same time, because I intend to eat one all
by myself, and I demand that he be large and fat, too. I suppose we'll
go out of this place some time or other."

"Yes, Dagaeoga."

"Then we'd better make up our minds to do it before it's too late. I
feel my nerves and tissues decaying already."

"It's only your fancy, Dagaeoga. You can exist a week without food."

"A week, Tayoga! I don't want to exist a week without food! I
absolutely refuse to do so!"

"The choice is not yours, now, O Dagaeoga. The greatest gift you can
have is patience. The warrior, Daatgadose, of the clan of the Bear, of
the nation Onondaga, of the great League of the Hodenosaunee, even
as I am, hemmed in by enemies in the forest, and with his powder and
bullets gone, lay in hiding ten days without food once passing his
lips, and took no lasting hurt from it. You, O Dagaeoga, will
surely do as well, and I can give you many other examples for your
emulation."

"Stop, Tayoga. Sometimes I'm sorry you speak such precise English. If
you didn't you couldn't have so much sport with a bad situation."

The Onondaga laughed deeply and with unction. He knew that Robert was
not complaining, that he merely talked to fill in the time, and he
went on with stories of illustrious warriors and chiefs among his
people who had literally defied hunger and thirst and who had lived
incredible periods without either food or water. Willet listened in
silence, but with approval. He knew that any kind of talk would cheer
them and strengthen them for the coming test which was bound to be
severe.

Feeling that no warriors would be within sight at such a time they
built their fire anew and hovered over the flame and the coals,
drawing a sort of sustenance from the warmth. But when the day was
nearly gone and there was no change in the sodden skies Robert
detected in himself signs of weakness that he knew were not the
product of fancy. Every inch of his healthy young body cried out for
food, and, not receiving it, began to rebel and lose vigor.

Again he was all for going forth and risking everything, and he
noticed with pleasure that the hunter began to shift about and to peer
into the forest as if some plan for action was turning in his mind.
But he said nothing, resolved to leave it all to Tayoga and Willet,
and by-and-by, in the dark, to which his eyes had grown accustomed, he
saw the two exchanging glances. He was able to read these looks.
The hunter said: "We must tr