The Lords of the Wild | Page 9

to his star more than four
hundred years ago, and who sits there watching over the Hodenosaunee
has intervened more than once in our behalf. He is an arm of Manitou
and acts for him."
He looked up. The sky was hidden by the thick darkness. No ray of
silver or gray showed anywhere, but the Onondaga knew where lay the
star upon which sat his patron saint with the wise snakes, coil on coil,
in his hair. He felt that through the banks of mist and vapor Tododaho
was watching over him, and, as long as he tried to live the right way

taught to him by his fathers, the great Onondaga chieftain would lead
him through all perils, even as the bird in brilliant blue plumage had
shown Robert the path from the pursuit of Tandakora. The sublime
faith of Tayoga never wavered for an instant.
The wind rose a little, a heavy swell stirred the lake and their light craft
swayed with vigor, but the two youths were expert canoemen, none
better in all the wilderness, and it shipped no water. The hunter, sitting
with his hands on his rifle, did not stir, nor did he speak for a long time.
Willet, at that moment, shared the faith of his two younger comrades.
He was grateful too because once more they had found Robert, for
whom he had all the affection of a father. The three reunited were far
stronger than the three scattered, and he did not believe that any force
on the lakes or in the mountains could trap them. But his questing eyes
watched the vast oblong of the lake, looking continually for a sign,
whether that of friend or foe.
"What did you find, Robert?" he asked at last.
"Nothing but the band of Tandakora," replied the lad, with a light laugh.
"I took my way squarely into trouble, and then I had hard work taking
it out again. I don't know what would have happened to me, if you two
hadn't come in the canoe."
"It seems," said the Onondaga, in his whimsical precise manner, "that a
large part of our lives, Great Bear, is spent in rescuing Dagaeoga. Do
you think when we go into the Great Beyond and arrive at the feet of
Manitou, and he asks us what we have done with our time on earth, he
will put it to our credit when we reply that we consumed at least ten
years saving Dagaeoga from his enemies?"
"Yes, Tayoga, we'll get white marks for it, because Robert has also
saved us, and there is no nobler work than saving one's fellow creatures.
Manitou knows also that it is hard to live in the wilderness and a man
must spend a lot of his time escaping death. Look to the east, Tayoga,
lad, and tell me if you think that's a point of light on the mountain over
there."

The Onondaga studied intently the dark wall of the east, and presently
his eyes picked out a dot against its background, infinitesimal like the
light of a firefly, but not to be ignored by expert woodsmen.
"Yes, Great Bear," he replied, "I see it is not larger than the littlest star,
but it moves from side to side, and I think it is a signal."
"So do I, lad. The lake is narrow here, and the answer, if there be any,
will come from the west shore. Now we'll look, all together. Three
pairs of eyes are better than one."
The two lads ceased paddling, holding the canoe steady, with an
occasional stroke, and began to search the western cliffs in methodical
fashion, letting the eye travel from the farthest point in the north
gradually toward the south, and neglecting no place in the dark
expanse.
"There it is!" exclaimed Robert. "Almost opposite us! I believe it's in
the very cliff at the point of which I lay!"
"See it, winking and blinking away."
"Yes, that's it," said Robert. "Now I wonder what those two lights are
saying to each other across Lake George?"
"It might be worth one's while to know, for they're surely signaling. It
may be about us, or it may be about the army in the south."
"I didn't find anything but trouble," said Robert. "Now what did you
and Tayoga find?"
"Plenty traces of both white men and red," replied the hunter. "The
forests were full of French and Indians. I think St. Luc with a powerful
force is near the north end of Lake George, and the Marquis de
Montcalm will soon be at Ticonderoga to meet us."
"But we'll sweep him away when our great army comes up from New
York."

"So we should, lad, but the Marquis is an able general, wily and brave.
He