“We must do it.”

“We have no other choice,” said Tayoga.  “We have waited as long as we could to see if Areskoui would turn a favoring face upon us, but his anger holds.  It will not avail, if in our endeavor to escape the tomahawk of Tandakora, we freeze to death.”

The fire decided upon, they took all risks and went about the task with eagerness.  Ordinary men could not have lighted it under such circumstances, but the three had uncommon skill upon which to draw.  They took the bark from dead wood, and shaved off many splinters, building up a little heap in the lee of a cliff, which they sheltered on the windward side with their bodies.  Then Willet, working a long time with his flint and steel, set to it the sparks that grew into a blaze.

Robert did not stop with the fire.  Noticing the vast amount of dead wood lying about, as was often the case in the wilderness, he dragged up many boughs and began to build a wall on the exposed side of the flames.  Willet and Tayoga approving of the idea soon helped him, and three pairs of willing hands quickly raised the barrier of trunks and brush to a height of at least a yard.

“A happy idea of yours, Robert,” said the hunter.  “Now we achieve two ends at once.  Our wall hides the glow of the fire and at the same time protects us in large measure from the snow and wind.”

“I have bright thoughts now and then,” said Robert, whose spirits had returned in full tide.  “You needn’t believe you and Tayoga have all of ’em.  I don’t believe either of you would have ever thought of this fine wooden wall.  In truth, Dave, I don’t know what would become of you and Tayoga if you didn’t have me along with you most all the time!  How good the fire feels!  The warmth touches my fingers and goes stealing up my arms and into my body!  It reaches my face too and goes stealing down to meet the fine heat that makes a channel of my fingers!  A glorious fire, Tayoga!  I tell you, a glorious fire, Dave!  The finest fire that’s burning anywhere in the world!”

“The quality of a fire depends on the service it gives,” said the hunter.

“Dagaeoga has many words when he is happy,” said the Onondaga.  “His tongue runs on like the pleasant murmur of a brook, but he does it because Manitou made him that way.  The world must have talkers as well as doers, and it can be said for Lennox that he acts as well as talks.”

“Thanks, I’m glad you put in the saving clause,” laughed Robert.  “But it’s a mighty good thing we built our wooden wall.  That wind would cut to the bone if it could get at you.”

“The wind at least will keep the warriors away,” said Tayoga.  “They will all stay close in the camp on such a night.”

“And no blame to them,” murmured the hunter.  “If we weren’t in the Indian country I’d build our own fire five times as big.  Now, Robert, suppose you go to sleep.”

“I can’t, Dave.  You know I slept all the morning, but I’m not suffering from dullness.  I’m imagining things.  I’m imagining how much worse off we’d be if we didn’t have flint and steel.  I can always find pleasure in making such contrasts.”