“And the wooden walls of our forts wouldn’t stand much chance against a continuous fire of twelve and eighteen pounders,” said Robert.

“No,” said Willet.  “The forts could be saved only by enterprising and skillful commanders who would drive away the batteries.”

“Here went the warriors,” said Tayoga.  “They were on the outer edges of the great trail, walking lightly, according to their custom.  See the traces of the moccasins, scores and scores of them.  We will come very soon to a place where the whole army camped for the night.  How do I know, O, Dagaeoga?  Because numerous trails are coming in from the forest and converging upon one point.  They do that because it is time to gather for food and the night’s rest.  Some of the warriors went into the forest to hunt game, and they found it, too.  Look at the drops of blood, still faintly showing on the grass, leading here, and here, and here into the main trail, drops that fell from the deer they had slain.  Also they shot birds.  Behold feathers hanging on the bushes, blown there by the wind, which proves that the site of their camp is very near, as I said.”

“It’s just over the hill in that wide, shallow valley,” said Willet.

They entered the valley which had been marked by the departed army with signs as clear as the print of a book for the Onondaga and the hunter to read.

“Here at the northern end of the valley is where the warriors cooked and ate the deer they had slain,” said Tayoga.  “The bones are scattered all about, and we see the ashes of their fires, but they kept mostly to themselves, because few footprints of white men lead to the place they set aside as their own.  Just beyond them the cannon were parked.  All this is very simple.  An Onondaga child eight years old could read what is written in this camp.  Here are the impressions made by the cannon wheels, and just beside them the artillery horses were tethered, as the numerous hoofprints show.”

“And here, I imagine,” said Robert, who had walked on, “the Marquis de Montcalm and his lieutenants spent the night.  Tents were pitched for them.  You can see the holes left by the pegs.”

“Spoken truly, O, Dagaeoga.  You are using eye and mind, and lo! you are showing once more the beginnings of wisdom.  Four tents were pitched.  The rest of the army slept in the open.  Montcalm and his lieutenants themselves would have done so, but the setting up of the tents inspired respect in the warriors and even in the troops.  The French leaders have mind and they profit by it.  They neglect no precaution, no detail to increase their prestige and maintain their authority.”

“It is so, Tayoga,” said Willet, “and I can wish that our own officers would do the same.  The French are marvelously expert in dealing with Indians.  They can handle them all, except the Hodenosaunee.  But don’t you think they held a short council here by this log, after they had eaten their suppers?”