The Lords of the Wild A Story of the Old New York Border

xpected a quick and easy voyage, as they were powerful sw

e and get well back of

down in a thicket and s

now to a res

r decree it, and not before," replied the Onondaga gr

a t

use them as well, because I see a speck on the water b

e, Ta

hore, where the cliff rise

. It is a canoe,

s all the time? Not even the great and pious Tododaho, when he was on earth, expected so much. Now I think that after saving you

ed so far by a power greater than our own we ca

," said Tayoga. "I can se

addles in it. There's no doubt they are disappointed in not findi

the lake," said Tayoga, "and now it must be our purpose to m

nt and illusion was practiced universally by the natives of the North American wilderness. It was in truth

ranches hide us, and, as the wind still blows strongly towa

ard the mainlan

that canoe saw the tree floating against the wind they'd know we're h

though the three edged it ever so sli

it contained four paddles. It was evident too that they were on a quest, as th

same manner, and off to the east a third was beckoning in like fashion. There was nothing in

thin their boughs. Yet Robert at least, when those four pairs of eyes rested on his tree, felt the

, and we've got to keep up the illusion quite a while longer. Don't push on the tree. The wind is dying a little, and our pa

support, and, as the wind suddenly sank very muc

a temperament look far ahead and have a vision of triumphs to come out of the distant future, they also see far more clearly the troubles and dangers that confront them. So their nerves are much more severely

the fact that two other trees were afloat within view, was greatly in thei

se examination of our tree, wha

pered back, "but we'll have to get our rifles loose from their l

he warriors were satisfied with its appearance. Certainly a tree

ing. It obeyed absolutely the touch of the wind and not that of their hands, which rested as lightly as down upon the trunk. Once t

s wholly unconscious of the water in which he was sunk to the sho

llet. "Then they would have to be almost upon us before they saw us. It will ma

" said Robert, "an

their powerful arms as they swept their paddles through the water. Now, he prayed that the foliage of the tree would hide them well and he sank his body so deep in the lake that a little water trickled into his mouth, while only the tips of

f complete innocence and their eyes could not see the dark heads that merged so well with the dark trunk. They gazed fo

ir minds to go away," whispered the Onondaga,

tiously. "If this tree seems to act wrong they'll see i

ut the wind is blowing again, and we c

y gentle. Robert, don't let your enthusiasm run away with you. If we depart much from

Tayoga in his precise school English, "and now they are going to

e. Fortune

in the buoyant water. They had carefully avoided turning the tree in any manner, and their arms, ammunition and packs were dry and safe. But

beautiful lake, a majestic lake, the finest lake I know; but

shallow, muddy lake in a flat country, but instead he is put in this noble on

, Tayoga, and just now I crave dry land. I can't recall a single hour

hat distance. Aye, that's right, lads! Now the cliffs are coming much nearer, and they look real friendly. I see a little cove in there where our good tree can land, and it won't be hard for us to find our way up the banks, though they do rise so high. Now, steady! In we go! It's a snug little cove, put here to receive

replied

e'll le

, "and I've no doubt Tayoga is right when he thin

and resumed their clothing. The hunter shook his gigantic frame, and he felt the strength pour back into his muscles and veins, when he grasped

imb of the cliff, and saw a second and then a third

direction," said Willet, "and they'll be back in full f

nt up a slanting depression that they had seen from the lake, well covered with bushes, and t

d Willet. "They'll be carrying on anot

feel happy now having escaped one danger, and

while we can and the sight of those canoes scurrying around the

I think I'll take a glance at t

lightened again, a full moon coming out and hosts of stars sparkling in the heavens. The surface of the lake gleamed in silver and they distinctly saw the canoes cruising about i

ng bush he would have gone crashing down the slope. He quickly recovered himself and sought to hide his momentary

end of your rope, for the present. It's a wonder your stren

ot tired at all!" excla

e Onondaga, looking at him with sympathy, "and you

The collapse was too complete, but he had nothing to be ashamed of, as he had gone th

de of a cliff about fifteen hundred feet above the water I don't see

try the summit to-night, but I may find some sort of an alcove i

uplift of stone, while Willet stood on a narrow shelf, supporting h

efore his eyes floated away. He returned to a firm land of reality, but he knew that his stre

three hundred feet from the top of the cliff is a slight hollow that will give supp

ivid imagination leaping up again. "It appeals to me to be so near them and yet well h

Robert, to make me rest. I'd like it better if they were a hundred miles away instead of only a few

, and almost hidden by dwarfed evergreens and climbing vines. It was not visible twenty f

in Albany and New York, but it's a pretty good place to be fou

snug eno

r an incautious step, and then the three lay back against the wall, feeling an immense relief. Whil

ter, and the others were forced t

ergreens pushing themselves up where the least bit of soil was to be found, shut out the view before them, but it was as tru

ep 'em down," said the hunter. "Sleep will

ickly opened

, "I think I'

t lau

at you would remember

d idea. We'll all

iny from their knapsacks, and

all again and in a few min

Tayoga," said Wille

ake me for my turn,

upon me," sa

r him to exert his will. In an incredibly brief time he was pursuing Robert through the gates o

cities in its highest sense. His youth had not been spent in the North American wilderness. He had tasted the life of Lo

lly hanging on the side of a mighty cliff, with cruel enemies see

t down to the lake. The hunter looked anxiously in the dusk at the slender barrier, but he judged that it would be sufficient to stop any unconscious movement. Then he glanced at Robert and Tayoga a

air, trees and other objects were inhabited by spirits good or bad. At least it was a pleasing belief and he had no proof that it was not true. Certainly, it seemed as if some

than three hundred yards from the base of the cliff. The light was so good that Willet distinctly saw the paddlers at work and the other warriors sitting upright. It was not possible to read eyes at such a distance, but he imagined what they expressed and the thought pleased him. As Robert had predicted, th

he was with the other part of the fleet and was continuing the vain search in the south. He laughed again and with the

province of New York, anyway," he murmur

ing trees, including the one that had served them so well, had gone out of sight. The lake only expressed pe

three had disturbed it, and he was sorry. He had a kindly feeling toward birds and beasts just then, and he did not wish to drive even an eagle from his home. He hoped that it would come

est splendor, and the air was absolutely translucent. The lake and the mountains sprang out, sharp and clear. Far to the south the hunter saw a smudge upon the water which he knew to be Indian canoes. They were miles away, but it was evident that the French and

ght turned to burning gold. In the shining day far came near and objects close by grew to twice their size. To attempt to pass the war

Robert and Tayoga filled it, and his moccasined feet touched the dwarfed shrubs which made the thin green curtain before the opening. He realized more fully now in the intense light of a brilliant day what a slender shelf it was. Any one of them might have pitched from it to a sure death below. He was glad that the white lad and the red lad ha

much, but he would not keep his promise. He would let nature hold sway; when it chose to awaken them it could,

. He paid little attention to what was passing on the lake, but he listened with all the power of his hearing for anything that might happen on the cliff above them. He knew that the warriors were far from giving up the chase, and he expected a sign there. About two hours after sunrise it came. He heard the cry of a wolf, an

ces, only whispers, floated down to him, and he knew that the warriors were ranging along the cliff just above them. Leaning forward cautiously, he pe