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

d that the men would soon pass on. It was impossible even for the sharpest eyes to pick out the three behind the evergreen screen. Neverthe

ng the edge of the cliff, talking as they went, and the hunter surmised that the three were the subject of their attention. He imagined their chagrin at

not lured by such an easy promise into any rash act. He knew the savages would come again, and that unbroken vigilance was the price of life. Once more he settled himself into the easies

eturn to earth. Willet thought it better that they should sleep on, because youthful bodies demanded it, and because the delay which would be

blue. Willet even in those hours of anxiety did not forget to steep his soul in the beauty of Lake George. His life was cast amid great and continuous dangers, and he had no family that he could call his

ots were fired by Indians hunting. Since the war, game about the lake had increased greatly, and the warriors, whether attached to the French army or roving at their own will,

t the noise of incautious movements or sudden words, but stepping at once fr

Great Bear, and it

Tayoga. There's not

rriors are s

ttle while ago. I think

e is nothing in this region for them to shoot at s

leep. Robert too is now comi

awoke. His reentry into the world of fact was not

while you stretch yourself,

e lake in such fashion. I see by the sun t

f by the Great Bear and myself. As we felt ourselves a mat

n me. I'm glad you've concluded to use me for tipping the scales of a doubtf

ient, Dagaeoga, you can make a spee

s be willing to jest with each other in this man

, "because I think we're going to spend some time

ey had no water, although it floated p

k we're going to be mu

by one in the night f

on a long stay,

ell make ourselves at home. It's a gre

d be easier," said Robert. "I think my mu

ight will loosen them up,"

e intense thirst that assailed all three. Robert's throat and mouth were dry and burning, and he looked longingly at the lake that shimmered and gleamed below them. The waters, sparkling in their brilliant and changing col

o Indian hunters. Rogers with rangers might be somewhere in the region of the lakes, but they did not think he

have a feast to-n

Robert ruefully. "You remember that time when we wer

We know that because we came up the cliff. Th

bert felt a little relief. But his throat and mouth were still dry and hard, and they pained him whenever he talked. Yet they forced themselves to eat a scan

, Tayoga suggested that he go to the crest of the cliff and see if there was a possible way out for them in that direction. Willet agr

ered cautiously over the rim and beheld a great fire burning not more than a hundred yards away. Thirty or forty warriors were sitting

at pieces of deer over the coals, and then devoured them to the last shred. But Tayoga saw that while the majority were absorbed in their pleasant task, a half dozen sentinels, their line e

meaning of every cry and he translated it at once into a note of triumph. It sounded like the whoop over the taking of a scal

umph. The Onondaga flattened his body against the earth, and drew himself a little higher. In the dusk, his black eyes glowed with i

orn red uniform, his hands tied behind him, and all the color gone from his face. Powerful as was his self-control, Tayoga uttere

ken, but whatever the way, he was in the

of which was witnessed thousands of times in the great North American forests, and Tayoga, softened by long contact with high types of white men, felt pity. The light from the great fire fell directly on Grosvenor's face and showed its pallor. It was evident that he

illock, where his captors left him alone for the present. Tayoga watched him thoughtfully. He knew that his presence in the Indian camp complicated their own situation. Robert would never hear of

om and Grosvenor a great friendship had been formed. For the matter of that

f more presentable. He also straightened his worn figure, and sat more erect. Tayoga gave silent approval. Here was a man! He might be a prisoner, and be in a most desperate plight, but he would pre

le hear that he has gone they will have no cause to be ashamed of th

m. He thought it likely that Tandakora might come, and he had not long to wait. The huge Ojibway came striding through the bushes and into the circle o

strode up to the prisoner, and, folding his arms across his mighty breast, regarded him, smiling cruelly. The Onondaga did not see the smile, but he knew it

ve back defiantly the stare of the gigantic and sinister figure that confronted him. Then Tayoga saw Tandakora raise his hand and strike the young En

m Tandakora himself, and he meant, with all his soul, that some day the debt should be paid in full. Now in a vicarious way he took upon himself Grosvenor's debt also. The prisoner did

d the same pleasant occupation. Tayoga deciding that he had seen enough, began to climb down with great care. The descent was harder than the ascent, but he reached the n

arriors, Tayoga?"

only two or three hundred yards away; they have a good fi

no chance fo

aeoga. Nor would we

for our staying here sav

whom we cannot leave a

Rogers, the ranger! They would

d at the cliff's rim I saw the warriors bring in that you

t could he have been

either, but I saw him brought in a prisoner. Tandakora came, while I watched, and smote the c

ight when you assumed that we could not go away and leave Grosvenor a prisoner in their hands. B

ce glowed i

d be disgraced forever with ourselves, if we we

've forgotten our thirst in the news I bring, but it will soon be on us again, fiercer an

nce," said Willet. "If anything happens we'll be together, and we ar

with minute care, and as they approached the lake

ld drink the whole

eoga," said Tayoga in

o beautiful

ry surface of the water unbroken by the dark line of any can

knew the enormous value of water. And when it was found, one must know how to drink it right. He took a second and somewhat larger drink. Then, waiting a while, he drank freely and as much as he wanted. Strength, courage, optimis

ascent to the niche, which they reached without mishap. Another half hour there, and, having examined well their a

rms across his chest, glowering into the coals, and a line of sentinels was set. A red gleam from his uniform showed where Gro

how to do it, still it must b

our friend out of the hands of his enemies. Neither do I know how

had gone away four hundred years ago to his place in the heavens, and prayed for a thought, a happy thought that would tell him the way. In a moment, his mind was in a state of high sp

ceed. You and Dagaeoga must draw off the warriors, and the

mighty

e been turned aside by risks! B

I can't think

an alarm, and, as a consequence, draw off the main portion of the band. Then it was their duty to see to it that they were not taken. Meanwhile Tayoga in the excitement and confusion

see anything else to do. Besides, we have got to act quickly. Being on the war-path, th

and knowing so well he was ready t

t two hours after midnight. Then the minds and bodies of the warr

have to use every trifle that's in our

against the big

rushes off after us, full tilt, with nearly all the warriors. If only

e may f

ur wits and streng

must always be m

n at its darkest. Tandakora still slept against his tree, and the fires were almost out. The red gleam from the uniform of Grosvenor could no longer be seen, but Robe

escape through their

be

s out," sai

e were held back in o

sve

oo may

ell, Dagaeoga! May we meet at the mouth of the creek as we ha

x knew that theirs was a most perilous venture. Had he given himself time to think about it he would have seen that the chances were about ten to one against its su

t, and Robert w

ped through the Indian lines, but the thought of deserting Grosvenor never entered his mind. It seemed though as if all the elements of nature were conspiring to facilitate the flight of the hunter and hims

spered Willet, "but we'll go through the line there. See that fellow standing un

ht should be detected, nothing happened, and the vigilance of the warriors who usually watched so well seemed to be relaxed.

r in the still night. Robert, glancing back, saw the sentinel on the south stiffen to attention and then utter a cry of alarm, a shout sufficient to awake

fore," exclaimed Willet. "But we must l

yells of the Indians behind them, who pushed forward in pursuit, were succeeded by silence, and Robert knew they now were running for their lives. Luckily, they were coming into a country with which the

and ear, but they'll stick to the chase for a long time. I've no doubt they think all thr

'll run a race with anybody. You d

ase they have I'll te

d them showed that the pursuit was coming. As nearly as Robert could calculate, the warriors were about three hundred yards away.

eling their breath grow difficult again, they stopped a

ning turns it into a joke on us too. I've done so much of this sort of thing in the last few days that

laughed

e to live it for a while. Remember our task. If they lose our trail it's

arriors themselves, and then he and Robert resumed their flight, leavi

k there if it hadn't been for t

em," said Robert hopefully. "The so

e work he's trying to do. After all, his task is the main one, and the mos

ut their trained eyes had grown so used to it that they could see very well in the dusk. Both were looking back and at the same time they saw a shadowy figure appear in the forest behind them. Robert kn

, and raising his own rifle he sent back an answering shot which did not go astray. The fir

said the hunter, "and now

and lad, using their utmost speed, fled toward the southwest at such a great rate that the pursuit, at length, was left behind and finally was lost. D

in other hands than

a patience they could scarcel