y it. The time has come." The Onondaga
replied: "Yes, it is not wise to wait longer, lest we grow too feeble
for a great effort." The hunter rejoined: "Then it is agreed," and the
Onondaga said: "If our comrade thinks so too." Both turned their eyes
to young Lennox who said aloud: "It's what I've been waiting for a
long time. The sooner we leave the better pleased I'll be."

"Then," said Willet, "in an hour we'll start south, going down the
trail between the high cliffs, and we'll trust that either we've
expiated our sin, whatever it was, or that Areskoui has forgiven us.
It will be terrible traveling, but we can't wait any longer."

They wrapped their blankets about their bodies as additional covering,
and, at the time appointed, left their rude shelter. Yet when they
were away from its protection it did not seem so rude. When their
moccasins sank in the slush and the snow and rain beat upon their
faces, it was remembered as the finest little shelter in the world.
The bodies of all three regretted it, but their wills and dire
necessity sent them on.

The hunter led, young Lennox followed and Tayoga came last, their feet
making a slight sighing sound as they sank in the half-melted snow and
ice now several inches deep. Robert wore fine high moccasins of tanned
mooseskin, much stronger and better than ordinary deerskin, but before
long he felt the water entering them and chilling him to the bone.
Nevertheless, keeping his resolution in mind, and, knowing that the
others were in the same plight, he made no complaint but trudged
steadily on, three or four feet behind Willet, who chose the way that
now led sharply downward. Once more he realized what an enormous
factor changes in temperature were in the lives of borderers and how
they could defeat supreme forethought and the greatest skill. Winter
with its snow and sleet was now the silent but none the less potent
ally of the French and Indians in preventing their escape.

They toiled on two or three miles, not one of the three speaking. The
sleet and hail thickened. In spite of the blanket and the deerskin
tunic it made its way along his neck and then down his shoulders and
chest, the chill that went downward meeting the chill that came upward
from his feet, now almost frozen. He could not recall ever before
having been so miserable of both mind and body. He did not know it
just then, but the lack of nourishment made him peculiarly susceptible
to mental and physical de