in finding the
logs, and now they awaited the rain that they had dreaded.

It came soon in a mighty sweep, roaring through the woods, and burst
upon them in floods. But the canoe, the logs and the forest and the
slope together protected them fairly well, and the contrast even gave a
certain degree of comfort, as the rain beat heavily and then rushed in
torrents down to the lake.

"We made it just in time," said Willet. "If we had stayed on the water I
think we'd have been swamped. Look how high the waves are and how fast
they run!"

Robert as he gazed at the stormy waters was truly thankful.

"We have many dangers," he said, "but somehow we seem to escape them
all."

"We dodge 'em," said Willet, "because we make ready for 'em. It's those
who think ahead who inherit the world, Robert."

The storm lasted an hour. Then the rain ceased abruptly. The wind died,
the darkness fled away and the lake and earth, washed and cleansed anew,
returned to their old peace and beauty, only the skies seemed softer and
bluer, and the colors of the water more varied and intense.

They launched the canoe and resumed their journey to the south, but
when they had gone a few hundred yards Robert observed a black dot
behind them on the lake. Willet and Tayoga at once pronounced it a great
Indian canoe, containing a dozen warriors at least.

"Canadian Indians, beyond a doubt," said Tayoga, "and our enemies.
Perhaps Tandakora is among them."

"Whether he is or not," said Willet, "they've seen us and are in
pursuit. I suppose they stayed in another cove back of us while the
storm passed. It's one case where our foresight couldn't guard against
bad luck."

He spoke anxiously and looked up at the overhanging forest. But there
was no convenient cove now, and it was not possible for them to beach
the canoe and take flight on land. A new danger and a great one had
appeared suddenly. The long canoe, driven by a dozen powerful paddles,
was approaching fast.

"Hurons, I think," said Tayoga.

"Most likely," said the hunter, "but whether Hurons or not they're no
friends of ours, and there's hot work with the paddles before us.
They're at least four rifleshots away and we have a chance."

Now the three used their paddles as only those can who have life at
stake. Their light canoe leaped suddenly forward, and seemed fairly to
skim over the water like some great aquatic bird, but the larger craft
behind them gained steadily though slowly. Three