“We know too,” continued Tayoga devoutly, “that Tododaho, the mighty Onondaga chief who went away to his star more than four hundred years ago, and who sits there watching over the Hodenosaunee has intervened more than once in our behalf.  He is an arm of Manitou and acts for him.”

He looked up.  The sky was hidden by the thick darkness.  No ray of silver or gray showed anywhere, but the Onondaga knew where lay the star upon which sat his patron saint with the wise snakes, coil on coil, in his hair.  He felt that through the banks of mist and vapor Tododaho was watching over him, and, as long as he tried to live the right way taught to him by his fathers, the great Onondaga chieftain would lead him through all perils, even as the bird in brilliant blue plumage had shown Robert the path from the pursuit of Tandakora.  The sublime faith of Tayoga never wavered for an instant.

The wind rose a little, a heavy swell stirred the lake and their light craft swayed with vigor, but the two youths were expert canoemen, none better in all the wilderness, and it shipped no water.  The hunter, sitting with his hands on his rifle, did not stir, nor did he speak for a long time.  Willet, at that moment, shared the faith of his two younger comrades.  He was grateful too because once more they had found Robert, for whom he had all the affection of a father.  The three reunited were far stronger than the three scattered, and he did not believe that any force on the lakes or in the mountains could trap them.  But his questing eyes watched the vast oblong of the lake, looking continually for a sign, whether that of friend or foe.

“What did you find, Robert?” he asked at last.

“Nothing but the band of Tandakora,” replied the lad, with a light laugh.  “I took my way squarely into trouble, and then I had hard work taking it out again.  I don’t know what would have happened to me, if you two hadn’t come in the canoe.”

“It seems,” said the Onondaga, in his whimsical precise manner, “that a large part of our lives, Great Bear, is spent in rescuing Dagaeoga.  Do you think when we go into the Great Beyond and arrive at the feet of Manitou, and he asks us what we have done with our time on earth, he will put it to our credit when we reply that we consumed at least ten years saving Dagaeoga from his enemies?”

“Yes, Tayoga, we’ll get white marks for it, because Robert has also saved us, and there is no nobler work than saving one’s fellow creatures.  Manitou knows also that it is hard to live in the wilderness and a man must spend a lot of his time escaping death.  Look to the east, Tayoga, lad, and tell me if you think that’s a point of light on the mountain over there.”

The Onondaga studied intently the dark wall of the east, and presently his eyes picked out a dot against its background, infinitesimal like the light of a firefly, but not to be ignored by expert woodsmen.

“Yes, Great Bear,” he replied, “I see it is not larger than the littlest star, but it moves from side to side, and I think it is a signal.”