“And now,” said Robert, “I think we can land, dress, and cook some of this precious deer, which we have brought with us in spite of everything.”

Their clothing had been dried by the sun, and they resumed it.  Then, taking all risks, they lighted a fire, broiled tender steaks and ate like giants who had finished great labors.

“I think,” said Tayoga, “that when we proceed a few miles farther it will be better to leave the canoe.  It is likely that as we advance the river will become narrower, and we would be an easy target for a shot from the bank.”

“I don’t like to abandon a canoe which has brought us safely across the lake.”

“We will put it away where it can await our coming another time.  But I think we can dare the river for some distance yet.”

Robert had spoken for the sake of precaution, and he was easily persuaded to continue in the river some miles, as traveling by canoe was pleasant, and after their miraculous escape or rather rescue, as it seemed to them, their spirits, already high, were steadily rising higher.  The lone little river of the north, on which they were traveling, presented a spectacle of uncommon beauty.  Its waters flowed in a clear, silver stream down to the lake, deeper in tint on the still reaches, and, flashing in the sunlight, where it rushed over the shallows.

All the time they moved between two lofty, green walls, the forest growing so densely on either shore that they could not see back into it more than fifty yards, while the green along its lower edges was dotted with pink and blue and red, where the delicate wild flowers were blooming.  The birds in the odorous depths of the foliage sang incessantly, and Robert had never before heard them sing so sweetly.

“I don’t think any of our foes can be in ambush along the river,” he said.  “It’s too peaceful and the birds sing with too much enthusiasm.  You remember how they warned us of danger once by all going away?”

“True, Dagaeoga, and at any time now they may leave.  But, like you, I am willing to take the risk for several hours more.  Most of the warriors must be far south of us unless the rangers are in this region, and a special force has been sent to meet them.”

They came by and by to a long stretch of rippling shallows, and they were compelled to carry the canoe with its load through the woods and around them, the task, owing to the density of the forest and thicket and the weight of their burden, straining their muscles and drawing perspiration from their faces.  But they took consolation from the fact that game was amazingly plentiful.  Deer sprang up everywhere, and twice they caught glimpses of bears shambling away.  Squirrels chattered over their heads and the little people of the forest rustled all about them.

“It shows that no human being has been through here recently,” said Tayoga, “else the game, big and little, would not have been stirring abroad with so much confidence.”