little camp but a short
distance away. Molly is there, and so is that young eagle, her
brother, Joseph Brant. Molly will see that you're well served with
food, and after that you shall stay at Mount Johnson as long as you
like, and the longer you'll stay the better it will please Molly and
me. You shall tell us of your adventures, Mr. Lennox, and about that
Quebec in which you and Mr. Willet seem to have cut so wide a swath
with your rapiers."

"We did but meet the difficulties that were forced upon us," protested
Willet.

Colonel Johnson laughed once more, and most heartily.

"If all people met in like fashion the difficulties that were forced
upon them," he said, "it would be a wondrous efficient world, so much
superior to the world that now is that one would never dream they had
been the same. But just beyond the hill is our little camp which, for
want of a better name, I'll call a bower. Here is Joseph, now, coming
to meet us."

An Indian lad of about eleven years, but large and uncommonly strong
for his age, was walking down the hill toward them. He was dressed
partly in civilized clothing, and his manner was such that he would
have drawn the notice of the observing anywhere. His face was open
and strong, with great width between the eyes, and his gaze was direct
and firm. Robert knew at once that here was an unusual boy, one
destined if he lived to do great things. His prevision was more than
fulfilled. It was Joseph Brant, the renowned Thayendanegea, the most
famous and probably the ablest Indian chief with whom the white men
ever came into contact.

"This is Joseph Brant, the brother of Molly, my wife, and hence my
young brother-in-law," said Colonel Johnson. "Joseph, our new friends
are David Willet, known to the Hodenosaunee as the Great Bear, Robert
Lennox, who seems to be in some sort a ward of Mr. Willet, and Tayoga,
of the Clan of the Bear, of your great brother nation, Onondaga."

Young Thayendanegea saluted them all in a friendly but dignified
way. He, like Tayoga, had a white education, and spoke perfect, but
measured English.

"We welcome you," he said. "Colonel Johnson, sir, my sister has
already seen the strangers from the hill, and is anxious to greet
them."

"Molly, for all her dignity, has her fair share of curiosity," laughed
Colonel Johnson, "and since it's our duty to gratify it, we'll go
forward."

Robert had heard often of Molly Brant, the famous Mohawk wife of
Colonel, afterwa