The Hunters of the Hills

water the little vessel that had served them so well, and carrying it to a point some distanc

nce soon," said Robert. "I think eve

successful one too. Having left no trail the Indians won't be able to follow us, and we can rest h

unition were in order, and after Willet had scouted the country a bit, seeing th

man I was yesterday. Not I'll be a better man. I've been in danger lots of ti

es before real re

t I've ever seen. Isn't that a big and glorious sun over there? I suppose it's the same sun I've been looki

's not only a splendid sun, Dave, but it's an uncommonly friendly one too. I

will of Manitou for us to escape from the trap that had been set for

ouls, and our eyes are merely the mirrors through which we lo

ed him perfec

Here, each of you take another piece of venison. I'm glad you still have your bow and arr

ame. It will not be dif

yo

ada, and it's still doubtful ground. Another wandering band may run upon us and that Ojibway, Tandakora, will never quit hunting us, until a bullet stop

Onondaga. "After the great and long trial of our strength last night, we need

the canoe with us, and hide our trail. I think I see the gleam of water to our right

llet. "Suppose you look first

t nearly a mile until they came to stony ground, when they left the brook and walked on the outcrop or detached stones a considerable distance, passing at last through dense thickets into a tiny o

her it's no trail at all. It's just about as much

ere we are, Dav

lume to the sea, but the St. Lawrence is full of clear water, Robert, think of that! Most all the other big rivers of the world, I hear, are muddy and yellow, but the St. Lawrence, being the overflow of the big lakes, is pure. Sometimes it's blue and sometimes it's green, according to the sunlight or the lack of it, and sometimes it's another color, but always it's good, fresh wate

much of the b

two mighty cliffs, and the foam rises up to the sky, and the rainbow is always arching over the chasm below. It's a tremendous sight and it keeps growing on you the longer you look at it. The Indians, who like myths and allegories, have a fine story about it. They say that Heno, to whom Manitou gave charge of the thunderbolt, once lived in the great cave or hollow behind the falls, liking the damp and the eternal roar of the waters. And Manitou to help him keep a watch over all th

y years being steeped in forest lore and imagery. Robert, although he knew less

the Greeks and Romans

ere very much superior

Lawrence, and all the big lakes and middle-sized lakes and little lakes, and the Hudson and the other splendid rivers, and the fine mountains east of the Hudson and west of it, and all the grand valleys, and the great country of the Hodenosaunee, and the gorgeous green forest running hundreds and hundreds

with responsive eyes at the di

its limits. I've noticed, Dave, that the people of old lands think they alone have love of country. New people may love a new lan

too, took deep long breaths of the crisp air that came over

because I and my fathers for ages before me were born into this wonderful country of which you speak so well, but not too well, and much of it belongs to the Hodenosaun

f us white people, English, French, Dutch, Germans and all other breeds, are

t Bear is always our

nd Lennox to

a," said Rob

when he woke it was afternoon. About midway of his comrade's nap Tayoga had g

intruder had drawn near. Nor had he expected any. The place was too remote and we

stranger was near, returned to his place on the grass near his comrades, full of the great peace that can come only to those of sensitive mind and lofty imagination. His sleep had rest

the important mission which the three hoped to carry out, according to promise, no matter what dangers surrounded t

f old Indian tribes. That name, Quebec, was full of significance to him. Standing upon its mighty rock, it was another Gibraltar. It told him of the French power in North America, and he associated it vaguely with young officers in brilliant uniforms, powdered ladies, and all the splendor of an Old Wor

f he would see St. Luc there, but on reflection he decided that it was impossible. The mission of the chevalier to the Hodenosaunee would require a lo

er to make the Hodenosaunee think the French power at Quebec invincible. He would describe the great deeds of the French officers and soldiers. He

the sachems as friends true and tested, and prove to them that the English were their good and natural allies. They would recall again what Frontenac had done. Th

nto the northeast where the French capital lay upon its mighty and frowning rock. His curiosity concerning it increased. He wanted to see what kind of city it was, and he wanted to see what kind of a man the Marquis Duquesne, the Governor-General of Canad

yards away he fancied that he heard a sound in a thicket a considerable distance ahead. Promptly taking shelter behind a

ifle forward and still watched. Now the bush shook violently, and an awkward black figure, shooting out, ran across the open. It was only a bear, and he was about to resume his circling walk,

did, disappearing with a snort in another thicket. A full ten minutes passed. Robert had not stirred. He was crouched

ert concentrated his gaze upon it, thankful that he had not made the black bear the original cause of things, and presently he saw the feathered head of an Indian appear among the leaves. It was only a

ural aptitude and long practice. He went back slowly, but the grass stems moved only a little as he went, and he was confident that he not only had

pose he had not seen the Indian in the bush, and had been ambushed while on his scouting round! Or suppose he had stayed with his comrades and had been ambushed there! But neither had happened, and, taking Willet by the shoulder

Robert?" whis

lied the youth. "I merely saw his hair and the feather in

yoga. "A warrior does

hollow," said Willet confidently. "They must be far

" said Tayoga. "Was th

ave the headdress,

e feather projected something like

from what bird t

much. It was the

between them a mellow, peculiar whistle, much like the notes of a deep-thr

ward the thicket in which Robert had seen the warrior. Robert and Willet, influenced by boldness as people alw

their head a tall man of middle age, open and

agaono, the Keepers of

Dayohogo, which in Eng

at man, valiant in batt

ight when the fifty sac

e the questions o

or age, and, as yet, of superior rank. A look of pleasure appeare

clan of the Bear, of

ga)," h

ou of the Keepers of the Eastern Gate and my father, Daatgadose, of the Keepers of the Council Fire,

, Tayoga," said the c

handsome face and athl

te people with you? On

self Willet, but t

e. He has within the last two days, standing beside us, fought a valiant battle against the Abenakis, the

im. But the gaze of the Indian was friendly, and while he

st odds and you have c

the river far back, and we escaped in the night, swimming with our canoe. Now we rest here, and truly, Dayohogo, we are glad to

ring venison and corn meal, an

g friends. The Mohawks not only had Frontenac to remember, but further back Champlain, the French soldier and explorer, who had defeated them before they knew the use of firearms. He felt that Duquesne at Quebec would have grea

oing on there. Regular soldiers were expected soon from France. War belts and splendid presents had been sent to the tribes about the Great Lakes, both to the north and

isten to the words of Onont

Birds, blue or gray or brown, were darting here and there in

came up the great lake which the white people call Champlain, then they crossed to Ticonderoga, near the outlet of the lake, Saint Sacrement, and fell upon two hundred warriors of the Ganeagaono, who then knew only the bow and arrow and the war club, and slew many of them. It w

re, and his eyes flashed with

s to the Ganeagaono al

be

the chief fl

autauqua. Our three clans, the Turtle, the Wolf and the Bear, met in our largest village south of the river, Ganeagaono (Mohawk), and listened to the bearers of the belts. Then we

that the Ganeagaono would do no less. The Keepers of the Eastern Gate h

nondaga youth, and it was lighted up sudde

and the Ganeagaono, the Keepers of the Eastern Gate, be the first tribes of the Hodenosaunee, and better it be for a warrior of e

fifty chiefs. He will say that Champlain and Frontenac belonged to an ancient day, that the forests have turned green and then turned red a hundred and fifty times since Champlain and sixty times since Frontenac. He will say that what they did was due to a false wind that blew between the French

ung Lennox, and again his gaze was on

as he is he is even greater in the council. The words of the son of Onontio, St. Luc, may drip from his lips like honey, but

ly and partial display of the liquid and powerful speech, which afterward gave him renown in New York and far beyond, and which caused people everywhere to call him the "Golden Mouthed." And he was always

that was in my mind, Day

x returns from the journey on which he is now going it would be fit for him to

should be. He would strive with study and practice to make himself first in it, but, for the present

ator of you. In times such as ours a man of that kind is needed bad. Maybe what Dayohogo thinks ough

Albany still give the Hodenosaunee trouble, making a promise seem on

of your furs and try to cheat you out of your lands! But be patient a little longer, you who have been patient so long. Word has

hogo and his war

(Johnson) to be the one who will talk

to be a fac

astle he has built a great house, and I and my brother chiefs of all the three clans the Wolf, the Bear and the Turtle, have been there and have received pre

he Mohawks. Whether he talked English or Iroquois he talked a language they understo

Robert unconsciously began to exercise his gift of golden speech. He dwelt upon the coming appointment of Waraiyageh, their best friend, to deal in behalf of the King with the Hodenosaunee, and he harped continually upon Champlain and Frontenac. He made them seem to be of yesterday, instead of long ago. He opened the old wounds the Mohawks ha

d not take his eyes from the speaker, following all his words, and the warriors, lying on their elbows, watched him and

etter way. When a warrior distinguishes himself greatly we give him a new name, which tells what he has done. Hereafter, Lennox

hat a high honor was conferred upon him. "I shall try to deserv

is best," said th

eremonies by the Mohawk nation, and was a fact of great value. To be by adoption a son of any nation of the Hodenosaunee would be of enormous assistanc

nosaunee and how its nations might be a deciding factor in the coming war between French and English, just as he understood long after that war was over their enormous weight in the new war between the Americans

e whom they knew from long experience to be good friends, were not taciturn. Rober

hich we had never seen before, and which we did not know how to meet. It is said also by our old men that we had a town with palisades around it at Hochelaga (Montreal), but whether it is true or not I do not know. It may be t

c, and which you call Stadacona, stands on land which

d to meet Tayoga, the Great Bear, and the new young white chief, Dagaeoga, whose speech was like the flowing of pleasant waters. It was a favoring wind that had brought them together, because they had enjoyed good talk, and had exchanged wise counsel wi

was a deer's horn, about five inches in length, and as sharp as a razor. While it was called a war club, it was thus more of a battle ax, and at close range and wielded by

ecoration, and the eyes of Dayo

gaeoga," he said, "a

ons, and the Mohawks disappe