Many were talking freely and seemed to rejoice in the food and fires.  It was Robert’s surmise that they had arrived but recently and were weary.  Their numbers were large, they certainly could not be less than four or five hundred, and his experience was great enough now to tell him that half of them, at least, were Canadian Indians.  All were in war paint, and they had an abundance of arms.

Robert’s eager eye sought Tandakora, but did not find him.  He had no doubt, however, that this great body of warriors was moving against Rogers and his rangers, and that it would soon be joined by the Ojibway chief.  Tandakora, anxious for revenge upon the Great Bear and the Mountain Wolf, would be willing to leave Montcalm for a while if he thought that by doing so he could achieve his purpose.  His gaze wandered from the warriors to the stacked rifles and muskets, and he saw that many of them were of English or American make, undoubtedly spoil taken at the capture of Oswego.  His heart swelled with anger that the border should have its own weapons turned against it by the foe.

It did not take him long to see enough.  It was a powerful force, equipped to strike, and now he was more anxious than ever to overtake Willet.  The fog was still thick and wet, distilling the fine rain, but he had forgotten discomfort, and, turning back on his path, he sought the dip in which he had left Tayoga sleeping.  He felt a certain pride that it had been his fortune to discover the band, and, as he had marked carefully the way by which he had come, it was not a difficult task to retrace his steps.

The Onondaga was still sleeping, his back against the log, but he awoke instantly when Robert touched him gently on the shoulder.

“What is it, Dagaeoga?” he whispered.  “You have seen something!  Your face tells me so!”

“My face tells you the truth,” replied Robert.  “There is a valley only a few hundred yards from us, and, in it, are about four hundred warriors, armed for battle.  All the signs indicate that they are going eastward in search of our friends.”

“You have done well, Dagaeoga.  You have used both eye and mind.  Was Tandakora there?”

“No, but I’m convinced he soon will be.”

“It appears likely.  They think, perhaps, they are strong enough to annihilate the rangers.”

“Maybe they are, unless the rangers are warned.  We ought to move at once.”

“But the fog is too thick.  We could not tell which way we were going.  We must not lose the trail of the Great Bear and Black Rifle, and, if the fog lifts, we can regain it in the morning, going ahead of the war band.”

“And then the warriors may pursue us.”

“What does it matter, if we keep well ahead of them and overtake the Great Bear and Black Rifle, who are surely going toward the rangers?  We will put out the fire, Dagaeoga, and stay here.  The fog protects us.  Now, you sleep and I will watch.”