r to paddle
for you. I'm glad you winged that savage, Tandakora, Tayoga. It would
spoil my pleasure to know that he was hanging on our trail."

"Don't be too happy, Great Bear," said Tayoga. "Within a week the
Ojibway will be hunting for us. Maybe he will be lying in wait on the
shores of the great lake, Champlain."

"If so, Tayoga, you must have him to feel the kiss of another arrow."

Tayoga smiled and looked affectionately at his bow and quiver.

"The Iroquois shaft can still be of use," he said, "and we will save our
ammunition, because the way is yet far."

"Deer shouldn't be hard to find in these woods," said Willet, "and when
we stop for the night we'll hunt one."

They took turns with the paddle, and now and then, drawing in under
overhanging boughs, rested a little. Once or twice they saw distant
smoke which they believed was made by Canadian and therefore hostile
Indians, but they did not pause to investigate. It was their desire to
make speed, because they wished to reach as quickly as they could the
Long House in the vale of the Onondaga. It was still possible to arrive
there before St. Luc should go away, because he would have to wait until
the fifty sachems chose to go in council and hear him.

On this, their return journey, Robert thought much of the chevalier and
was eager to see him again. Of all the Frenchmen he had met St. Luc
interested him most. De Galisonniere was gallant and honest and
truthful, a good friend, but he did not convey the same impression of
foresight and power that the chevalier had made upon him, and there was
also another motive, underlying but strong. He wished to match himself
in oratory before the fifty chiefs with Duquesne's agent. He was
confident of his gifts, discovered so recently, and he knew the road to
the mind and hearts of the Iroquois.

"What are you thinking so hard about, Robert?" asked Willet.

"Of St. Luc. I think we'll meet him in the vale of Onondaga. Do you ever
feel that you can look into the future, Dave?"

"Just what do you mean?"

"Nothing supernatural. Don't the circumstances and conditions sometimes
make you think that events are going to run in a certain channel? At the
very first glance the Chevalier de St. Luc interested me uncommonly, and
even in our exciting days in Quebec I thought of him. Now I have a
vision about him. His life and mine are going to cross many times."

The hunter looked sharply at the lad.

"That's a queer idea of yo