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

f the forest, and a little puff of smoke rising where an Indian had fired. The wilderness itself was absolutely still but Robert's vivid imagination as usual peopled it thickly. Although his eye did

lity, and so his courage was all the greater, because

a tree beyond them. He shivered a little. Fancy pictured the bullet not as missing, but as hittin

s crept forward ahead of the others," whispered the h

soon as he reloads he'll chance another shot at whe

hooter would fire only one more shot. Soon he had the proof. The second flash came from the same point. Again the bullet glanced among the rocks, but, before the report of the rifle died, another answere

whispered Grosvenor in

flash, and he never mi

warriors all the mo

n fire was opened upon them from three sides, bullets

lead, and if we keep close to the earth 'twill all

more eager to reach his enemy. In a few minutes his chance came as he caught a glimpse of a dusky but incautious figure among the trees, and, quick as a

ade him truly a member of this great forest band. It also stimulated his zeal, and he became eager for a shot of his own. He watched intently and when the warriors fired again he sent his bullet at the flash, as he had seen Willet and Black Ri

hunter. "They know now that we're good shots, but they'll hold us here

een you and me, Dave, we've got to get away from here somehow. The moon ha

er traps to remain her

must take the

en the clouds floating up the

the shadows were deepening over the forest. Yet it was obvious that it would not become very dar

oving in the bush, T

put his ear t

e seem to be moving about. It may be that they have received more help. I th

others following him in line, Tayoga as usual bringing up the rear. They made a hundred yards in silence, and, then, at a low signal from the hun

" he whispered, "and they are still watching that

right flashed, and they dropped down again. But the bullets did not come their way

ed, "and they send much lead against the in

e rocks catch what is

nse relief. "How long d

n stand up and walk

d Coat, that you are getting splendid practice in the art of going silentl

lbows and knees ached and it was difficult to carry his rifle as he crawled along, but his ambition was as high as ever, and he would not complain. The lone hoot of

they're talking to one another about it. Now they'll stalk the rocks to see, but that

nts were young and elastic, and the stiffness quickly left them, but both had done enough creeping and crawling for one night. All s

and them, Tayog

ppened at the rocks, and neither can tell. Their expression is that of doubt, impatience and worry. They say to each other: 'Those whom we believed we held in a trap may

hunter c

ies are not my worries. Ah, there they go

y have stolen out of the trap is increasing, but they cannot know unless they go and see, and then they may be

lads. Now that we're on o

y heard once more the faint cries of the owls, now

we are not in the rocks, and now they will look around for our

o is to keep on toward the

rs are coming up from the south, and

you mean,

advancing, and I thin

lipped out of one trap

sound. It is clear to me that those who walk toward us are warriors. White men would not tread so lightly. I do not think, Great Bear, t

ful, clear note, and it was answered insta

id Tayoga joyfully. "T

?" exclaime

astern Gate. The leading warriors of the Six Natio

ized in the leader the fierce young Mohawk chief, Daganoweda, who once before

Ganeagaono, of the great League of the Hodenosaunee,

daga, of the great League of the Hodenosaunee, you ar

all of whom were known to him of old save Grosvenor, but who w

"They are not far away now. We do not wish to fight

of the fierce

Bear give us his

r it as if

own quarrels through,"

from here in haste. Th

he fight to you. But

s that may be in the woods," replied the young chief, proudly. "

oughly understood the fierce soul of the young Mohawk chief, wh

said Willet. "You have been a

Soon they heard shots behind them and they knew that the Mohawks were engaged in battle with the Hurons and their friends. They sp

one of those warriors was able to get by the Mohawks, and it's not likely

aho, on his star, tells me that we have

g time. Lads, you might unroll your b

He and Robert found the rest most welcome and they were not slow in wrapping the blankets around their bodies

let, pointing t

e smoke rose across

Luc is advancing against, but in spite of all the ri

d he thought it must be a British or American post. It was at a most exposed and dangerous point, but his heart thrilled at W

hour, and we'll know what's

n," said Grosvenor con

e will tell us wh

hickened and darkened, and, to Robert and Grosvenor, it seemed most friendly and alluring. It appeared to rise from a little point of land thru

a sound from the place where the smoke rise

, and the Onondaga pu

now," he said. "They are of a kind

ey?" asked R

iting into wood. Many me

n a hurry about it or they would not be

t, but it is not a fort they build. Mingled with the fall of the axes I hear another note. It is a humming and a buzzing. It is heard in these forests

mill, T

e axes cut down are sawed in the mill. The saw would not be needed if the logs were to be used

or some purpose requiring much finer f

ell. Great Bear and I have been on the

here is fine," in

and supplies. We know that a great army of red coats is advancing. It expects to come up George and then probably to Champlain t

'em right here on this point

ga s

saw mill could not be here for any other purpose. But if we had n

we'll soon be amon

at work on the forest with axes, and, at the very edge of the water, a saw mill was in active operation. Along the shore, where as

f their own race, and here were many activities, telling of great energy in the war. After so

aid Willet, "don'

?" asked y

ke no mistake, and they don't make any, the fine, tall young fellow stand

e him, and there too is Wilton, the fighting Quaker, a

. Then the five advanced and marched into the camp of their friends, where they recei

d from the skies

and very glad we are to be here. We've come to tell you also that we've been pursued by a stron

od not to fight, will have

e will do it bet

mp in a posture of defense. We are here building boats to be used by the army in its advan

coffee and white bread, neither of which they had seen in a long time, and which were most welcome. W

t since we were with

" said

these times are a hard teacher, but they're bright an

ow the trail," said Tayoga, "but he is not sorry to c

last night, and it's still with me, but I had enough of creeping and crawling to last

again. Be sure of that,

told, in detail and with great vividness, all they had see

ome again. You helped us to success then, and you'll help us now. Even

the others, the boat builders and the rest, were capable fighters too. They could certainly make a powerful resistance even to the daring and skillful French Chevalier, and, with a certain number of boats finished, the lake also was open to them, in case retreat became necessary. Luckily, too, St. Luc h

and of the men, when they slept, against the weather. All the trees for a distance well beyond rifle shot had been cut away for timber, a lucky fact, as the hostile Indians could not

rs," he said, "I think we'll hold him here. We'v

ed Colden. "I'll confess that I did not suspect any enemy was nearer than Cha

to come," s

nd trim. He had returned to his incarnation as a trim young British officer. Adaptable and liking the Americans, equipped moreover with a certain experience of the border, he was at once on the best of terms with Colden, Wilton, Carso

was with Tayoga, helping him with the breastworks, and keeping an eye at the same time on the forest. The lake behind him stretched awa

od. St. Luc must approach by the slope. The cliffs were impossible, and, the longer he looked at it, the better Robert liked the posit

d the saw mill even against

ou know I

y clearly what he thinks. His eyes say that the slope is narrow; St. Luc can come that way only; we have here more than one hundred and fifty

't know it was printed on my face. But it's all the easier for you

se, he has a great task before him, though he will persist in

more. There was no occasion for alarm on that point, since the siege could not be a long one. Noon came and no sign of the enemy. Willet began to think the attack would be postponed until night, as St. Luc doubtless had learned already that he could not carry the place by surprise. But he relied most upon the word of Black Rifle who had not yet returned from the forest. The dark scout came back about the middle of the afternoon, and he told Colden and Wille

at I must have sentinels who wi

ark," said Willet. "There's a haze over the

de but effective fortifications stretched all along the forest side of the camp, and Willet, Black Rifle and Tayoga were among the stumps in front of them. No enemy would be able to hide there eve

tack will come before morning. My experience at Fort Refuge is sufficient indication. It is strange

Europe and now I'm learning my trade in the deep forests of North America, where it's quite another sort

t lau

" he replied, "but in this country battles are not alw

front of them came

and you hear his v

is age, his complexion, what he had for supper, how he is feeling and whether he is married or single. Oh, I assure you, Wilton, you needn't smile

t your earnestness. When you tell me anything about Tayoga's skill on the trail I shall beli

d came from the forest, while the camp waited, with