Part 21 (1/2)

”I take it you're right, Tayoga,” said Robert. ”His is a soul that will not rest under defeat, and I fancy St. Luc on the island is a great danger. He can get at us and we can't get at him.”

”It is true, Dagaeoga. If we strike we must strike quickly and then be off. This, for the time being, is the enemy's country, yet I think our leaders will not be willing to withdraw. Daganoweda, I know, will want to push the battle and to attack on the island.”

The Onondaga's surmise was correct. The triumph of the rangers and the Mohawks, although not complete, was large, as at least one-third of St.

Luc's force was slain, and the three leaders alike were eager to make it yet larger, having in mind that in some way they could yet reach the French and Indian force on the island. So they built their own fires on the slope and the Mohawks began to sing songs of triumph, knowing that they would infuriate the foe, and perhaps tempt him to some deed of rashness.

”Did you see anything of Tandakora?” asked Robert of Tayoga. ”I know it's no crime to wish that he fell.”

”No, it's no crime, Dagaeoga,” replied the Onondaga soberly, ”and my wish is the same as yours, but this time we cannot have it. I saw him in one of the boats as they pa.s.sed around the island.”

The two then sat by one of the fires and ate venison, thankful that they had escaped with only slight wounds, and as there was no immediate call for their services they wrapped themselves in their blankets, by and by, and went to sleep. When Robert awoke, the morning was about half gone and the day was bright and beautiful beyond compare.

Although the hostile forces still confronted each other there was no other evidence of war, and Robert's first feelings were less for man and more for the magnificence of nature. He had never seen Andiatarocte, the matchless gem of the mountains, more imposing and beautiful. Its waters, rippling gently under the wind, stretched far away, silver or gold, as the sunlight fell. The trees and undergrowth on the islands showed deepest green, and the waving leaves s.h.i.+fted and changed in color with the changing sky. Far over all was a deep velvet blue arch, tinged along the edges with red or gold.

Keenly sensitive to nature, it was a full minute before young Lennox came back to earth, and the struggles of men. Then he found Tayoga looking at him curiously.

”It is good!” said the Onondaga, flinging out his hand. ”In the white man's Bible it is said that Manitou created the world in six days and rested on the seventh, but in the unwritten book of the Hodenosaunee it is said that he created Andiatarocte and Oneadatote, and then reposed a bit, and enjoyed his work before he went on with his task.”

”I can well believe you, Tayoga. If I had created a lake like George and another like Champlain I should have stopped work, and gloried quite a while over my achievement. Has the enemy made any movement while we slept?”

”None, so far as our people can tell. They have brought part of their fleet around to the side of the island facing us. I count six large boats and twenty canoes there. I also see five fires, and I have no doubt that many of the warriors are sleeping before them. Despite losses, his force is still larger than ours, but I do not think St. Luc, brave as he is, would come back to the mainland and risk a battle with us.”

”Then we must get at him somehow, Tayoga. We must make our blow so heavy that it will check Dieskau for a while and give Colonel Johnson's army time to march.”

”Even so, Dagaeoga. Look at the Mountain Wolf. He has a pair of field gla.s.ses and he is studying the island.”

Rogers stood on a knoll, and he was making diligent use of his gla.s.ses, excellent for the time. He took them from his eyes presently, and walked down to Robert and Tayoga.

”Would you care to have a look?” he said to Robert.

”Thank you, I'd like it very much,” replied young Lennox eagerly.

The powerful lenses at once brought the island very near, and trees and bushes became detached from the general ma.s.s, until he saw between them the French and Indian camp. As Tayoga had a.s.serted, many of the warriors were asleep on the gra.s.s. When nothing was to be done, the Indian could do it with a perfection seldom attained by anybody else. Tandakora was sitting on a fallen log, looking at the mainland. As usual, he was bare to the waist, and painted frightfully. Not far away a Frenchman was sleeping on a cloak, and Robert was quite sure that it was De Courcelles. St. Luc himself was visible toward the center of the island.

He, too, stood upon a knoll, and he, too, had gla.s.ses with which he was studying his foe.

”The command of the water,” said Rogers, ”is heavily against us. If we had only been quick enough to build big boats of our own, the tale to be told would have been very different.”

”And if by any means,” said Willet, ”we contrive to drive them from the island, they can easily retreat in their fleet to another, and they could repeat the process indefinitely. George has many islands.”

”Then why not capture their fleet?” said Robert in a moment of inspiration.

Rogers and Willet looked at each other.

”It's queer we didn't think of that before,” said the hunter.

”'Twill be an attempt heavy with danger,” said Rogers.

”So it will, my friend, but have we s.h.i.+rked dangers? Don't we live and sleep with danger?”

”I was merely stating the price, Dave. I was making no excuse for s.h.i.+rking.”