical inflection, but Robertsaw that he was intensely in earnest, and that it was not worth while forhim to say more. The great storm passed on to the southward, the rain sankto a drizzle, but it was very cold in the forest, and Robert's teethchattered, despite every effort to control his body.

  "I go, Dagaeoga," said Tayoga, "and I shall return with the great, warmbuffalo robe that belongs to you."

  Then he melted without noise into the darkness and Robert was alone. Heknew the mission of the Onondaga to be a perilous one, but he did not doubthis success. The cold drizzle fell on the shelter of brush and saplings,and some of it seeped through. Now and then a drop found its way down hisneck, and it felt like ice. Physically he was very miserable, and it beganto depress his spirit. He hoped that Tayoga would not be long in obtainingthe buffalo robe.

  The thunder moaned a little far to the south, and then died down entirely.There were one or two stray flashes of lightning and then no more. He sankinto a sort of doze that was more like a stupor, from which he was awakenedby a dusky figure in the doorway of the little shelter. It was Tayoga, andhe bore a heavy dark bundle over his arm.

  "I have brought the buffalo robe that belongs to you, Dagaeoga," he saidcheerfully. "It was in the
lodge of the head chief of the village and I hadto wait until he went forth to greet Tandakora, who came with a band of hiswarriors to claim shelter, food and rest. Then I took what was your own andhere it is, one of the finest I have ever seen."

  He held up the great buffalo robe, tanned splendidly and rich in fur andthe sight of it made Robert's teeth stop chattering. He wrapped it aroundhis body and sufficient warmth came back.

  "You're a marvel, Tayoga," he said. "Does the village contain anything elsethat belongs to us?"

  "Nothing that I can think of now. The rain will cease entirely in an hour,and then we will start."

  His prediction was right, and they set forth in the dark forest, Robertwearing the great buffalo robe which stored heat and consequent energy inhis frame. But the woods were so wet, and it was so difficult to find agood trail that they did not make very great progress, and when dawn camethey were only a few miles away. Robert's strength, however, stood thetest, and they dared to light a fire and have a warm breakfast. Muchrefreshed they plunged on anew, hunting for friends who could not be muchmore than motes in the wilderness. Robert hoped that some chance wouldenable him to meet Willet, to whom he owed so much, and who stood in theplace of a father to him. It did not seem possible that the Great Bearcould have fallen in one of the numerous border skirmishes, which must havebeen fought since his capture. He could not associate death with a man sopowerful and vital as Willet.

  The day was bright and warm, and he took off the buffalo robe. It was quitea weight to be carried, but he knew he would need it again when night cameand particularly if there were other storms. They saw many trails in theafternoon and Tayoga was quite sure they were made by war bands. Nearly allof them led southeast.

  "The savages in the west and about the Great Lakes," he said, "have heardof the victory at Oswego, and so they pour out to the French standard,expecting many scalps and great spoils. Whenever the French win a triumphit means more warriors for them."

  "And may not some of the bands going to the war stumble on our own trail?"

  "It is likely, Dagaeoga. But if it comes to battle see how much better itis that you should be strong and able."

  "Yes, I concede now, Tayoga, that it was right for us to wait as long aswe did."

  The trails grew much more numerous as they advanced. Evidently swarms ofwarriors were about them and before midday Tayoga halted.

  "It will not be wise for us to advance farther," he said. "We must seeksome hiding place."

  "Hark to that!" exclaimed Robert.

  A breeze behind them bore a faint shout to his ear. Tayoga listenedintently, and it was repeated once.

  "Pursuit!" he said briefly. "They have come by chance upon our trail. Itmay be Tandakora himself and it is unfortunate. They will never leave usnow, unless they are driven back."

  "Then we'd better turn back towards the north, as the thickest of theswarms are sure to be to the south of us."

  "It is so. Again the longest of roads becomes the safest for us, but wewill not make it wholly north, we will bear to the east also. I once left acanoe, hidden in the edge of a lake there, and we may find it."

  "What will we do with it if we find it?"

  "Tandakora will not be able to follow the trail of a canoe. But now we mustpress forward with all speed, Dagaeoga. See, there is a smoke in the southand now another answers it in the north. They are talking about us."

  Robert saw the familiar signals which always meant peril to them, and hewas willing to go forward at the uttermost speed. He had become hardened ina measure to danger, though it seemed to him that he was passing throughenough of it to last a lifetime. But his soul rose to meet it.

  They used all the customary devices to hide their traces, wading when therewas water, walking on stones or logs when they were available, but theyknew these stratagems would only delay Tandakora, they could not throw himoff the trail entirely. They hoped more from the coming dark, and, whennight came, it found them going at great speed. Just at twilight they hearda faint shout again and the faint shout in reply, telling them the pursuitwas maintained, but the night fortunately proved to be very dark, and, anhour or two later, they came to a heavy windrow, the result of some oldhurricane into which they drew for shelter and rest. They knew that noteven the Indian trailers could find them there in such darkness, and forthe present they were without apprehension.

  "Do you think they will pass us in the night?" asked Robert.

  "No," replied Tayoga. "They will wait until the dawn and pick up the trailanew."

  "Then we'd better start again about midnight."

  "I think so, too."

  Meanwhile, lying comfortably among the fallen trees and leaves, they waitedin silence.