But the band in double file sped on through the dusk.  Daganoweda, who knew the way, was at the head, and so skillful were they that no stick crackled and no leaf rustled as they passed.  Mile after mile they flitted on, over hill and valley and through the deep woods.  Far in the night they stopped to drink at a clear little brook that ran down to Lake Champlain, but no other halt was made until the dawn broke over a vast silver sheet of water, and high green mountains beyond.

“Oneadatote,” said Tayoga.

“And a great lake it is,” said Robert.  “We had a naval encounter on it once, and now we’ve had a battle, too, on George.”

“But the French and their allies hold all of Oneadatote, while we only dispute the possession of Andiatarocte.  They will march against us from Crown Point on the shores of this lake.”

“We’ll take George from ’em, all of it, and then we’ll come and drive ’em from Champlain, too.”

The eyes of the Onondaga sparkled.

“Dagaeoga has a brave heart,” he said, “and we will do all that he predicts, but, as I have said before, it will be a long and terrible war.”

They descended to a point nearer the lake, but, still remaining hidden in the dense forest, ate their breakfast of venison, bread and samp, and drank again from a clear brook.  They were now several miles north of Crown Point, and the leaders talked together again about the best manner of approach.  They not only wished to see what the army of Dieskau was doing, but they thought it possible to strike some blow that would inflict severe loss, and delay his advance.  Rogers used his glasses again, and was able to discern many Indian canoes on the lake, both north and south of the point where they lay, although they were mostly scattered, indicating no certain movement.

“Those canoes ought to be ours,” he said. “’Tis a great pity that we’ve let the French take control of Champlain.  It’s easier to hold a thing in the beginning than it is, having let your enemy seize it without a fight, to win it back again.”

“It’s better to do that than to be rash,” said Willet.  “I was with Braddock when we marched headlong into the wilderness.  If we had been slower then we’d have now a good army that we’ve lost.  Still, it’s hard to see the French take the lead from us.  We dance to their tune.”

“Dave,” said Rogers, “I see a whole fleet of Indian canoes far down the lake below Crown Point.  One can see many miles in such a clear air as this, and I’m sure they’re canoes, though they look like black dots crawling on the water.  Take the glasses and have a look.”

Willet held the glasses to his eyes a long time, and when he took them down he said with confidence: 

“They’re canoes, a hundred of ’em at least, and while they hold complete command of the lake, it don’t seem natural that so many of ’em should be in a fleet away down there below the French fort.  It means something unusual.  What do you think, Tayoga?”