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

. We've settled in our minds that he wants to keep our people busy along Lake George, while Mont

oint, even Grosvenor, who did no

can afford to wait the night through, anyhow. Tayoga, we have got to keep you fresh, because your senses and faculties must be

, at least, he was not apprehensive. The fog might hang on all night if it chose. They could easily make up lost ground in the morning. Meanwhile they were accumulating fresh strength. The four were sleeping very placidly, and it was not likely that they would awake before dawn. Willet looked at their relaxed figures

l stirring of some animal. Toward morning the inevitable change occurred. A wind arose in the south, gentle puffs in the beginning, then blowing steady and strong. The fog was torn away first at the top, where it was thinnest, floating off in shreds and patches, and then the whole wall of it yielded before the insistent breeze, drive

und the camp and there is no immediate threat hanging over us. We can enjoy a goo

could tell that many men had walked there. Most of the Frenchmen as well as the Indians had worn moccasins, but t

say were in this force

little parties, and the trail also shows where some of the parties came back. See, Red Coat, here is where two warriors returned. The French

to forest life, and I know the Indians like them better than they do any other white people. As I often tell

rrate 'em," s

ot think he went on more than a mile. It is likely that he stopped at the first brook, and the slope of the ground shows that we will come soon to a

st we run into their camp befor

e footsteps of St. Luc. I know they are his, because his foot is small and he wears moccasins. All the French soldiers have larger feet, and the other two Frenchmen, De Courcelles and De Jumonville, wear boots. Sharp

h we'll find their camp," said Robert, who had caugh

to the brook where the signs

id not talk over anything with his lieutenants, De Courcelles and Jumonville. His trail leads to the north side of the camp, where he wrapped himself in his blanket and lay down. I imagine that the Canadian, Dubois, who goes with him, as an attendant, watched over him. De Courcelles and Jumonville slept on the other side of the camp. There go their boots. All the French soldiers but Dubois lay down to sleep, and only the warriors wa

usiness to stop

an see their trail, leading off into the woods, and then his main force marched in a close and compact group. Just beyond the camp a little while after they made the new start he called De Courcelles and De Jumonville to him, and talked

that, Tayoga?"

places are broken off, not crushed down. De Courcelles and Jumonville kicked them in anger with th

be right

Sharp Sword went on ahead. At no time does he permit them to walk beside him. He still regards the two

r to any of the others to doubt him. They had seen too many evidences of his surpassing skill on the trail. They swung along and Grosv

re seeking food dropped

pause to cook breakfast or even to eat it at the camp, but they took it as they walked along swiftly, dropping shreds of flesh or grains of hominy or bones picked clean as they walked. The birds have come to feast on their leavings. Doubtless, they have eaten a

and will join him soon. If he is intending an attack upon u

ayoga, in the most positive manner. "Great Bear reasons well. I

foe, and, before they had gone two miles, the Onondaga pointed to a

who has walked

s bigger footprints than any other man now in the province of New York. His warriors were with him too when

ressions. I think he talked longer with the Ojibway than he did with De Courcelles and Jumonville. Tandakora is an evil man but perhaps St. Luc feels less dislike for him than he does for the two white men. The Ojibway is only a savage from the

place and sent the bully to a land where he can never more do murder. Much as I hate Tand

ase their speed. The stride of St. Luc lengthens and as it lengthens so must those of all th

valleys and always through deep forest, cut here and there by clear streams. The sun came out, and it was warm under the trees. Grosvenor, unused to

nts of their knees and feet as they bent over the water. It is a good brook. Manitou has filled the wilderness w

id the two

r fairly reveled in it, feeling that his nerves and muscles were being created anew. They also made further inroads on their bear and

hat everything in the wo

nto that of the main force. It was a mixed band, red and white as th

oin him. We know that Montcalm drew back into the north after his great blow at Fort William Henry, and we think he is going to fortify on Champlain or b

ll culminate before night," said Willet. "

ours they intend to attack. They are not going so fast now, and the trail is growing very warm. Sharp Sword's stride is shortening and so, of co

ley," said Willet. "Water and wood will be plentiful there,

aybe they have lighted the fire already. Suppose, Great Bear, we cli

stance on all sides, the lake a vast glittering bowl on their left and the mighty green wilderness of hills, moun

" said

smoke," s

hich we were looking and which we

near. But that emotion soon passed and in its place came the thought of the enemy's presen

into their c

great now, but it will soon be night, and then we can approach. We can see them well, then

elf with credit. But this was war, far different from that on the open fields of Europe for which his early training had fitted him. One must lie in the deep forest and depend upon the delicacy of eye an

ow of advancing twilight, and before him he knew well lay St. Luc and the formidable French and Indian force. Time and place were enough to try the soul of an inexperienced youth and yet Grosvenor was not afraid. His own spirit and will

ppearing across its southern face. But Willet, who was in reality the leader of the little party, gave no sign. Grosvenor knew that they were waiting for the majority of St. Luc's force to go to sleep, leaving only the sentinels before

show how well you can keep up the start you've made as a trailer. Tha

wer against the sky grow larger and larger, and at last a lumin

ill," whispered Willet, "an

usting their heads through the bushes, looked down into t

f white and silver. A gallant and romantic figure he looked, outlined by the blaze, young, lithe and strong. Again the heart of the lad throbbed, and he was draw

e big bone of a deer and then, throwing the bone into the fire, approached St. Luc. Robert saw them talking and presently De

ntend their blow to f

nter whispered back, "but we

, and Tandakora, looming, immense, in the firelight, was like some monster out of an earlier, primordial world. Warriors and soldiers asleep were scattered before the fires, and,

military cloaks spread over them. Then the short, dark Canadian Dubois appeared and St. Luc spoke to him also. Dubois bow

ut I'd feel safer if Tandakora also went to sl

rest, which is what a chief always does when the opportunity presents itself. But he has thrown his second bone into the fire, and he walks about, looking now

hen Tandakora stopped his restless pacing, and lay down on the

he felt that they might possibly encounter them on the way. He led his little group first toward the lake and then bore south, being quite sure that before noon the next day they would reach a British or American detachment of some kind. Every

esolved that this night trail which he was treading should be a good one, so far as he was concerned. Robert walked in front of him and he was careful to step exactly where young Lennox did, knowing that if he did so he would break no sticks and make no undue n

imal," he replied. "It is made by men walking, and I think the

m walking they must be v

ours St. Luc means to attack, and it may be that they will strike our trail, although the

e must not show ourselves. It's possible that th

against the earth, but unmistakable. Now, they are just behind us, and their course is the same as ours. Ah, the footfalls cease! They have stopped. They have seen our trail, Great Bear. Manitou has giv

or us who are five to beat

y to hold us while they call help. It will not be long b

n to move again

no noise at all. It would be their object to make their own position uncertain and then we woul

isclosed at once by the brilliant moonshine. So they flattened themselves against the ground in the shadow of the bushes and waited patiently. The time seemed to Grosvenor to

ight, and he knew that if any one of them stood up a bullet would be his instant welcome. At last came the cry of the night bird, the note of the owl, as Tayoga ha

ction," whispered Tayoga, "perhaps a group of hunters who

t," said Black Rifle.

yo

is from the south and the warriors will so

d the west," said Willet. "Come,

savage scouts, when a sibilant whisper from Willet warned them to fall flat again. His command was just in time as a rifle cracked in the bushes ahead of them, and Grosvenor distinctly heard the bullet as it hissed over their heads. Willet threw his rifle to his shoulder

h of that fellow," said Willet, "and of course h

ou will find plenty of use for your bullets

, shivered. He had heard that same yell many a time, when Braddock's army was cut down in the deep forest by an invisible foe. He could never forget its import. But he g

ttle hollow," said Willet. "It w

They know where we are, of course, but t

be too eager to see. If they're too far away for

d a flash came from a

r at the flash and a

Black Rifle calmly, "and they're

s spattered the rocks about them. The five made no f