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

credit for courage and daring than any of the others, because his vivid fancy foresaw all the dangers and more. Tayoga was on his right and Willet on his left. Daganoweda, w

s and they must strike back. He peered through the fog, looking for a chance to fire, forgetting the wet ground, and the rain which was fast soaking hi

hispered Tayoga, "or we will be among th

d admitting that a thick stump betwee

had been hit and presently another fell. Robert again saw all the dangers and more, but his mind was in complete command of his body and he watched with unfailing vigilance. He saw Willet suddenly level his rifle across his protecting stump and fire.

ing at the blind. A pink dot would appear in the fog, expand a little, and then go out. There would be a sharp report, the whistling of a bulle

his rifle, quickly fired. He had no way of knowing that he had hit, save that no shot came in repl

aid. "If they can shoot in the fog so can we, and the Gr

eces off the stumps or struck in the ground about them. But Robert knew that they had been fired largely at random, or had been drawn perhaps by a slight noise. There w

dent that the Indians in large numbers were coming into the combat. Willet's band was re?nforced also from the camp, and his line extended to meet that of the foe. Rifles cracked incessantly, the white

ed his loss. A bullet grazed Robert's head, cutting off two locks of hair very neatly. Its passage took his breath for a moment or two, and g

mp to another, was outlined dimly, but invariably there was not enough time for a shot. Soon he made out a large stump not very far ahead of him, and he saw the flash of a rifle from it. He ca

for a target. He waited patiently and the second shot came. He saw the hands again, the arms, part of one shoulder an

eking to kill him, and because killing was the business of those about him. What came to be known later as mass psychology took hold of him. All his

ause the man had exposed so much more of himself at the second shot than at the first, and his escape from the bullets would make him expose yet more at the third. His heart began to throb hard, and his pulses were beating fast. The battle was still going on about him, but

by his cheek. His finger contracted and then it loosened. A sudden acuteness of vision, or a chance thinning of the fog at that point, enabled him to see the man's face, and

re and deadly, but, deflecting the muzzle of the rifle a shade, his finger contracted again. The spurt of fire leaped forth and the bullet sang by the ear of Langlade, singing to him a little son

ed forest fighter would do. The fog thickened again, and, in a few more minutes, both lines shifted somewhat. Then he had to watch

d, at once, it became Robert's ambition to put him out of action. No consideration of mercy or humanity would restrain him now, if he obtained a

ise saw that it was De Courcelles who had taken a place in line with the skirmishers. Rage seized him at once. This was the man who had tried to trick him to his death in that affair with the bully, Bouche

gh he also had been untouched. His anger increased. Although he had little hate in his composition he could not forget that this man De Courcelles had been a party to an infamous attempt upon his life, and even now, in what amounted

f the stump. But the trick was too old for the Frenchman and he did not yield to it. Taking the chance, he thrust up his face, dropping b

licting a wound, certainly painful but probably not dangerous, although it was likely to feed the man's hate of Robert. Even so, young Lennox w

o it. But Robert saw that the end of the combat was near; not that the rage of man was abated, but because nature, as if tired of so much strife, was putting in between a veil that would

l which was repeated up and down the line. The French leaders took like action, and, by mutual consent, the two f

a hurt?" as

d," repli

re engaged in a battle of your own. I might have hel

n to man. I confess th

against him, and tried

gave him on

ay as De Courcelles

hear anything of the enemy, Tayoga? Fog se

I think we shall have peace for to-day. They might fire bullets at random against the camp, but St. Luc

he fog, while the others lay by the fires which were now built higher than usual. Colden was hopeful that St. Luc would draw off, but T

nd we know that forces of ours are at the south end, where they've advanc

ey to be?"

plenty of boats. They can take a light o

alf hour, everything was ready for the start. A strong canoe with paddles for tw

going on, I'll be going with you on su

e truth. He learns

careful, because you don't

p, save a luminous glow through the fog, was gone. A few more strokes and the luminous glow too departed. The two were alone once more in the wilderness, and they had little but instinct to guide them in their peri

kly the camp sank f

enough to hide the battle it is thick enough also to hide the camp and us from each

not likely to neglect the lake, and he'll surmise that we'll send for help. We've had e

ga. Suppose we sto

center of the lake, where they thought they would be likely to escape the cruising canoes of the enemy, if any should be sent out by S

hink the fog will

fear," rep

iends should be on the shore

best of it, Dagaeoga. We

only a few yards, and it hung in heavy, wet folds over their faces. It was difficult even to tell direction and they paddled very slowly in a direction that they surmised led to the south. After a while they stop

ght canoes overland," said young Lennox, "and in a

his favorite expression, "and

n the Onondaga listened a long time, he announced that the

rought plenty of canoes with him and he is using them. I think they have formed a line across the lake, s

aw a line that

a listening with all his powers. But the Onondaga was aware that his were not the only keen ears on th

r separate sounds. They try to soften their strokes lest the hidden messenger whom they want to catch may hear them, but they cannot destroy the sound a

ar those ah

l us that they are still there. But, Dagaeoga, we must go ahea

ed my head, Tayoga. We

oga. That is it! We make so little sound that it is no sound at all, and they cannot hear us. Now, we are well beyond them, and the two canoes are meeting in the fog. The men in them talk together. You hear them very well yourself, Dagaeoga. Their exact words do not come to our ears,

t at all like that the warriors make. One of the Frenchmen is giving instructions, as I can tell by his tone of command, and I think the canoes are going to spread out more. Yes, they are moving away to both right

ld hear. Although his nerves were steady his excitement was intense. A situation so extraordinary put every power of his imagination into play. His fancy fairly peopled the water with hosti

from the left, is now bearing

em that we are here. Ah, they have stopped! What does it mean, Dagaeoga? Listen! Did you not hear a little splash? They think to su

, his knife in his teeth, he was over the side so quickly that Robert did not have time to protest. In an instant he

th his eyes. He knew that he must stay just where he was, or Tayoga, when he came back, might never find him. If he

ed, and the hair on his head stood up a little. He knew that sound was made by a soul passing, bu

Tayoga climbed lightly into the canoe, no easy feat in such a situation, put on his belt and replaced the knife in th

uced that brief, fierce struggle in the water, but he said nothing, promptly following the suggestion of Tayoga, and sending the canoe to the right. The

cause he must remain on shore to direct his army. It is not that of De Courcelles, because you wounded him, and he must be lying in camp nursing his hurts. So I conclude that it is Jumonville, who is next in rank and who therefore would be likely to command on this important service. I am sure it is Jumonville, and his raised voice indic

e is here too, becaus

ommands, it is the Great Bear who suggests and really directs everything. His sharp orders signify some sudden, new plan. They have a fleet of ca

are we to

warriors, as me

look like

keenest of eyes, only a few yards away, to tell that you are white. Quick, Dagaeoga! Lay the garments on the bottom of the canoe. Bend well upon your paddle and appear to be searching the water everywhere for the messengers who try to escape. I will

to be snatched up in an instant, if need should come. The cold, wet fog beat upon his bare shoulders and chest, but he did not feel

f a canoe, men talking. They were coming to the chain that had been stretched in front of them, and their fate

m his lowered eyes, bent over the paddle, caught a glimpse of the one ahead, a great canoe, or rather boat, containing five men, one of whom wielded no paddle, but who sat in

ere close at hand, that they would soon be taken, and that their comrade who did not come back would be aveng

words stimulated him, keyed him to a supreme effort as an actor. All his histrionic temperament flared up at once. He made a poor stroke with the paddle, threw up much surplus water, and, as he cowered away from Tayoga, he corrected hi

ter of the lake and tak

hem from striking any other canoe. Again Robert made a false stroke with the paddle, causing the canoe to rock dangerously, and now, Tayoga, fully justified by the fierce code of the

Will you tip us both into the water at such a time, when the messengers of the enemy are seeking to steal t

h laugh. He was still the superb actor. His excitement was real, and he counterfeited a nervousness and jerkiness that appeared real also. One more wild stroke,

!" roared

yards away, and the great bla

nondaga tensely. "We paddle with all

e water, and the canoe sped on its way. A shout of anger rose b

was the messengers who sto

as one of their greatest triumphs and the savor of it would endure long. The very thought gave fresh power to his arm and back, and he swep

f many paddles, the splashing of canoes turned quickly about, a hum of excited voices, and then he felt a great swell of confidence. The

f such toil, and Tayog

imita

our friend, and they will think we have turned to one side in it, because tha

anything, Ta

a little. I hear the voice of Jumonville. He is very angry. But why should he be more angry at any other than at himself? He saw us with his own eyes. He shouts many sharp orders, and some of them are foolish

a laugh of amusement as a laugh of relief after such tremendous tension. H