“You’re rather deft with words yourself, Monsieur de St. Luc.  Once, at New York, I saw a juggler with balls who could keep five in the air at the same time, and in some dim and remote way you make me think of him.  You’ll pardon the illustration, chevalier, because I really mean it as a compliment.”

“I pardon gladly enough, because I see your intentions are good.  We both play with words, perhaps because the exercise tickles our fancy, but to return to the true spirit and essence of things, I warn you that it would be wise to surrender.  My force is very much greater than Captain Colden’s, and has him hemmed in.  If my Indian allies suffer too much in the attack it will be difficult to restrain them.  I’m not stating this as a threat—­you know me too well for that—­but to make the facts plain, and to avoid something that I should regret as much as you.”

“I don’t think it necessary to consult Captain Colden, and without doing so I decline your offer.  We have food to eat, water to drink and bullets to shoot, and if you care to take us you must come and do so.”

“And that is the final answer?  You’re quite sure you don’t wish to consult your superior officer, Captain Colden?”

“Absolutely sure.  It would waste the time of all of us.”

“Then it seems there is nothing more to say, and to use your own fanciful way of putting it, we must go back from the play of words to the play of swords.”

“I see no alternative.”

“And yet I hope that you will survive the combat, Mr. Lennox.”

“I’ve the same hope for you, Chevalier de St. Luc.”

Each meant it, and, in the same high manner of the day, they saluted and withdrew.  Robert, as he walked back to the thickets in which the defenders lay, felt that Indian eyes were upon him, and that perhaps an Indian bullet would speed toward him, despite St. Luc.  Tandakora and the savages around him could not always be controlled by their French allies, as was to be shown too often in this war.  His sensitive mind once more turned fancy into reality and the hair on his head lifted a little, but pride would not let him hasten his steps.

No gun was fired, and, with an immense relief, he sank down behind a fallen log, and by the side of Colden and Willet.

“What did the Frenchman want?” asked the young captain.

“Our instant and unconditional surrender.  Knowing how you felt about it, I gave him your refusal at once.”

“Well done, Mr. Lennox.”

“He said that in case of a rush and heavy loss by his Indians he perhaps would not be able to control them in the moment of victory, which doubtless is true.”

“They will know no moment of victory.  We can hold them off.”

“Where is Tayoga?” asked Robert of Willet.

The hunter pointed westward.

“Why, the cliff shuts off the way in that direction!” said Robert.

“Not to a good climber.”